Lake Charles Air Force Station
Encyclopedia
Lake Charles Air Force Station (ADC ID: TM-194, NORAD ID: Z-248) is a closed United States Air Force
General Surveillance Radar station. It is located 3.8 miles (6.1 km) southeast of Lake Charles, Louisiana
. It was closed in 1995 by the Air Force, and turned over to the Federal Aviation Administration
(FAA).
Today the site is part of the Joint Surveillance System
(JSS), designated by NORAD as Eastern Air Defense Sector
(EADS) Ground Equipment Facility J-14.
The first Lake Charles Air Force Station (ADC ID: TM-194) was as part of the Phase III of the Air Defense Command Mobile Radar program. On October 20, 1953 ADC requested a third phase of twenty-five radar sites be constructed. The 812th Aircraft Control and Warning Squadron
was assigned to the new base on 30 April 1957 by the 33d Air Division. In 1958 the 812th AC&W Squadron activated AN/FPS-3A and AN/FPS-6 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.
On 1 September 1961, the 812th was deactivated, and the Lake Charles site was converted into a gap-filler radar site (M-125D) for England AFB, LA, operating an AN/FPS-18. The FPS-18 inactivated on 30 June 1963 along with the 653d Aircraft Control and Warning Squadron
at England AFB.
The second Lake Charles Air Force Station was opened in 1972 when Tactical Air Command
(TAC) constructed five new buildings at the former Lake Charles (TM-194) site. The new station was designated with NORAD ID Z-248. TAC set up an AN/TPS-43
radar on the newly constructed search tower. Eventually, Aerospace Defense Command
assumed control of the site, and placed AN/FPS-93 and AN/FPS-6 radars at the site. These radars were operated as Operating Location F of the Houston-based 630th Radar Squadron
during 1972 and 1973. Control of the site was reassigned to the 634th Radar Squadron
on 1 January 1973, and inactivated on 1 July 1974.
After the 634th RADS inactivated, activities were assumed by Operating Location D of the Tyndall AFB-based 678th Air Defense Group
as part of the Southeast Air Defense Sector (SEADS). The site continued operations over the next two decades with approximated twenty Air Force and civilian personnel with the 678th ADG tracking aircraft attempting to illegally enter the country. The final radars were an AN/FPS-91A search radar and an AN/FPS-116height-finder radar (retired circa 1988).
Lake Charles AFS closed for good on 30 September 1995, being replaced by a new FAA ARSR-4 Joint Surveillance System
(JSS) site on the northwest side of the city of Lake Charles.
Today, for the first radar Site TM-194, the original Operations Building and the Power Plant are still extant on the west end of the site, and the original HQ Building is still extant near the site entrance. A private residence occupies the site of the original GAG Radio facility, later gap-filler annex (M-125D), on the east end of the site. Nothing visible remains of the site's second incarnation, Z-248. The current owner of the site is McNeese State University
.
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 3.8 miles (6.1 km) southeast of Lake Charles, Louisiana
Lake Charles, Louisiana
Lake Charles is the fifth-largest incorporated city in the U.S. state of Louisiana, located on Lake Charles, Prien Lake, and the Calcasieu River. Located in Calcasieu Parish, a major cultural, industrial, and educational center in the southwest region of the state, and one of the most important in...
. It was closed in 1995 by the Air Force, and turned over to 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...
(FAA).
Today the site is 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...
(JSS), 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-14.
History
Lake Charles Air Force Station was, actually, two different facilities that shared the same location, active in two different eras.The first Lake Charles Air Force Station (ADC ID: TM-194) was as part of the Phase III of the Air Defense Command Mobile Radar program. On October 20, 1953 ADC requested a third phase of twenty-five radar sites be constructed. The 812th Aircraft Control and Warning Squadron
812th Aircraft Control and Warning Squadron
The 812th Aircraft Control and Warning Squadron is an inactive United States Air Force unit. It was last assigned to the 33d Air Division, Aerospace Defense Command, stationed at Lake Charles Air Force Station, Oklahoma...
was assigned to the new base on 30 April 1957 by the 33d Air Division. In 1958 the 812th AC&W Squadron activated AN/FPS-3A and AN/FPS-6 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.
On 1 September 1961, the 812th was deactivated, and the Lake Charles site was converted into a gap-filler radar site (M-125D) for England AFB, LA, operating an AN/FPS-18. The FPS-18 inactivated on 30 June 1963 along with the 653d Aircraft Control and Warning Squadron
653d Aircraft Control and Warning Squadron
The 653d Aircraft Control and Warning Squadron is an inactive United States Air Force unit. It was last assigned to the Oklahoma City Air Defense Sector, Air Defense Command, stationed at England Air Force Base, Louisiana...
at England AFB.
The second Lake Charles Air Force Station was opened in 1972 when 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...
(TAC) constructed five new buildings at the former Lake Charles (TM-194) site. The new station was designated with NORAD ID Z-248. TAC set up an AN/TPS-43
AN/TPS-43
The AN/TPS-43 is a transportable 3-dimensional air search radar produced in the United States originally by Westinghouse Defense and Electronic Division, which was later purchased by Northrop-Grumman. It completed development in 1963 and entered US service in 1968. The entire system can be broken...
radar on the newly constructed search tower. Eventually, Aerospace Defense Command
Aerospace Defense Command
Aerospace Defense Command is an inactive United States Air Force Major Command. Established in 1946 under the United States Army Air Forces, its mission was to organize and administer the integrated air defense system of the Continental United States , exercise direct control of all active...
assumed control of the site, and placed AN/FPS-93 and AN/FPS-6 radars at the site. These radars were operated as Operating Location F of the Houston-based 630th Radar Squadron
630th Radar Squadron
The 630th Radar Squadron is a previous designation of a provisional United States Air Force unit. It is assigned to Air Combat Command, and was last stationed at Howard AFB, Panama...
during 1972 and 1973. Control of the site was reassigned to the 634th Radar Squadron
634th Radar Squadron
The 634th Radar Squadron is an inactive United States Air Force unit. It was last assigned to the 20th Air Division, Aerospace Defense Command, stationed at Lake Charles Air Force Station, Louisiana...
on 1 January 1973, and inactivated on 1 July 1974.
After the 634th RADS inactivated, activities were assumed by Operating Location D of the Tyndall AFB-based 678th Air Defense Group
678th Air Defense Group
The 678th Air Defense Group is a disbanded United States Air Force organization. Its last assignment was with the 20th Air Division, being stationed at Tyndall Air Force Base, Florida. It was inactivated on 1 Mar 1983.-History:...
as part of the Southeast Air Defense Sector (SEADS). The site continued operations over the next two decades with approximated twenty Air Force and civilian personnel with the 678th ADG tracking aircraft attempting to illegally enter the country. The final radars were an AN/FPS-91A search radar and an AN/FPS-116height-finder radar (retired circa 1988).
Lake Charles AFS closed for good on 30 September 1995, being replaced by a new FAA ARSR-4 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) site on the northwest side of the city of Lake Charles.
Today, for the first radar Site TM-194, the original Operations Building and the Power Plant are still extant on the west end of the site, and the original HQ Building is still extant near the site entrance. A private residence occupies the site of the original GAG Radio facility, later gap-filler annex (M-125D), on the east end of the site. Nothing visible remains of the site's second incarnation, Z-248. The current owner of the site is McNeese State University
McNeese State University
McNeese State University is a public university located in Lake Charles, Louisiana, in the United States. Founded in 1939 as a junior college, McNeese experienced growth due to economic activity in the region. It adopted its present name in 1970....
.