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| CFS Beaverlodge | |
|---|---|
Part ofPinetree Line  CFS Beaverlodge CFS Beaverlodge (Alberta) | |
 | |
| Site information | |
| Type | Radar Station |
| Controlled by |  Royal Canadian Air Force |
| Location | |
 | |
| Coordinates | 55°13′51″N119°18′19″W / 55.23083°N 119.30528°W /55.23083; -119.30528 (Beaverlodge AS C-21) |
| Site history | |
| Built | 1953 |
| In use | 1953-1988 |
| Garrison information | |
| Garrison | Air Defence Command |
Canadian Forces Station Beaverlodge (ADC ID: C-21) is a closed General Surveillance Radar station. It is located 4.9 miles (7.9 km) east-northeast ofBeaverlodge,Alberta. It was closed in 1988.
It was operated as part of thePinetree Line network controlled byNORAD.
As a result of theCold War and with the expansion of a North American continental air defence system, The site at Saskatoon Mountain was selected as a site for aUnited States Air Force (USAF) radar station, one of the many that would make up the Pinetree Line of Ground-Control Intercept (GCI) radar sites. Construction on the base began in 1952 and was completed by 1953. The base was manned by members of the USAF'sAir Defense Command (ADC)919th Aircraft Control and Warning Squadron, being known as Saskatoon Mountain Air Station.
In February 1953, operations began at the unit's permanent home. The station was equipped withAN/FPS-3C, AN/FPS-502,AN/FPS-20A; AN/TPS-502, andAN/FPS-6B radars. As a GCI base, the 915th's role was to guide interceptor aircraft toward unidentified intruders picked up on the unit's radar scopes. These interceptors were based atLarson Air Force Base in Washington.
The Ground Air Transmitting Receiving (GATR) Site for communications was located at55°13′16″N119°17′01″W / 55.22111°N 119.28361°W /55.22111; -119.28361 (Beaverlodge AS GATR), approximately 1,1 mile southeast from the main site. Normally the GATR site was connected by a pair of buried telephone cables, with a backup connection of dual telephone cables overhead. The Coordinate Data Transmitting Set (CDTS) (AN/FST-2) at the main site converted each radar return into a digital word which was transmitted by the GATR via microwave to the Control center.
In the early 1960s, the USAF relinquished control of the base to the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF). This was part of an arrangement with the United States that came as a result of the cancellation of theAvro Arrow. Canada would lease 66F-101 Voodoo fighters and take over operation of 12 Pinetree radar bases.
Upon hand-over on 1 April 1963, the operating unit was re-designated 57 Aircraft Control & Warning Squadron and the base,RCAF Station Saskatoon Mountain. Radars at the station were also upgraded to the following equipment:
On 1 May 1964 radar operations at 57 Squadron were automated by theSemi Automatic Ground Environment (SAGE) system, and the station became a long-range radar site. It would no longer guide interceptors but only look for enemy aircraft, feeding data to theSpokane Air Defense Sector SAGE DC-15 Direction Center of the25th NORAD Region atLarson AFB, Washington.
In November 1963, 57 AC&W Squadron, RCAF Station Saskatoon Mountain became 57 Radar Squadron, RCAF Station Beaverlodge. The station had a rather majestic postal address of Trumpeter, Alberta. As a result of theunification of the Canadian Forces in 1968, the newCanadian Forces organization absorbed the RCAF, RCN and the Canadian Army. 57 Radar Squadron, RCAF Station Beaverlodge, became simplyCanadian Forces Station (CFS) Beaverlodge in 1966.
Also in 1966, the facilities at Larson AFB were closed, and control of the station was switched to the SAGE Direction Center atMcChord AFB, Washington (DC-12).
The station was administratively accountable to Canadian Forces Air Defence Command, and its successorFighter Group. In August 1984, Beaverlodge became part of the Canada West ROCC. The station carried on its assigned duties until operations ceased on 1 April 1988. Today, the facilities of the radar station have been removed, and the land is now a cleared grassy site with little or no evidence of its military past.
This article incorporatespublic domain material from the Air Force Historical Research Agency
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