Baudette Air Force Station

Baudette Air Force Station is a closed United States Air Force General Surveillance Radar station. It is located 3.1 miles (5.0 km) south-southwest of Baudette, Minnesota. It was closed in 1979.

Baudette Air Force Station
Part of Air Defense Command
Baudette AFS
Location of Baudette AFS, Minnesota
Coordinates48°40′12″N 094°37′07″W
TypeAir Force Station
CodeADC ID: SM-132, NORAD ID: Z-132
Site information
Controlled by United States Air Force
Site history
Built1958
In use1958-1979
Garrison information
Garrison692d Air Defense Group
692d Aircraft Control and Warning Squadron (later Radar Squadron)
Emblem of the 692d Radar Squadron

History

Baudette 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 became operational on 1 October 1958 when the 692d Aircraft Control and Warning Squadron[1] began operating an AN/FPS-3 and a pair of AN/FPS-6 height-finder 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 1959 Baudette AFS joined the Semi Automatic Ground Environment (SAGE) system, feeding data to DC-10 at Duluth IAP, Minnesota. After joining, the squadron was redesignated as the 692d Radar Squadron (SAGE) on 15 December 1959.[1] The radar squadron provided information around the clock to 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 Baudette received an AN/FPS-24 search radar, and during 1963 an AN/FPS-26A height-finder radar was installed, replacing one AN/FPS-6, and the other AN/FPS-6 height-finder radar was upgraded to an AN/FPS-90. On 31 July 1963, the site was redesignated as NORAD ID Z-132.

In addition to the main facility, Baudette operated the following AN/FPS-18 Gap Filler sites:

Over the years, the equipment at the station was upgraded or modified to improve the efficiency and accuracy of the information gathered by the radars. The AN/FPS-90 height-finder radar was retired in late 1971.

The 692nd Radar Sq was inactivated[1] and replaced by the 692d Air Defense Group in March 1970.[2] The upgrade to group status was done because of Baudette AFS' status as a Backup Interceptor Control (BUIC) site. BUIC sites were alternate control sites in the event that SAGE Direction Centers became disabled and unable to control interceptor aircraft. The group was awarded the Air Force Outstanding Unit Award for exceptionally meritorious service for the period 1 June 1971 through 31 May 1973[3] The group was inactivated[2] and replaced by the 692nd Radar Squadron[1] as defenses against manned bombers were reduced. The group was disbanded in 1984.[4] The 692d Radar Squadron was inactivated on 1 July 1979[1] as part of the phase-down of Aerospace Defense Command.

Today, the former Baudette Air Force Station is a cold-weather automobile test facility used by Acura. Many USAF buildings remain and in use and the station is well maintained, along with the large AN/FPS-24 search radar tower.

Air Force units and assignments

Units
  • Constituted as 692nd Aircraft Control and Warning Squadron
Activated at Snelling AFS, Minnesota, 8 August 1958 (not manned or equipped)
Moved to Baudette AFS on 1 October 1958
Redesignated 692nd Radar Squadron (SAGE) on 15 December 1959
Inactivated on 1 March 1970
Redesignated 692nd Radar Squadron on 1 January 1974
Activated on 17 January 1974
Inactivated on 1 July 1979[1]
  • Constituted as 692nd Air Defense Group on 13 February 1970
Activated on 1 March 1970
Inactivated on 17 January 1974[2]
Disbanded on 27 September 1984[4]

Awards
Award streamerAwardDatesNotes
Air Force Outstanding Unit Award692d Air Defense Group 1 June 1971 - 31 May 1973[3]

Commanders
  • Lt Col. B.E. Thayer, 1 March 1970 - 1970[5]
  • Lt Col. Walter M. Adcock, 1970 - unknown[6]
  • Lt Col Carl A. Lindberg, 30 August 1961 - 3 August 1963 Source: That Officer's AF Form 11 (supplied by his oldest son, Carl A. Lindberg Jr.).

Assignments

See also

References

Notes
  1. Cornett & Johnson, p. 161
  2. Cornett, & Johnson,p.86
  3. AF Pamphlet 900-2, 30 Sep 76 , p. 87
  4. Department of the Air Force/MPM Letter 575q, 27 Sep 1984, Subject: Disbandment of Units
  5. "Abstract, History of 692nd Air Defense Group, Jan (sic)-Mar 1970". Air Force History Index. Retrieved January 12, 2012.
  6. "Abstract, History of 692nd Air Defense Group, Jul-Sep 1970". Air Force History Index. Retrieved January 12, 2012.

Bibliography

 This article incorporates public domain material from the Air Force Historical Research Agency website http://www.afhra.af.mil/.

Further reading

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