Topsham Air Force Station
Encyclopedia
Topsham Air Force Station is a closed United States Air Force
station. It is located 2.1 miles (3.4 km) north of Brunswick, Maine
. It was closed in 1969.
(BaADS), which was activated activated on 8 January 1957.
In 1958 a Semi Automatic Ground Environment
(SAGE) Data Center (DC-05) was established at Topsham AFS. The SAGE system was a network linking Air Force (and later FAA) General Surveillance Radar stations into a centralized center for Air Defense, intended to provide early warning and response for a Soviet nuclear attack. A GATR site (R-25) was also constructed at Topsham as part of the 654th Radar Squadron at Brunswick AFS, but was reassigned to the BaADS at Topsham AFS when the 654th RADS was deactivated in 1965.
The BaADS was absorbed by the 36th Air Division, being moved to Topsham from Davis Monthan AFB, Arizona on 1 April 1966. DC-02 with its AN/FSQ-7
computer remained under the 34th AD until it, and the Air Division was inactivated on 30 September 1969 when technology advances allowed the Air Force to shut down many SAGE Data Centers.
With the inactivation of the 36th AD, the station and GATR site were closed. The former Topsham AFS is now an annex of NAS Brunswick. The SAGE DC blockhouse was demolished in August 1985 and is now a recreation field.
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. It is located 2.1 miles (3.4 km) north of Brunswick, Maine
Brunswick, Maine
Brunswick is a town in Cumberland County, Maine, United States. The population was 20,278 at the 2010 census. It is part of the Portland-South Portland-Biddeford metropolitan area. Brunswick is home to Bowdoin College, the Bowdoin College Museum of Art, the Peary-MacMillan Arctic Museum, , and the...
. It was closed in 1969.
History
Topsham AFS was initially the headquarters of the Air Defense Command Bangor Air Defense SectorBangor Air Defense Sector
The Bangor 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 Topsham Air Force Station, Maine...
(BaADS), which was activated activated on 8 January 1957.
In 1958 a 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-05) was established at Topsham AFS. The SAGE system was a network linking Air Force (and later FAA) General Surveillance Radar stations into a centralized center for Air Defense, intended to provide early warning and response for a Soviet nuclear attack. A GATR site (R-25) was also constructed at Topsham as part of the 654th Radar Squadron at Brunswick AFS, but was reassigned to the BaADS at Topsham AFS when the 654th RADS was deactivated in 1965.
The BaADS was absorbed by the 36th Air Division, being moved to Topsham from Davis Monthan AFB, Arizona on 1 April 1966. DC-02 with its AN/FSQ-7
AN/FSQ-7
The AN/FSQ-7 was a computer model developed and built in the 1950s by IBM in partnership with the US Air Force. Fifty-two were built and used for command and control functions for the Semi Automatic Ground Environment air-defense system...
computer remained under the 34th AD until it, and the Air Division was inactivated on 30 September 1969 when technology advances allowed the Air Force to shut down many SAGE Data Centers.
With the inactivation of the 36th AD, the station and GATR site were closed. The former Topsham AFS is now an annex of NAS Brunswick. The SAGE DC blockhouse was demolished in August 1985 and is now a recreation field.
Known ADCOM units assigned
- 36th Air Division, 1 April 1966-30 September 1969
- Bangor Air Defense SectorBangor Air Defense SectorThe Bangor 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 Topsham Air Force Station, Maine...
, 8 January 1957-1 April 1966