Las Vegas Air Force Station
Las Vegas Air Force Station
 | |
|---|---|
| Part of Air Defense Command (ADC) | |
| Coordinates | 36°19′07″N 115°34′31″W / 36.31861°N 115.57528°W |
| Type | Air Force Station |
| Site information | |
| Controlled by |  United States Air Force |
| Site history | |
| Built | 1952 |
| In use | 1952-1959 |
| Garrison information | |
| Garrison | 865th Aircraft Control and Warning Squadron |
Las Vegas Air Force Station (ADC ID: SM-163, NORAD ID: Z-163) is a closed United States Air Force General Surveillance Radar station. It is located 26.5 miles (42.6 km) west-northwest of Las Vegas, Nevada. It was closed in 1969.
History
Las Vegas 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 radar site is located on top of Angel Peak, which is north-northwest of the city of Las Vegas, and east of Mt. Charleston.
The station became operational on 1 April 1956 when the 865th Aircraft Control and Warning Squadron was assigned to the new station by the 27th Air Division. The squadron initially used AN/FPS-3 search and AN/MPS-14 height-finder radars at this site. In 1958 an AN/FPS-20A replaced the AN/FPS-3 search radar.
By 15 October 1961 Las Vegas was an ADC/FAA joint-use facility, and provided data for the SAGE system, the squadron being re-designated as the 865th Radar Squadron (SAGE). On 31 July 1963, the site was redesignated as NORAD ID Z-163.
An AN/FPS-26A height-finder radar joined the site in 1963. In 1964 an AN/FPS-27 search radar set was installed, and in 1965 the AN/FPS-20A was retired from Air Force service (reportedly, the FAA retained this radar set). In 1968 the AN/MPS-14 height-finder radar was removed.
The 865th Radar Squadron (SAGE) was deactivated 31 December 1969. The FAA continues to operate the AN/FPS-20A today as part of the Joint Surveillance System (JSS). The lower station is now the Spring Mtn. Youth Camp. Both facilities (SMYC and FAA) are restricted access.
Air Force units and assignments
Units:
Assignments:
See also
References
This article incorporates public domain material from the Air Force Historical Research Agency
- A Handbook of Aerospace Defense Organization 1946 - 1980, by Lloyd H. Cornett and Mildred W. Johnson, Office of History, Aerospace Defense Center, Peterson Air Force Base, Colorado
- Winkler, David F. (1997), Searching the skies: the legacy of the United States Cold War defense radar program. Prepared for United States Air Force Headquarters Air Combat Command.
- Information for Las Vegas AFS, NV
