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Calumet Air Force Station | |
|---|---|
| Part ofAir Defense Command (ADC) | |
| Site information | |
| Type | Air Force Station |
| Code | ADC ID: P-16, NORAD ID: Z-16 |
| Controlled by |  United States Air Force |
| Location | |
  CalumetAFS Location of Calumet AFS, Michigan | |
| Coordinates | 47°22′16″N088°10′14″W / 47.37111°N 88.17056°W /47.37111; -88.17056 (Calumet AFS P-16) |
| Site history | |
| Built | 1951 |
| In use | 1951–1988 |
| Garrison information | |
| Garrison | 665th Air Defense Group 665th Aircraft Control and Warning Squadron (later 665th Radar Squadron) |
Calumet Air Force Station is a closedUnited States Air Force General Surveillance Radar station. It is located 5.2 miles (8.4 km) east-northeast ofPhoenix, Michigan. It was closed in 1988 by the Air Force, and turned over to theFederal Aviation Administration (FAA).
In late 1951Air Defense Command selected the Keweenaw, Michigan site as one of twenty-eight radar stations built as part of the second segment of the permanent radar surveillance network. Prompted by the start of theKorean War, on 11 July 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 21 July, the Air Force directed the Corps of Engineers to proceed with construction.
On 1 May 1951 the 665th Aircraft Control and Warning Squadron[1] began operatingAN/FPS-3 andAN/FPS-5 radars at this northern Michigan site in early 1953, 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. On 1 December 1953 the site was re-designated as Calumet Air Force Station.
In 1956 anAN/FPS-6 replaced the AN/FPS-5 height-finder radar. In 1958 anAN/FPS-20 search radar was deployed at Calumet. By 1961 this radar was upgraded and redesignated as anAN/FPS-64. During 1960 Calumet AFS joined theSemi Automatic Ground Environment (SAGE) system, feeding data to DC-14 atK. I. Sawyer AFB, Michigan. After joining, the squadron was re-designated as the 665th Radar Squadron (SAGE) on 15 July 1960.[1] 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. On 31 July 1963, the site was redesignated as the NORAD ID Z-16.
A turn-over of equipment in 1963 left the site with anAN/FPS-27 search radar along withAN/FPS-26A andAN/FPS-90 height-finder radars. The AN/FPS-90 was removed in the late 1970s.
In addition to the main facility, Calumet operated the followingAN/FPS-18 Gap Filler sites:
The 665th Radar Sq was inactivated[1] and replaced by the 665th Air Defense Group in March 1970.[2] The upgrade to group status was done because of Calumet AFS' status as aBackup Interceptor Control (BUIC) site. BUIC sites were alternate control sites in the event that SAGE Direction Centers became disabled and unable to control interceptor aircraft. The group was inactivated[2] and replaced by the 655th Radar Squadron[1] as defenses against crewed bombers were reduced. The group was disbanded in 1984.[3]
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. Calumet came underTactical Air Command jurisdiction in October 1979 with the inactivation of Aerospace Defense Command and the formation ofADTAC. The station then underwent cease-operations about that time, and the AN/FPS-26A height-finder radar was removed, but the site closing was soon reversed (Allegedly due to Calumet AFS being the only station to pick up a simulated air incursion). On 30 September 1988, the site finally closed permanently. Calumet was then reconfigured as an Air ForceJoint Surveillance System (JSS) site, initially with only the AN/FPS-27. An AN/MPS-11 Search Radar was installed as a gap-filler during the decommissioning of the AN/FPS-27 and the commissioning of the AN/FPS-91A. AnAN/FPS-91A replaced the AN/FPS-27, and later anAN/FPS-116 height-finder radar was installed.
After closure in 1988 ownership of the station was transferred to Keweenaw County, with a portion being used by the Keweenaw Academy reform school, with some facilities being used for cellular, amateur and other radio communications. As with many other closed bases, some of the facilities have become degraded due to lack of use and maintenance. In August 2021 a group ofMichigan Technological University alumni purchased the facility and surrounding land with plans to remediate environmental issues and development into a tourist destination.[4]
This article incorporatespublic domain material from the Air Force Historical Research Agency
Further reading
Municipalities and communities ofKeweenaw County, Michigan,United States | ||
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| Other communities | ||
| Ghost towns | ||
| International | |
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