Cross City Air Force Station
Encyclopedia
Cross City Air Force Station is a former United States Air Force
Station that operated under Air Defense Command. It was located just outside Cross City, Florida
. During World War II, it was active as a training base for AAF Tectical Center and Third Air Force
.
A former Air Defense Command radar site It was closed in 1970 by the Air Force, and turned over to the Federal Aviation Administration
(FAA). Today it is part of the Joint Surveillance System
(JSS), designated by NORAD as Eastern Air Defense Sector
(EADS) Ground Equipment Facility J-10.
. Known as Cross City Army Airfield, it was used as part of the Army Air Forces Center (AAF Center)'s combat simulation school in Central and Northern Florida
and as a unit training center by Third Air Force
(3 AF).
Activated on 27 October 1942 as the AAF School of Applied Tactics and headquartered at Orlando Army Air Base, the AAF Center's mission was to develop tactics and techniques of aerial warfare and to establish technical and tactical proficiency requirements for combat units to effectively engage and defeat enemy air forces. This was done with a wide variety of aircraft, including heavy strategic bombers; tactical fighters; medium and light bombers; reconnaissance and dive bombers, based at different airfields of the school.
3 AF assigned the 305th Fighter Squadron (Single Engine), flying P-39 aircraft to the field on 21 October 1942. In June 1943, this squadron was replaced by the AAF Center's 81st Fighter Squadron
(Single Engine), flying P-40 Warhawks until 1 February 1944.
3 AF returned, using the airfield as a training base for air commando units. It assigned squadrons of the 2d and 3d Air Commando Groups to Cross City, training with P-51 Mustang
s, L-5s and other short field aricraft before deploying to India and Burma. Commando units training at Cross City included:
The fighter units trained in gunnery, reconnaissance and field operations. With their departure, several liaison squadrons arrived for training, and Cross City AAF was reassigned to 3 AF's Dale Mabry Field
near Tallahassee, Florida as a sub-base. The airfield was later transferred to the Air Technical Service Command on 1 February 1945 for closure. After the war, the airfield was returned to civil control.
During 1959 Cross City AFS joined the Semi Automatic Ground Environment
(SAGE) system, feeding data to Direction Center DC-09 at Gunter AFB, Alabama. After joining, the squadron was re-designated as the 691st Radar Squadron (SAGE) on 1 October 1959. 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 search radar was upgraded to an AN/FPS-66 radar, and then to an AN/FPS-66A in 1967. In addition to the general radar surveillance, Cross city AFS supported CIM-10 Bomarc antiaircraft missile testing by the 4751st Air Defense Missile Squadron at Eglin Auxiliary Field #9 (Hurlburt Field)
, Florida.
In addition to the main facility, Cross City operated two AN/FPS-14 Gap Filler sites:
On 1 April 1966 the Montgomery Air Defense Sector was replaced by the 32d Air Division. In 1969 one AN/FPS-6 was removed. The Air Force inactivated the 691st Radar Squadron on 30 September 1970 and closed the facility.
Today what was Cross City Air Force Station is now the Florida Department of Corrections Cross City Correctional Institution. Access by the general public is not permitted. Many former Air Force buildings are utilized by the prison. The radar site is still used as part of the Joint Surveillance System
(JSS).
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...
Station that operated under Air Defense Command. It was located just outside Cross City, Florida
Cross City, Florida
Cross City is a town in Dixie County, Florida, United States. The population was 1,775 at the 2000 census. As of 2004, the population recorded by the U.S. Census Bureau is 1,800...
. During World War II, it was active as a training base for AAF Tectical Center and Third Air Force
Third Air Force
The Third Air Force is a numbered air force of the United States Air Forces in Europe . It is headquartered at Ramstein Air Base, Germany....
.
A former Air Defense Command radar site It was closed in 1970 by the Air Force, and turned over to the Federal Aviation Administration
Federal Aviation Administration
The Federal Aviation Administration is the national aviation authority of the United States. An agency of the United States Department of Transportation, it has authority to regulate and oversee all aspects of civil aviation in the U.S...
(FAA). Today it is part of the Joint Surveillance System
Joint Surveillance System
The Joint Surveillance System is a joint United States Air Force and Federal Aviation Administration system for the atmospheric air defense of North America...
(JSS), designated by NORAD as Eastern Air Defense Sector
Eastern Air Defense Sector
The Eastern Air Defense Sector is a United States Air Force unit and a component of the New York Air National Guard. It is stationed at the former Griffiss Air Force Base in Rome, New York.-Overview:...
(EADS) Ground Equipment Facility J-10.
World War II
The airport was opened as a public airfield in April, 1940. In August 1942, the facility was requisitioned by the United States Army Air ForcesUnited States Army Air Forces
The United States Army Air Forces was the military aviation arm of the United States of America during and immediately after World War II, and the direct predecessor of the United States Air Force....
. Known as Cross City Army Airfield, it was used as part of the Army Air Forces Center (AAF Center)'s combat simulation school in Central and Northern Florida
Florida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
and as a unit training center by Third Air Force
Third Air Force
The Third Air Force is a numbered air force of the United States Air Forces in Europe . It is headquartered at Ramstein Air Base, Germany....
(3 AF).
Activated on 27 October 1942 as the AAF School of Applied Tactics and headquartered at Orlando Army Air Base, the AAF Center's mission was to develop tactics and techniques of aerial warfare and to establish technical and tactical proficiency requirements for combat units to effectively engage and defeat enemy air forces. This was done with a wide variety of aircraft, including heavy strategic bombers; tactical fighters; medium and light bombers; reconnaissance and dive bombers, based at different airfields of the school.
3 AF assigned the 305th Fighter Squadron (Single Engine), flying P-39 aircraft to the field on 21 October 1942. In June 1943, this squadron was replaced by the AAF Center's 81st Fighter Squadron
81st Fighter Squadron
The 81st Fighter Squadron is part of the 52d Fighter Wing at Spangdahlem Air Base, Germany. It operates the A-10 Thunderbolt II aircraft conducting close air support missions.-Mission:...
(Single Engine), flying P-40 Warhawks until 1 February 1944.
3 AF returned, using the airfield as a training base for air commando units. It assigned squadrons of the 2d and 3d Air Commando Groups to Cross City, training with P-51 Mustang
P-51 Mustang
The North American Aviation P-51 Mustang was an American long-range, single-seat fighter and fighter-bomber used during World War II, the Korean War and in several other conflicts...
s, L-5s and other short field aricraft before deploying to India and Burma. Commando units training at Cross City included:
- 1st Fighter Squadron (Commando)1st Fighter Squadron (Commando)The 1st Fighter Squadron is an inactive United States Air Force unit. It was last assigned to the Tenth Air Force, based at Camp Kilmer, New Jersey...
, 12–21 June 1944 - 2d Fighter Squadron (Commando)2d Fighter Squadron (Commando)The 2d Fighter Squadron is an inactive United States Air Force unit. It was last assigned to the Tenth Air Force, based at Camp Kilmer, New Jersey...
, 9–21 June 1944 - 127th Liaison Sq (Commando), 21 Jun 44-17 Aug 44
- 155th Liaison Sq (Commando), 21 Jun 44-17 Aug 44
- 156th Liaison Sq (Commando), 21 Jun 44-17 Aug 44
- 157th Liaison Sq (Commando), 19 Aug 44-6 Oct 44
- 159th Liaison Sq (Commando), 18 Aug 44-6 Oct 44
- 160th Liaison Sq (Commando), 19 Aug 44-6 Oct 44
- 341st Airdrome Sq, 13 Aug 44-5 Oct 44
The fighter units trained in gunnery, reconnaissance and field operations. With their departure, several liaison squadrons arrived for training, and Cross City AAF was reassigned to 3 AF's Dale Mabry Field
Dale Mabry Field
Dale Mabry Field was an early airfield located in Tallahassee, Florida, United States established in 1928 and replaced by Tallahassee Regional Airport. It was located at what is now Appleyard Drive and W...
near Tallahassee, Florida as a sub-base. The airfield was later transferred to the Air Technical Service Command on 1 February 1945 for closure. After the war, the airfield was returned to civil control.
Air Defense Command
In 1958, the United States Air Force reestablished a presence on the airport under the operational control of Air Defense Command (ADC). The portion of the field used by ADC was renamed Cross City Air Force Station. The 691st Aircraft Control and Warning Squadron (AC&W Sq) moved from Dobbins AFB, Georgia with an AN/FPS-20A search RADAR and a pair of AN/FPS-6A height-finder RADAR sets on 1 July, 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 1959 Cross City 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 Direction Center DC-09 at Gunter AFB, Alabama. After joining, the squadron was re-designated as the 691st Radar Squadron (SAGE) on 1 October 1959. 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 search radar was upgraded to an AN/FPS-66 radar, and then to an AN/FPS-66A in 1967. In addition to the general radar surveillance, Cross city AFS supported CIM-10 Bomarc antiaircraft missile testing by the 4751st Air Defense Missile Squadron at Eglin Auxiliary Field #9 (Hurlburt Field)
Hurlburt Field
Hurlburt Field is a U.S. Air Force installation located in Okaloosa County, Florida, immediately west of the Town of Mary Esther. It is part of the greater Eglin Air Force Base reservation, and is home to Headquarters Air Force Special Operations Command , the 1st Special Operations Wing , the...
, Florida.
In addition to the main facility, Cross City operated two AN/FPS-14 Gap Filler sites:
- Perry, Florida (TM-200A): 30°04′42"N 083°34′47"W
- Bridgeboro, Georgia (TM-200B/TM-199B): 31°25′28"N 083°57′12"W
On 1 April 1966 the Montgomery Air Defense Sector was replaced by the 32d Air Division. In 1969 one AN/FPS-6 was removed. The Air Force inactivated the 691st Radar Squadron on 30 September 1970 and closed the facility.
Today what was Cross City Air Force Station is now the Florida Department of Corrections Cross City Correctional Institution. Access by the general public is not permitted. Many former Air Force buildings are utilized by the prison. The radar site is still used as part of the Joint Surveillance System
Joint Surveillance System
The Joint Surveillance System is a joint United States Air Force and Federal Aviation Administration system for the atmospheric air defense of North America...
(JSS).
Post-War Air Force units and assignments
Units:- 691st Aircraft Control and Warning Squadron, assigned 1 July 1958
- Activated 1 March 1958 at Dobbins AFB, Georgia (not equipped or manned)
- Redesignated 691st Radar Squadron (SAGE), 1 October 1959
- Inactivated 30 September 1970
Assignments:
- 35th Air Division, 1 December 1957
- 32d Air Division, 15 November 1958
- Montgomery Air Defense Sector, 1 November 1959
- 32d Air Division, 1 April 1966
- 20th Air Division, 19 November 1969-30 September 1970
See also
- Florida World War II Army Airfields
- Army Air Force School of Applied TacticsArmy Air Force School of Applied TacticsThe Army Air Forces School of Applied Tactics was a military training organization of the United States Army Air Forces during World War II...
- List of USAF Aerospace Defense Command General Surveillance Radar Stations