RCAF Station Saglek
Encyclopedia
Canadian Forces Station Saglek is a Canadian Forces Air Command
radar
base in the Mid-Canada Line
, located near Saglek Bay in Newfoundland and Labrador
. located 367.7 miles (591.8 km) north-northwest of CFB Goose Bay
.
, one of the many that would make up the Pinetree Line of Ground-Control Intercept (GCI) radar sites.
The Northeast Air Command
, the 924th Aircraft Control and Radar Squadron on the station on 1 October 1953. Initial radars installed were AN/FPS-3C long Range Search Radar; AN/FPS-502 small surveillance radar, AN/FPS-87A general Surveillance and an AN/TPS-502 height finder radar.
As a GCI base, the 924th's role was to guide interceptor aircraft toward unidentified intruders picked up on the unit's radar scopes. These interceptors were assigned to the 64th Air Division at Goose AFB, Labrador. The station was re-assigned to the USAF Air Defense Command on 1 April 1957, and was given designation "N-29".
In 1963, the site was connected to the Semi Automatic Ground Environment
(SAGE) Data Center (DC-31) at Goose AFB, and the site was upgraded to an AN/FPS-93A and AN/TPS-502 radars. On 30 June 1971, the USAF transferred control of the site to the Canadian Forces
, which closed the facility.
In the late 1980s, it was designated as a NORAD North Warning System
(NWS) long-range radar site LAB-2. An AN/FPS-124
short-range and an AN/FPS-117
long-range radar appears on the site along with several buildings in aerial imagery.
cleanup in the late 1990s.
Assignments:
Canadian Forces Air Command
The Royal Canadian Air Force , formerly Canadian Forces Air Command, is one of three environmental commands of the Canadian Forces...
radar
Radar
Radar is an object-detection system which uses radio waves to determine the range, altitude, direction, or speed of objects. It can be used to detect aircraft, ships, spacecraft, guided missiles, motor vehicles, weather formations, and terrain. The radar dish or antenna transmits pulses of radio...
base in the Mid-Canada Line
Mid-Canada Line
The Mid-Canada Line, also known as the McGill Fence, was a line of radar stations across the "middle" of Canada to provide early warning of a Soviet bomber attack on North America. It was built to supplement the less-advanced Pinetree Line, which was located further south...
, located near Saglek Bay in Newfoundland and Labrador
Newfoundland and Labrador
Newfoundland and Labrador is the easternmost province of Canada. Situated in the country's Atlantic region, it incorporates the island of Newfoundland and mainland Labrador with a combined area of . As of April 2011, the province's estimated population is 508,400...
. located 367.7 miles (591.8 km) north-northwest of CFB Goose Bay
CFB Goose Bay
Canadian Forces Base Goose Bay , is a Canadian Forces Base located in the town of Happy Valley-Goose Bay, Newfoundland and Labrador....
.
History
The site was established in 1953 as a General Surveillance Radar station. It was used initially by 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...
, one of the many that would make up the Pinetree Line of Ground-Control Intercept (GCI) radar sites.
The Northeast Air Command
Northeast Air Command
The Northeast Air Command was a short-lived organization in the United States Air Force tasked with the operation and defense of air bases in Greenland, Labrador and Newfoundland. It was formed in 1950 from the facilities of the United States established during World War II in Northeast Canada,...
, the 924th Aircraft Control and Radar Squadron on the station on 1 October 1953. Initial radars installed were AN/FPS-3C long Range Search Radar; AN/FPS-502 small surveillance radar, AN/FPS-87A general Surveillance and an AN/TPS-502 height finder radar.
As a GCI base, the 924th's role was to guide interceptor aircraft toward unidentified intruders picked up on the unit's radar scopes. These interceptors were assigned to the 64th Air Division at Goose AFB, Labrador. The station was re-assigned to the USAF Air Defense Command on 1 April 1957, and was given designation "N-29".
In 1963, the site was connected to 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) Data Center (DC-31) at Goose AFB, and the site was upgraded to an AN/FPS-93A and AN/TPS-502 radars. On 30 June 1971, the USAF transferred control of the site to the Canadian Forces
Canadian Forces
The Canadian Forces , officially the Canadian Armed Forces , are the unified armed forces of Canada, as constituted by the National Defence Act, which states: "The Canadian Forces are the armed forces of Her Majesty raised by Canada and consist of one Service called the Canadian Armed Forces."...
, which closed the facility.
In the late 1980s, it was designated as a NORAD North Warning System
North Warning System
The North Warning System is a joint United States and Canadian radar system for the atmospheric air defense of North America. It provides surveillance of airspace from potential incursions or attacks from across North America's polar region...
(NWS) long-range radar site LAB-2. An AN/FPS-124
AN/FPS-124
The AN/FPS-124 is an unattended Radar providing short range, doppler radar surveillance of airborne targets. It provides target information to the Regional Operations Control Center , and employs built-in-test, performance monitoring/fault isolation and system redundancy enabling it to reconfigure...
short-range and an AN/FPS-117
AN/FPS-117
The AN/FPS-117 is a phased array, 3-dimensional air search radar. It is produced by the Lockheed Martin corporation from the United States.The system is a low power, long range , L-band pencil beam, solid-state transmitter and beacon interrogator search radar...
long-range radar appears on the site along with several buildings in aerial imagery.
Current status
The site was targeted for PCBPolychlorinated biphenyl
Polychlorinated biphenyls are a class of organic compounds with 2 to 10 chlorine atoms attached to biphenyl, which is a molecule composed of two benzene rings. The chemical formula for PCBs is C12H10-xClx...
cleanup in the late 1990s.
USAF units and assignments
Units:- 924th Aircraft Control and Warning Squadron, Activated at Grenier AFB, New Hampshire 13 June 1953
- Moved to Saglek Air Station, Labrador, 1 October 1953
- Inactivated 30 June 1971
Assignments:
- 4707th Air Defense Wing4707th Air Defense WingThe 4707th Air Defense Wing is an inactive United States Air Force organization. Its last assignment was with the 26th Air Division, being stationed at Stewart Air Force Base, New York...
, 25 May 1953 - 64th Air Division (NEAC), 1 October 1953
- 4732d Air Defense Group (ADC), 1 April 1957
- Goose Air Defense SectorGoose Air Defense SectorThe Goose Air Defense Sector is an inactive United States Air Force organization. Its last assignment was with the 26th Air Division, being stationed at Goose Air Force Base, Labrador, Canada. It was inactivated on 1 April 1966 and replaced by the 37th Air Division.-History:Command and control...
, 1 April 1960 - 37th Air Division, 1 April 1966
- 21st Air Division, 31 March 1970-30 June 1971
See also
- Saglek AirportSaglek AirportSaglek Airport is located in the Torngat Mountains in northern Labrador and was originally built by the United States Air Force in 1954, as part of the Mid-Canada Line and formed part of RCAF Station Saglek....
- Distant Early Warning LineDistant Early Warning LineThe Distant Early Warning Line, also known as the DEW Line or Early Warning Line, was a system of radar stations in the far northern Arctic region of Canada, with additional stations along the North Coast and Aleutian Islands of Alaska, in addition to the Faroe Islands, Greenland, and Iceland...
- Pinetree LinePinetree LineThe Pinetree Line was a series of radar stations located across the northern United States and southern Canada at about the 50th parallel north, along with a number of other stations located on the Atlantic and Pacific coasts. Run by NORAD , over half were manned by United States Air Force...
- List of USAF Aerospace Defense Command General Surveillance Radar Stations