Baker Air Force Station

Baker Air Force Station
Part of Air Defense Command (ADC)
Baker AFS
Location of Baker AFS, Oregon
Coordinates 44°35′11″N 117°47′14″W / 44.58639°N 117.78722°W / 44.58639; -117.78722 (Baker AFS SM-149)
Type Air Force Station
Code ADC ID: SM-149, NORAD ID: Z-149
Site information
Controlled by  United States Air Force
Site history
Built 1959
In use 1959-1968
Garrison information
Garrison 821st Aircraft Control and Warning Squadron
Emblem of the 821st Radar Squadron

Baker Air Force Station is a closed United States Air Force General Surveillance Radar station. It is located 13.4 miles (21.6 km) south of Baker City, Oregon. It was closed in 1968.

Baker 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 1959 when the 821st Aircraft Control and Warning Squadron was moved to Baker AFS. The squadron began operating an AN/FPS-35 search radar and an AN/FPS-6 height-finder radar, 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. Baker AFS had the only AN/FPS-35 enclosed by a radome, constructed in 1963.

During 1960 Baker AFS joined the Semi Automatic Ground Environment (SAGE) system, feeding data to DC-16 at Stead AFB, Nevada After joining, the squadron was redesignated as the 821st Radar Squadron (SAGE) on 15 October 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. On 31 July 1963, the site was redesignated as NORAD ID Z-149.

In 1964 an AN/FPS-6A height-finder was added. In 1966 the AN/FPS-6 was retired. Operations ceased on 18 June 1968 as a result of budget restrictions, and the general phase down of air defense radar stations. After its closure, the containment area became the "New Tribes Mission Training Center". In 2008 the site was offered for sale with an asking price of $750,000.00 To date there has not been much interest due to the asbestos siding on the wood frame constructed buildings. Most of the site remains, the housing area being used for single family homes.

The Radar site has been demolished. The AN/FPS-35 dome was moved and is now used as a high-school gymnasium in Payette, ID.

Air Force units and assignments

Units

Activated at Geiger Field, Washington on 1 September 1957
Assigned to Baker AFS on 1 July 1959
Redesignated 821st Radar Squadron (SAGE) on 15 October 1960
Discontinued smf inactivated on 18 June 1968

Assignments

See also

References

 This article incorporates public domain material from websites or documents of the Air Force Historical Research Agency.

    External links

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