Richmond Air Force Station
Encyclopedia
Richmond Air Force Station (ADC ID: Z-210) is a closed United States Air Force
General Surveillance Radar station. It is located 4.7 miles (7.6 km) northwest of Cutler Ridge, Florida. It was closed in 1978. It was later operated by the Federal Aviation Administration
as site "J-06" as part of the Joint Surveillance System
until being destroyed by Hurricane Andrew
on 24 August 1992.
The site was rebuilt by the FAA at Tamiami, Florida
25°38′50"N 080°30′19"W about 1995 designated by NORAD as Eastern Air Defense Sector
(EADS) Ground Equipment Facility J-06A, operating an ARSR-4.
(FAA) in 1959 when it placed an ARSR-1A Radar on the site and it began to feed data into the Air Defense Command SAGE network Data Center DC-09 Gunter AFB, Alabama via though Homestead AFB. On 26 April 1960 the Air Force activated the 644th Radar Squadron
on the site.
The United States Army established Army Air-Defense Command Post (AADCP) HM-01DC at Richmond AFS in 1961 for Nike missile command-and-control functions to support the Homestead-Miami Defense Area. The site was equipped with the AN/GSG-5(V) BIRDIE solid-state computer system. In 1965 it was upgraded to the AN/FSG-l Missile-Master Radar Direction Center.
The Air Force placed two AN/FPS-6 height-finder radars at the site by 1963. In 1965 the search radar was upgraded to an ARSR-1F.
In addition to the main facility, Richmond operated three AN/FPS-18 Gap Filler sites:
Nike missile operations shut down in 1974. One height-finder radar was later removed, and the remaining set was modified to an AN/FPS-116 circa 1977; it was removed circa 1988 with the inactivation of the 644th Radar Squadron.
The FAA continued to operate the site as part of the JSS until 1992 when Hurricane Andrew destroyed the facility. Today it remains derelict.
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. It is located 4.7 miles (7.6 km) northwest of Cutler Ridge, Florida. It was closed in 1978. It was later operated by 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...
as site "J-06" 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...
until being destroyed by Hurricane Andrew
Hurricane Andrew
Hurricane Andrew was the third Category 5 hurricane to make landfall in the United States, after the Labor Day Hurricane of 1935 and Hurricane Camille in 1969. Andrew was the first named storm and only major hurricane of the otherwise inactive 1992 Atlantic hurricane season...
on 24 August 1992.
The site was rebuilt by the FAA at Tamiami, Florida
Tamiami, Florida
Tamiami is a census-designated place in Miami-Dade County, Florida, United States. The population was 55,271 at the 2010 census. Tamiami is a portmanteau of the words "Tampa" and "Miami". The Tamiami Trail, a roadway that connects the two cities, was the reason for this unique combination...
25°38′50"N 080°30′19"W about 1995 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-06A, operating an ARSR-4.
History
Richmond Air Force Station was established initially by the Federal Aviation AdministrationFederal 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) in 1959 when it placed an ARSR-1A Radar on the site and it began to feed data into the Air Defense Command SAGE network Data Center DC-09 Gunter AFB, Alabama via though Homestead AFB. On 26 April 1960 the Air Force activated the 644th Radar Squadron
644th Radar Squadron
The 644th Radar Squadron is an inactive United States Air Force unit. It was last assigned to the 20th Air Division, Aerospace Defense Command, stationed at Richmond Air Force Station, Florida...
on the site.
The United States Army established Army Air-Defense Command Post (AADCP) HM-01DC at Richmond AFS in 1961 for Nike missile command-and-control functions to support the Homestead-Miami Defense Area. The site was equipped with the AN/GSG-5(V) BIRDIE solid-state computer system. In 1965 it was upgraded to the AN/FSG-l Missile-Master Radar Direction Center.
The Air Force placed two AN/FPS-6 height-finder radars at the site by 1963. In 1965 the search radar was upgraded to an ARSR-1F.
In addition to the main facility, Richmond operated three AN/FPS-18 Gap Filler sites:
- Naples, FL (Z-210A): 26°09′16"N 081°46′10"W
- Long Key, FL (Z-210B): 24°49′18"N 080°49′11"W
- Jupiter, FL (Z-210C): 26°55′58"N 080°04′10"W
Nike missile operations shut down in 1974. One height-finder radar was later removed, and the remaining set was modified to an AN/FPS-116 circa 1977; it was removed circa 1988 with the inactivation of the 644th Radar Squadron.
The FAA continued to operate the site as part of the JSS until 1992 when Hurricane Andrew destroyed the facility. Today it remains derelict.