Lockport Air Force Station
Encyclopedia
Lockport Air Force Station (ADC ID: P-21, NORAD ID: Z-21) is a closed United States Air Force
General Surveillance Radar station. It is located 0.9 miles (1.4 km) north-northeast of Shawnee, New York
.
It was closed in June 1979 by the Air Force, and turned over to the Federal Aviation Administration
(FAA). The FAA moved to a new site near 42°38′18"N 077°39′10"W near Dansville, New York
as part of the Joint Surveillance System
(JSS), designated by NORAD as Eastern Air Defense Sector
(EADS) Ground Equipment Facility J-02
, NY, when a temporary "Lashup" radar station was established there in August 1950. The 763d Aircraft Control and Warning Squadron was activated with a World War II AN/CPS-6 radar set at Fort Niagara, the site being designated (L-19).
the 763d AC&W squadron moved to its permanent site at Shawnee, NY in September 1951 after enough construction was finished for beneficial occupancy, 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.
The Shawnee site was a joint United States Army/United States Air Force facility with Army personnel establishing Army Air-Defense Command Post (AAFDC) NF-17DC for Nike Missile air-defense system operations for the Niagara Falls-Buffalo Defense Area. The 763d initially began operating a pair of AN/CPS-6B radars, which it operated throughout the 1950s. Shawnee was redesignated as Lockport Air Force Station on 1 December 1953.
During 1959 Lockport AFS joined the Semi Automatic Ground Environment
(SAGE) system, initially feeding data to DC-03 at Syracuse AFS, New York. After joining, the squadron was re-designated as the 763d Radar Squadron (SAGE) on 1 February 1959. 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.
Lockport started operating an AN/FPS-7 radar in 1960. Height-finding chores were handled at that time by a pair of AN/FPS-6s. During 1962 United States Army Nike operations ended, and the Air Force added an AN/FPS-26 to replace one of the AN/FPS-7 height-finder radars.
In addition to the main facility, Lockport operated two unmanned AN/FPS-14 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. Routine operations continued until 29 June 1979 when the 763rd was deactivated and Lockport AFS was closed as part of the phaseout of Aerospace Defense Command
. Today the facility is being redeveloped for commercial uses. A few USAF buildings remain in deteriorated condition.
Assignments:
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 0.9 miles (1.4 km) north-northeast of Shawnee, New York
Shawnee, New York
Shawnee, New York is an unincorporated hamlet in the town of Wheatfield in Niagara County, New York, USA.-References:...
.
It was closed in June 1979 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). The FAA moved to a new site near 42°38′18"N 077°39′10"W near Dansville, New York
Dansville, New York
Dansville, New York may refer to:* Dansville, Livingston County, New York* Dansville, Steuben County, New York...
as 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-02
History
Lockport Air Force Station was part of the last batch of twenty-three radar stations constructed as part of the Air Defense Command permanent radar network. It has its origins at Fort NiagaraFort Niagara
Fort Niagara is a fortification originally built to protect the interests of New France in North America. It is located near Youngstown, New York, on the eastern bank of the Niagara River at its mouth, on Lake Ontario.-Origin:...
, NY, when a temporary "Lashup" radar station was established there in August 1950. The 763d Aircraft Control and Warning Squadron was activated with a World War II AN/CPS-6 radar set at Fort Niagara, the site being designated (L-19).
the 763d AC&W squadron moved to its permanent site at Shawnee, NY in September 1951 after enough construction was finished for beneficial occupancy, 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.
The Shawnee site was a joint United States Army/United States Air Force facility with Army personnel establishing Army Air-Defense Command Post (AAFDC) NF-17DC for Nike Missile air-defense system operations for the Niagara Falls-Buffalo Defense Area. The 763d initially began operating a pair of AN/CPS-6B radars, which it operated throughout the 1950s. Shawnee was redesignated as Lockport Air Force Station on 1 December 1953.
During 1959 Lockport 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, initially feeding data to DC-03 at Syracuse AFS, New York. After joining, the squadron was re-designated as the 763d Radar Squadron (SAGE) on 1 February 1959. 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.
Lockport started operating an AN/FPS-7 radar in 1960. Height-finding chores were handled at that time by a pair of AN/FPS-6s. During 1962 United States Army Nike operations ended, and the Air Force added an AN/FPS-26 to replace one of the AN/FPS-7 height-finder radars.
In addition to the main facility, Lockport operated two unmanned AN/FPS-14 Gap Filler sites
- Brockport, NY (P-21A) 43°11′30"N 077°56′00"W
- Charlotte Center, NY (P-21B) 42°18′16"N 079°10′41"W
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. Routine operations continued until 29 June 1979 when the 763rd was deactivated and Lockport AFS was closed as part of the phaseout of 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...
. Today the facility is being redeveloped for commercial uses. A few USAF buildings remain in deteriorated condition.
Air Force units and assignments
Units:- 763d Aircraft Control and Warning Squadron, assigned 1 September 1951.
-
- Activated on 1 August 1950 at Fort Niagara, NY (L-19)
- Transferred on 1 January 1951 to Shawnee, NY
- Redesignated: 763d Radar Squadron (SAGE), 1 February 1959
- Redesignated: 763d Radar Squadron, 1 February 1974
- Inactivated on 29 June 1979
Assignments:
- 540th Aircraft Control and Warning Group540th Aircraft Control and Warning GroupThe 540th Aircraft Control and Warning Group is an inactive United States Air Force unit. It was assigned to the 32d Air Division, stationed at Stewart Air Force Base, New York...
(32d Air Division), 1 September 1951
-
- Transferred to 32d Air Division, 6 February 1952
- 4704th Defense Wing, 16 February 1953
- 4708th Defense Wing, 1 March 1956
- 30th Air Division, 8 July 1956
- Syracuse Air Defense SectorSyracuse Air Defense SectorThe Syracuse Air Defense Sector is an inactive United States Air Force organization. Its last assignment was with the Air Defense Command 26th Air Division, being stationed at Syracuse Air Force Station, New York.- History :...
, 1 September 1958 - Detroit Air Defense SectorDetroit Air Defense SectorThe Detroit Air Defense Sector is an inactive United States Air Force organization. Its last assignment was with the Air Defense Command 26th Air Division, being stationed at Custer Air Force Station, Michigan...
, 4 September 1963 - 34th Air Division, 1 April 1966
- 35th Air Division, 15 September 1969
- 21st Air Division, 19 November 1969
- 21st ADCOM Region, 8 December 1978-29 June 1979.
- Transferred to 32d Air Division, 6 February 1952
See also
- List of USAF Aerospace Defense Command General Surveillance Radar Stations
- Niagara Falls-Buffalo Defense Area (Nike Missiles)