Cottonwood Air Force Station
Encyclopedia
Cottonwood Air Force Station is a former United States Air Force
General Surveillance Radar station. The radar site was located at the summit of Cottonwood Butte
, 5.7 miles (9.2 km) west-northwest of Cottonwood
in Idaho County, Idaho
. It was closed in 1965 and transferred to the state of Idaho in 1974, when it was converted to its present use as a minimum-security correctional facility.
Cottonwood Peak Air Force Station was initially part of Phase II of the Air Defense Command Mobile Radar program. The Air Force approved this expansion of the Mobile Radar program on October 23, 1952. Radars in this network were designated "SM."
. The station consisted of 66 buildings, including operation and administrative facilities, 3 dormitories, 27 family housing units, 3 radar domes, and the normal support facilities/utilities. The site was divided into three general areas: the operations area at the summit, cantonment
area at mid-mountain, and a family housing area at the north end of the city of Cottonwood
. The 822d AC&W operated used AN/MPS-7, AN/MPS-14, and AN/FPS-6 radars, and initially the station functioned as a Ground-Control Intercept (GCI) and warning station. As a GCI station, the squadron's role was to guide interceptor aircraft toward unidentified intruders picked up on the unit's radar scopes.
During 1960 Cottonwood AFS joined the Semi Automatic Ground Environment
(SAGE) system, feeding data to DC-07 at Larson AFB, Washington. After joining, the squadron was re-designated as the 822d Radar Squadron (SAGE) on 1 September 1960. The radar squadron provided information 24/7 the SAGE Direction Center where it was analyzed to determine range, direction altitude speed and whether or not aircraft were friendly or hostile. In 1962 the 822d began operating an AN/FPS-24 search radar and an additional AN/FPS-6B radar, as the AN/MPS-7 and AN/MPS-14 units were retired. In 1964 the AN/FPS-6B was upgraded to an AN/FPS-90 and Cottonwood AFS was shifted to feeding data to the SAGE Data center DC-12 at McChord AFB.
In addition to the main facility, Cottonwood operated an AN/FPS-14 Gap Filler site:
The closure of the base was announced in November 1964.
A catastrophic bearing failure in the AN/FPS-24 antenna pedestal led to an early shutdown of the station and the inactivation of the 822nd Radar Squadron on 25 June 1965 (only two or three years after the AN/FPS-24 radome was installed over the antenna) as part of fiscal year 1965 cutbacks.
The Cantonment Area was used from 1965 to 1974 by the Office of Economic Opportunity as a Job Corps
Center. The State of Idaho Dept. of Corrections acquired the property in 1974, and has occupied the site ever since as North Idaho Correctional Institution. This is a program-specific prison designed for male offenders sentenced to a retained jurisdiction commitment by the court. It provides a sentencing alternative for the courts to target those offenders who might, after a period of programming and evaluation, be viable candidates for probation rather than incarceration.
Today most of the radar site on the mountain summit is torn down. The AN/FPS-24 tower still stands but little else, as only building foundations and deteriorated streets remain.
Assignments:
United States Air Force
The United States Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the American uniformed services. Initially part of the United States Army, the USAF was formed as a separate branch of the military on September 18, 1947 under the National Security Act of...
General Surveillance Radar station. The radar site was located at the summit of Cottonwood Butte
Cottonwood Butte
Cottonwood Butte is a mountain and modest ski area in northern Idaho, west of nearby Cottonwood. Its summit is at an elevation of above sea level and is the highest point on the Camas Prairie, above Cottonwood.-Ski area:...
, 5.7 miles (9.2 km) west-northwest of Cottonwood
Cottonwood, Idaho
Cottonwood is a city in Idaho County, Idaho, United States. The population was 900 at the 2010 census. Cottonwood is just west of U.S. Route 95, between Grangeville and Lewiston.-Cottonwood Butte:...
in Idaho County, Idaho
Idaho County, Idaho
Idaho County is a county located in the U.S. state of Idaho. As of the 2010 Census the county had a population of 16,267. The county seat is Grangeville...
. It was closed in 1965 and transferred to the state of Idaho in 1974, when it was converted to its present use as a minimum-security correctional facility.
Cottonwood Peak Air Force Station was initially part of Phase II of the Air Defense Command Mobile Radar program. The Air Force approved this expansion of the Mobile Radar program on October 23, 1952. Radars in this network were designated "SM."
History
The station became operational on 1 July 1958 when the 822d Aircraft Control and Warning Squadron was assigned to the new station by the 9th Air Division9th Air Division
Several air forces and space forces have included a 9th Air Division:*9th Air Division, of the Luftwaffe*9th Anti-Missile Defence Division of the Russian Space Forces*9th Assault Ropshinskaya red banner, Order of Ushakov Air Division of Soviet Naval Aviation...
. The station consisted of 66 buildings, including operation and administrative facilities, 3 dormitories, 27 family housing units, 3 radar domes, and the normal support facilities/utilities. The site was divided into three general areas: the operations area at the summit, cantonment
Cantonment
A cantonment is a temporary or semi-permanent military or police quarters. The word cantonment is derived from the French word canton meaning corner or district, as is the name of the Cantons of Switzerland. In South Asia, the term cantonment also describes permanent military stations...
area at mid-mountain, and a family housing area at the north end of the city of Cottonwood
Cottonwood, Idaho
Cottonwood is a city in Idaho County, Idaho, United States. The population was 900 at the 2010 census. Cottonwood is just west of U.S. Route 95, between Grangeville and Lewiston.-Cottonwood Butte:...
. The 822d AC&W operated used AN/MPS-7, AN/MPS-14, and AN/FPS-6 radars, and initially the station functioned as a Ground-Control Intercept (GCI) and warning station. As a GCI station, the squadron's role was to guide interceptor aircraft toward unidentified intruders picked up on the unit's radar scopes.
During 1960 Cottonwood AFS joined the Semi Automatic Ground Environment
Semi Automatic Ground Environment
The Semi-Automatic Ground Environment was an automated control system for tracking and intercepting enemy bomber aircraft used by NORAD from the late 1950s into the 1980s...
(SAGE) system, feeding data to DC-07 at Larson AFB, Washington. After joining, the squadron was re-designated as the 822d Radar Squadron (SAGE) on 1 September 1960. The radar squadron provided information 24/7 the SAGE Direction Center where it was analyzed to determine range, direction altitude speed and whether or not aircraft were friendly or hostile. In 1962 the 822d began operating an AN/FPS-24 search radar and an additional AN/FPS-6B radar, as the AN/MPS-7 and AN/MPS-14 units were retired. In 1964 the AN/FPS-6B was upgraded to an AN/FPS-90 and Cottonwood AFS was shifted to feeding data to the SAGE Data center DC-12 at McChord AFB.
In addition to the main facility, Cottonwood operated an AN/FPS-14 Gap Filler site:
- Waha, ID (SM-150A) 46°17′30"N 116°53′01"W
The closure of the base was announced in November 1964.
A catastrophic bearing failure in the AN/FPS-24 antenna pedestal led to an early shutdown of the station and the inactivation of the 822nd Radar Squadron on 25 June 1965 (only two or three years after the AN/FPS-24 radome was installed over the antenna) as part of fiscal year 1965 cutbacks.
The Cantonment Area was used from 1965 to 1974 by the Office of Economic Opportunity as a Job Corps
Job Corps
Job Corps is a program administered by the United States Department of Labor that offers free-of-charge education and vocational training to youth ages 16 to 24.-Mission and purpose:...
Center. The State of Idaho Dept. of Corrections acquired the property in 1974, and has occupied the site ever since as North Idaho Correctional Institution. This is a program-specific prison designed for male offenders sentenced to a retained jurisdiction commitment by the court. It provides a sentencing alternative for the courts to target those offenders who might, after a period of programming and evaluation, be viable candidates for probation rather than incarceration.
Today most of the radar site on the mountain summit is torn down. The AN/FPS-24 tower still stands but little else, as only building foundations and deteriorated streets remain.
Air Force units and assignments
Units:- 822d Aircraft Control and Warning Squadron, Assigned 1 July 1958
-
- Activated by 9th Air Division at Geiger Field, Washington, 1 February 1957
- Re-designated 822d Radar Squadron (SAGE), 1 September 1960
- Discontinued on 25 June 1965
Assignments:
- 9th Air Division9th Air DivisionSeveral air forces and space forces have included a 9th Air Division:*9th Air Division, of the Luftwaffe*9th Anti-Missile Defence Division of the Russian Space Forces*9th Assault Ropshinskaya red banner, Order of Ushakov Air Division of Soviet Naval Aviation...
, 1 July 1958 - 25th Air Division, 15 August 1958
- 4700th Air Defense Wing4700th Air Defense WingThe 4700th Air Defense Wing is a discontinued United States Air Force organization. Its last assignment was with the Spokane Air Defense Sector, being stationed at Geiger Field, Washington. It was discontinued on 30 June 1960-History:...
, 1 September 1958 - Spokane Air Defense SectorSpokane Air Defense SectorThe Spokane Air Defense Sector is an inactive United States Air Force organization. Its last assignment was with the Air Defense Command 25th Air Division, being stationed at Larson Air Force Base, Washington.-History:...
, 15 March 1960 - Seattle Air Defense Sector, 1 June 1963-25 June 1965