Oklaholma City Air Force Station
Encyclopedia
Oklahoma City Air Force Station (ADC ID: P-52, NORAD-ID: Z-52) is a closed World War II
United States Army Airfield and a Cold War
United States Air Force
General Surveillance Radar station. It is located 10 miles (16.1 km) east-southeast of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
, just to the southeast of Tinker AFB. It was closed in 1968.
in the fall of 1942 and early 1943 as an aircrew training field. Opened in March 1943 during World War II
, the facility was known as Woodward Army Airfield (AAF) and was assigned to the Third Air Force
, performing medium bomber training for newly-formed groups prior to their overseas deployment to the combat theaters.
In the fall of 1943, the 409th Bombardment Group
trained at the airfield with Douglas A-20 Havocs before being assigned overseas to the Ninth Air Force
in England
. The 408th Fighter-Bomber Group trained at the airfield with a variety of aircraft (A-24, A-26, P-40, and P-47) in the spring of 1944.
The airfield was returned to civil use at the end of the war.
, on July 11, 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 July 21, the Air Force exercised a right of return to the former World War II airfield and directed the Army Corps of Engineers to proceed with construction.
On 1 May 1951 the 746th Aircraft Control and Warning Squadron
was assigned to the new Oklahoma City Air Force Station by the 33d Air Division at nearby Tinker AFB. The squadron began operating a pair of AN/FPS-10 radars from this site in May 1952, 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 746th AC&WS added a AN/FPS-6 height-finder radar in 1958. The AN/FPS-l0’s were phased out, with the last one being removed in 1962.
The 33d AD moved to Oklahoma City AFS on 8 May 1956 and activated a Manual Air-Defense Control Center (ADCC), P-86 for ADC interceptors in Oklahoma, Kansas and the panhandle of Texas. It also formed a number of new Aircraft Control and Warning Squadrons which it deployed to newly-built radar sites in its assigned area. On 1 January 1960, the Oklahoma City Air Defense Sector (OCADS) was established, however it remained a manual ADS, with no SAGE blockhouse being constructed. OCADS was re-designated as the 4752d ADS briefly in 1960-61, then taken over by the 32d Air Division in 1961-63 before being returned to its designation in 1963. On 31 July 1963, the site was redesignated as NORAD ID Z-52. In 1963 the station became a joint-use facility with the Federal Aviation Administration
(FAA), with Oklahoma City AFS using AN/FPS-67 search and AN/FPS-6 height-finder radars.
OCADS was re-established in 1963 and was re-designated as Manual Combat Center (MCC-11)/NORAD Sector Combat Center (Manual). In 1965 the search radar was upgraded to the AN/FPS-67B variant. On 1 April 1966 OCADS was again re-designated as the 31st Air Division
The Air Force closed MCC-11 on 31 December 1969 due to budget reductions. The FAA continues to operate the AN/FPS-67B search radar today as part of the Joint Surveillance System (JSS). What was Oklahoma City Air Force Station is today used by the FAA, with most buildings remaining in use.
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
United States Army Airfield and a Cold War
Cold War
The Cold War was the continuing state from roughly 1946 to 1991 of political conflict, military tension, proxy wars, and economic competition between the Communist World—primarily the Soviet Union and its satellite states and allies—and the powers of the Western world, primarily the United States...
United States Air Force
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 10 miles (16.1 km) east-southeast of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
Oklahoma City is the capital and the largest city in the state of Oklahoma. The county seat of Oklahoma County, the city ranks 31st among United States cities in population. The city's population, from the 2010 census, was 579,999, with a metro-area population of 1,252,987 . In 2010, the Oklahoma...
, just to the southeast of Tinker AFB. It was closed in 1968.
World War II
The facility was built by the United States Army Air ForcesUnited States Army Air Forces
The United States Army Air Forces was the military aviation arm of the United States of America during and immediately after World War II, and the direct predecessor of the United States Air Force....
in the fall of 1942 and early 1943 as an aircrew training field. Opened in March 1943 during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, the facility was known as Woodward Army Airfield (AAF) and was assigned to the Third Air Force
Third Air Force
The Third Air Force is a numbered air force of the United States Air Forces in Europe . It is headquartered at Ramstein Air Base, Germany....
, performing medium bomber training for newly-formed groups prior to their overseas deployment to the combat theaters.
In the fall of 1943, the 409th Bombardment Group
409th Bombardment Group
The 409th Air Expeditionary Operations Group is a provisional United States Air Force unit assigned to Air Mobility Command. It may be activated or inactivated at any time....
trained at the airfield with Douglas A-20 Havocs before being assigned overseas to the Ninth Air Force
Ninth Air Force
The Ninth Air Force is a numbered air force of the United States Air Force's Air Combat Command . It is headquartered at Shaw Air Force Base, South Carolina....
in England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. The 408th Fighter-Bomber Group trained at the airfield with a variety of aircraft (A-24, A-26, P-40, and P-47) in the spring of 1944.
The airfield was returned to civil use at the end of the war.
Air Defense Command
In late 1951 Air Defense Command selected Woodward AAF as a site for one of twenty-eight radar stations built as part of the second segment of the permanent radar surveillance network. Prompted by the start of the Korean WarKorean 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 July 11, 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 July 21, the Air Force exercised a right of return to the former World War II airfield and directed the Army Corps of Engineers to proceed with construction.
On 1 May 1951 the 746th Aircraft Control and Warning Squadron
746th Aircraft Control and Warning Squadron
The 746th Aircraft Control and Warning Squadron is an inactive United States Air Force unit. It was last assigned to the 31st Air Division, Aerospace Defense Command, stationed at Oklahoma City Air Force Station, Oklahoma...
was assigned to the new Oklahoma City Air Force Station by the 33d Air Division at nearby Tinker AFB. The squadron began operating a pair of AN/FPS-10 radars from this site in May 1952, 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 746th AC&WS added a AN/FPS-6 height-finder radar in 1958. The AN/FPS-l0’s were phased out, with the last one being removed in 1962.
The 33d AD moved to Oklahoma City AFS on 8 May 1956 and activated a Manual Air-Defense Control Center (ADCC), P-86 for ADC interceptors in Oklahoma, Kansas and the panhandle of Texas. It also formed a number of new Aircraft Control and Warning Squadrons which it deployed to newly-built radar sites in its assigned area. On 1 January 1960, the Oklahoma City Air Defense Sector (OCADS) was established, however it remained a manual ADS, with no SAGE blockhouse being constructed. OCADS was re-designated as the 4752d ADS briefly in 1960-61, then taken over by the 32d Air Division in 1961-63 before being returned to its designation in 1963. On 31 July 1963, the site was redesignated as NORAD ID Z-52. In 1963 the station became a joint-use facility with 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), with Oklahoma City AFS using AN/FPS-67 search and AN/FPS-6 height-finder radars.
OCADS was re-established in 1963 and was re-designated as Manual Combat Center (MCC-11)/NORAD Sector Combat Center (Manual). In 1965 the search radar was upgraded to the AN/FPS-67B variant. On 1 April 1966 OCADS was again re-designated as the 31st Air Division
The Air Force closed MCC-11 on 31 December 1969 due to budget reductions. The FAA continues to operate the AN/FPS-67B search radar today as part of the Joint Surveillance System (JSS). What was Oklahoma City Air Force Station is today used by the FAA, with most buildings remaining in use.
ADCOM units assigned to Oklahoma City Air Force Station
- 31st Air Division, 1 April 1966-31 December 1969
- 32d Air Division, 1 August 1961-4 September 1963
- 33d Air Division, 8 May 1956-1 January 1960
- Oklahoma City Air Defense SectorOklahoma City Air Defense SectorThe Oklahoma City Air Defense Sector is an inactive United States Air Force organization. Its last assignment was with the Air Defense Command 29th Air Division, being stationed at Oklahoma City Air Force Station , Oklahoma...
, 1 January 1960-1 September 1961; 25 June 1963-1 April 1966
- 4752d Air Defense Wing, 1 September 1961-25 June 1963
- 732d Aircraft Control and Warning Squadron, 8 November 1956-25 July 1957
- 733d Aircraft Control and Warning Squadron733d Aircraft Control and Warning SquadronThe 733d Aircraft Control and Warning Squadron is an inactive United States Air Force unit. It was last assigned to the Oklahoma City Air Defense Sector, Aerospace Defense Command, stationed at Eagle Pass Air Force Station, Texas...
, 8 September 1956-3 July 1957 - 742d Aircraft Control and Warning Squadron, 8 September 1956-1 July 1957
- 746th Aircraft Control and Warning Squadron746th Aircraft Control and Warning SquadronThe 746th Aircraft Control and Warning Squadron is an inactive United States Air Force unit. It was last assigned to the 31st Air Division, Aerospace Defense Command, stationed at Oklahoma City Air Force Station, Oklahoma...
, 8 July 1956-8 September 1968 - 811th Aircraft Control and Warning Squadron, 8 April 1956-1 January 1958
- 812th Aircraft Control and Warning Squadron812th Aircraft Control and Warning SquadronThe 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...
, 8 April 1956-30 April 1957 - 813th Aircraft Control and Warning Squadron, 18 December 1956-1 July 1958
- 814th Aircraft Control and Warning Squadron, 8 May 1956-14 February 1957
- 815th Aircraft Control and Warning Squadron, 8 November 1956-1 November 1957
See also
- Oklahoma World War II Army AirfieldsOklahoma World War II Army AirfieldsDuring World War II, the United States Army Air Forces established numerous airfields in Oklahoma for training pilots and aircrews of AAF fighters and bombers or as major maintenance and supply centers....
- List of USAF Aerospace Defense Command General Surveillance Radar Stations