Hutchinson Air Force Station
Encyclopedia
Hutchinson Air Force Station (ADC ID: P-47, NORAD ID: Z-47) is a closed United States Air Force
station, a closed United States Navy
naval air station
and a closed Air National Guard
base. It is located 2 miles (3.2 km) west-southwest of Yoder, Kansas
. It was closed for all military use in 1968.
The airfield was reopened in 1971 as Sunflower Aerodrome Gliderport. It is also used by the Federal Aviation Administration
as a long-range radar site data-tied into the Joint Surveillance System
(JSS).
for a naval airfield for training of Student Naval Aviator
s. Construction of Naval Air Station Hutchinson began in October 1942. In addition to the main facility, an additional 3,900 acres were leased for up to 20 additional auxilary landing fields. While construction was ongoing, the Navy used the Yoder Municipal Airport as a temporary training site.
Aircraft initially assigned to NAS Hutchinson were Stearman N2S-3s and N2S-4s, later upgraded to N2S-5s trainers. In 1944, training of pilots and flight crews for Consolidated PB4Y-1 Liberators, a navalized version of the U.S. Army Air Forces' B-24 Liberator
modified for maritime patrol and reconnaissance duties, was also conducted at NAS Hutchinson. At its wartime peak, over 5,000 personnel were assigned. With the end of World War II, NAS Hutchinson was closed and disposed of through the War Assets Administration
in 1946.
During the postwar years, the former naval air station was reopened as Yoder Commercial Airport, which apparently operated as a general aviation airport. The private airport was not successful and was closed in or about circa 1950.
As a result of the Korean War
, the Navy exercised its right of return to the airfield under a reversal clause and reopened the facility as NAS Hutchinson in 1952. Again a training station, NAS Hutchinson was now used for multi-engine training of Naval Air Reserve pilots and aircrewmen using land-based PB4Y-2 Privateers
. In addition of the Privateers, the Navy also had a patrol squadron of P2V-3 Neptunes
active at the station. The Navy remained active at NAS Hutchinson until 1957-1958 when it closed its facilities, most likely due to budget reductions, and transferred the installation to the Kansas Air National Guard
, which renamed the installation Hutchinson Air National Guard Base.
Air Defense Command selected a portion of the then-closed World War II NAS Hutchinson facility as a site for one of twenty-eight radar stations built as part of the second segment of the permanent ADC general radar surveillance network for the United States. Prompted by the start of the Korean War
, on 11 July 1950, the Secretary of the Air Force asked the Secretary of Defense for approval to expedite construction of the second segment of the permanent network.
Receiving the Defense Secretary’s approval on 21 July, the Air Force directed the Army Corps of Engineers to proceed with construction of a radar station on the eastern part of the ground station, about a mile from the runways and ramp/hangars being used by the Navy when it reactivated its facilities.
On 1 May 1951, the 793d Aircraft Control and Warning Squadron (793 AC&WS) was activated at Hutchinson Air Force Station (P-47), the radar site on the facility. In May 1952, the 793 AC&WS began operating a pair of AN/FPS-10 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 1958, an AN/FPS-3 search radar saw duty and a pair of AN/FPS-6A height-finder radars were installed.
In 1957, the Navy began to close its operations at the station and the Air Force and the Kansas Air National Guard took control of the facility, it being renamed Hutchinson Air Force Station and Hutchinson Air National Guard Base, respectively. The Kansas Air National Guard
used the airfield, flight line and most of the support infrastructure of the base (see below,) while administration of the ground station became a function of Air Defense Command.
By late 1959, Hutchinson AFS was performing air traffic control duties for the Federal Aviation Administration
. At this time the site operated an AN/FPS-20 search radar. In the early 1960s, this radar was upgraded and redesignated as an AN/FPS-66. During late January 1961, Hutchinson AFS joined the Semi Automatic Ground Environment
(SAGE) system, feeding data to Site DC-22 at Sioux City AFS, Iowa. After joining, the squadron was re-designated as the 793d Radar Squadron
(SAGE) on 1 February 1962. The radar squadron provided information 24/7/365 to 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-47. By 1963, height-finding duties were being performed by AN/FPS-6A radars, and one was upgraded to an AN/FPS-90 in 1964.
In addition to the main facility, Hutchinson operated several AN/FPS-14 Gap Filler sites:
The 793rd Radar Squadron was deactivated on 8 September 1968, primarily due to budget reductions. With its closure the site was declared excess and closed on 30 September 1968.
's 117th Fighter Interceptor Squadron was formed on the airfield, which was renamed as Hutchinson Air National Guard Base following the Navy's departure. Originally flying F-80C Shooting Stars, the unit transitioned to the RB-57B
reconnaissance variant of the B-57 Canberra
light bomber during 1957-1958. The unit was subsequently renamed the 117th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron
(117 TRS) until its redesignation as the 190th Tactical Reconnaissance Group
(190 TRG), with the 117 TRS as its subordinate operational flying squadron, in 1962.
The unit continued to operate its Canberras at Hutchinson ANGB until 1967, when the 190 TRG and its personnel, aircraft and equipment permanently relocated to Forbes AFB, Kansas after Strategic Air Command
vacated its facilities at the Topeka base and trasnferred Forbes AFB to the Tactical Air Command
.
Today, the unused buildings at Hutchinson are deteriorating, and the airfield ramp and most of the aviation facilities consisting of crumbling concrete and pads separating at the expansion joints. One of the runways appear to be partially maintained in aerial photography, apparently for glider use. A large amount of cargo trailers are parked on part of the former airfield support area, as well as on one of the former 00L/18R former runway. A Kansas Law Enforcement Training Facility was located on the former airfield parking ramp at one time, possibly in a former hangar. Today the hangar has been torn down, and a small test driving track partially remains visible in the former airfield area.
The main support station is now the Hutchinson Community College and Area Vocational School, which have torn down the former military buildings and replaced them with new buildings. Some former military family housing units appear to be in use as private residences.
The Federal Aviation Administration took over operation and maintenance of the former Air Force radars. which are still in use. (N 37 55' 23" W 97 53' 15").
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, a closed United States Navy
United States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
naval air station
Naval Air Station
A Naval Air Station is a military airbase, and consists of a permanent land-based operations locations for the military aviation division of the relevant branch of their Navy...
and a closed Air National Guard
Air National Guard
The Air National Guard , often referred to as the Air Guard, is the air force militia organized by each of the fifty U.S. states, the commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the territories of Guam and the U.S. Virgin Islands, and the District of Columbia of the United States. Established under Title 10 and...
base. It is located 2 miles (3.2 km) west-southwest of Yoder, Kansas
Yoder, Kansas
Yoder is a small unincorporated community in Reno County in the south-central part of the U.S. state of Kansas, about 10 miles southeast of the city of Hutchinson on K-96. Although Yoder is unincorporated, with no city government, it does have a U.S. Post Office and its own zip code...
. It was closed for all military use in 1968.
The airfield was reopened in 1971 as Sunflower Aerodrome Gliderport. It is also used 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 a long-range radar site data-tied into 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).
United States Navy use
In 1942, the United States Navy selected more than 2,500 acres of land near Yoder, KansasYoder, Kansas
Yoder is a small unincorporated community in Reno County in the south-central part of the U.S. state of Kansas, about 10 miles southeast of the city of Hutchinson on K-96. Although Yoder is unincorporated, with no city government, it does have a U.S. Post Office and its own zip code...
for a naval airfield for training of Student Naval Aviator
Naval Aviator
A United States Naval Aviator is a qualified pilot in the United States Navy, Marine Corps or Coast Guard.-Naming Conventions:Most Naval Aviators are Unrestricted Line Officers; however, a small number of Limited Duty Officers and Chief Warrant Officers are also trained as Naval Aviators.Until 1981...
s. Construction of Naval Air Station Hutchinson began in October 1942. In addition to the main facility, an additional 3,900 acres were leased for up to 20 additional auxilary landing fields. While construction was ongoing, the Navy used the Yoder Municipal Airport as a temporary training site.
Aircraft initially assigned to NAS Hutchinson were Stearman N2S-3s and N2S-4s, later upgraded to N2S-5s trainers. In 1944, training of pilots and flight crews for Consolidated PB4Y-1 Liberators, a navalized version of the U.S. Army Air Forces' B-24 Liberator
B-24 Liberator
The Consolidated B-24 Liberator was an American heavy bomber, designed by Consolidated Aircraft of San Diego, California. It was known within the company as the Model 32, and a small number of early models were sold under the name LB-30, for Land Bomber...
modified for maritime patrol and reconnaissance duties, was also conducted at NAS Hutchinson. At its wartime peak, over 5,000 personnel were assigned. With the end of World War II, NAS Hutchinson was closed and disposed of through the War Assets Administration
War Assets Administration
The War Assets Administration was established in the Office for Emergency Management, effective March 25, 1946, by EO 9689, January 31, 1946. American factorieshad produced massive amounts of weaponry during the World War II...
in 1946.
During the postwar years, the former naval air station was reopened as Yoder Commercial Airport, which apparently operated as a general aviation airport. The private airport was not successful and was closed in or about circa 1950.
As a result of the Korean War
Korean War
The Korean War was a conventional war between South Korea, supported by the United Nations, and North Korea, supported by the People's Republic of China , with military material aid from the Soviet Union...
, the Navy exercised its right of return to the airfield under a reversal clause and reopened the facility as NAS Hutchinson in 1952. Again a training station, NAS Hutchinson was now used for multi-engine training of Naval Air Reserve pilots and aircrewmen using land-based PB4Y-2 Privateers
PB4Y Privateer
The Consolidated PB4Y-2 Privateer was a World War II and Korean War era patrol bomber of the United States Navy derived from the Consolidated B-24 Liberator. The Navy had been using unmodified B-24s as the PB4Y-1 Liberator, and the type was considered very successful...
. In addition of the Privateers, the Navy also had a patrol squadron of P2V-3 Neptunes
P-2 Neptune
The Lockheed P-2 Neptune was a Maritime patrol and ASW aircraft. It was developed for the United States Navy by Lockheed to replace the Lockheed PV-1 Ventura and PV-2 Harpoon, and being replaced in turn with the Lockheed P-3 Orion...
active at the station. The Navy remained active at NAS Hutchinson until 1957-1958 when it closed its facilities, most likely due to budget reductions, and transferred the installation to the Kansas Air National Guard
Kansas Air National Guard
The Kansas Air National Guard is the air force militia of the U.S. state of Kansas. It is, along with the Kansas Army National Guard, an element of the Kansas National Guard. It is considered a part of the United States Air Force, as well as of the state....
, which renamed the installation Hutchinson Air National Guard Base.
Air Defense Command use
In 1951 the United States Air ForceUnited 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...
Air Defense Command selected a portion of the then-closed World War II NAS Hutchinson facility as a site for one of twenty-eight radar stations built as part of the second segment of the permanent ADC general radar surveillance network for the United States. Prompted by the start of the Korean War
Korean War
The Korean War was a conventional war between South Korea, supported by the United Nations, and North Korea, supported by the People's Republic of China , with military material aid from the Soviet Union...
, on 11 July 1950, the Secretary of the Air Force asked the Secretary of Defense for approval to expedite construction of the second segment of the permanent network.
Receiving the Defense Secretary’s approval on 21 July, the Air Force directed the Army Corps of Engineers to proceed with construction of a radar station on the eastern part of the ground station, about a mile from the runways and ramp/hangars being used by the Navy when it reactivated its facilities.
On 1 May 1951, the 793d Aircraft Control and Warning Squadron (793 AC&WS) was activated at Hutchinson Air Force Station (P-47), the radar site on the facility. In May 1952, the 793 AC&WS began operating a pair of AN/FPS-10 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 1958, an AN/FPS-3 search radar saw duty and a pair of AN/FPS-6A height-finder radars were installed.
In 1957, the Navy began to close its operations at the station and the Air Force and the Kansas Air National Guard took control of the facility, it being renamed Hutchinson Air Force Station and Hutchinson Air National Guard Base, respectively. The Kansas Air National Guard
Kansas Air National Guard
The Kansas Air National Guard is the air force militia of the U.S. state of Kansas. It is, along with the Kansas Army National Guard, an element of the Kansas National Guard. It is considered a part of the United States Air Force, as well as of the state....
used the airfield, flight line and most of the support infrastructure of the base (see below,) while administration of the ground station became a function of Air Defense Command.
By late 1959, Hutchinson AFS was performing air traffic control duties for 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...
. At this time the site operated an AN/FPS-20 search radar. In the early 1960s, this radar was upgraded and redesignated as an AN/FPS-66. During late January 1961, Hutchinson 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 Site DC-22 at Sioux City AFS, Iowa. After joining, the squadron was re-designated as the 793d Radar Squadron
793d Radar Squadron
The 793d Radar Squadron is an inactive United States Air Force unit. It was last assigned to the 30th Air Division, Aerospace Defense Command, stationed at Hutchinson Air Force Station, Kansas...
(SAGE) on 1 February 1962. The radar squadron provided information 24/7/365 to 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-47. By 1963, height-finding duties were being performed by AN/FPS-6A radars, and one was upgraded to an AN/FPS-90 in 1964.
In addition to the main facility, Hutchinson operated several AN/FPS-14 Gap Filler sites:
- Ellsworth, KS (P-47A) 38°50′29"N 098°11′49"W
- Wilsey, KS (P-47B) 38°40′02"N 096°44′11"W
The 793rd Radar Squadron was deactivated on 8 September 1968, primarily due to budget reductions. With its closure the site was declared excess and closed on 30 September 1968.
Kansas Air National Guard use
In 1957, with the Navy moving out of the airfield, the Kansas Air National GuardKansas Air National Guard
The Kansas Air National Guard is the air force militia of the U.S. state of Kansas. It is, along with the Kansas Army National Guard, an element of the Kansas National Guard. It is considered a part of the United States Air Force, as well as of the state....
's 117th Fighter Interceptor Squadron was formed on the airfield, which was renamed as Hutchinson Air National Guard Base following the Navy's departure. Originally flying F-80C Shooting Stars, the unit transitioned to the RB-57B
B-57 Canberra
The Martin B-57 Canberra was a United States-built, twin jet engine light bomber and reconnaissance aircraft, which entered service with the United States Air Force in 1953. The B-57 was initially a version of the English Electric Canberra built under license. However, the Glenn L...
reconnaissance variant of the B-57 Canberra
B-57 Canberra
The Martin B-57 Canberra was a United States-built, twin jet engine light bomber and reconnaissance aircraft, which entered service with the United States Air Force in 1953. The B-57 was initially a version of the English Electric Canberra built under license. However, the Glenn L...
light bomber during 1957-1958. The unit was subsequently renamed the 117th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron
117th Air Refueling Squadron
The 117th Air Refueling Squadron flies the KC-135R Stratotanker. It is a unit of the Kansas Air National Guard. Its parent unit is the 190th Air Refueling Wing.-History:...
(117 TRS) until its redesignation as the 190th Tactical Reconnaissance Group
190th Air Refueling Wing
The United States Air Force's 190th Air Refueling Wing is an aerial refueling unit located at Forbes Field, Kansas.-History:...
(190 TRG), with the 117 TRS as its subordinate operational flying squadron, in 1962.
The unit continued to operate its Canberras at Hutchinson ANGB until 1967, when the 190 TRG and its personnel, aircraft and equipment permanently relocated to Forbes AFB, Kansas after Strategic Air Command
Strategic Air Command
The Strategic Air Command was both a Major Command of the United States Air Force and a "specified command" of the United States Department of Defense. SAC was the operational establishment in charge of America's land-based strategic bomber aircraft and land-based intercontinental ballistic...
vacated its facilities at the Topeka base and trasnferred Forbes AFB to the Tactical Air Command
Tactical Air Command
Tactical Air Command is an inactive United States Air Force organization. It was a Major Command of the United States Air Force, established on 21 March 1946 being headquartered at Langley Air Force Base, Virginia...
.
Current status
Totally inactivated as a military installation by 1968 as part of a nationwide reduction of stateside air force and naval air installations to pay for the increasing costs of the Vietnam War, the facility became a private airport in 1971 and primarily used for gliders. The station also became home for several light industrial companies, such as Collins Industries, Consolidated Recycling, Inc., Bella Vista Manufactured Homes, Eaton Metal Tanks, Pioneer Seeds, as the "Hutchinson Air Base Industrial Tract". Many former military buildings were torn down in the late 1960s and 1970s as they reached the end of their service life.Today, the unused buildings at Hutchinson are deteriorating, and the airfield ramp and most of the aviation facilities consisting of crumbling concrete and pads separating at the expansion joints. One of the runways appear to be partially maintained in aerial photography, apparently for glider use. A large amount of cargo trailers are parked on part of the former airfield support area, as well as on one of the former 00L/18R former runway. A Kansas Law Enforcement Training Facility was located on the former airfield parking ramp at one time, possibly in a former hangar. Today the hangar has been torn down, and a small test driving track partially remains visible in the former airfield area.
The main support station is now the Hutchinson Community College and Area Vocational School, which have torn down the former military buildings and replaced them with new buildings. Some former military family housing units appear to be in use as private residences.
The Federal Aviation Administration took over operation and maintenance of the former Air Force radars. which are still in use. (N 37 55' 23" W 97 53' 15").