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Colville Air Force Station | |
|---|---|
| Part ofAir Defense Command (ADC) | |
| Site information | |
| Type | Air Force Station |
| Code | ADC ID: P-60 |
| Controlled by |  United States Air Force |
| Location | |
  Colville AFS Location of Colville AFS, Washington | |
| Coordinates | 48°35′27″N117°35′19″W / 48.59083°N 117.58861°W /48.59083; -117.58861 (Colville AFS P-60) |
| Site history | |
| Built | 1950 |
| In use | 1950-1961 |
| Garrison information | |
| Garrison | 760th Aircraft Control and Warning Squadron |
Colville Air Force Station is a closedUnited States Air Force General Surveillance Radar station. It is located 14.7 miles (23.7 km) east-northeast ofColville, Washington. It was closed in 1961.
Colville Air Force Station was one of twenty-eight stations built as part of the second segment of theAir Defense Command permanent radar 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 permanent network. Receiving the Defense Secretary's approval on 21 July, the Air Force directed the Corps of Engineers to proceed with construction. This site took over coverage once provided by the temporary "Lashup" site L-28, Spokane, Washington, which operated between 1950-1952.
The 760th Aircraft Control and Warning Squadron (AC&W Sq) was activated at the new station on 27 November 1950. The squadron began operating anAN/TPS-1B medium-range search radar in March 1951 at the then Lashup-Permanent site LP-60, 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. In November 1951 anAN/TPS-1C replaced the -B model. This radar was subsequently replaced by anAN/FPS-3 long-range search radar and anAN/FPS-5 height-finder radar at this now Permanent site (P-60) in February 1952.
In 1956 the AN/FPS-5 height-finder radar was retired and replaced by anAN/FPS-6 model. Also in 1956 anAN/GPS-3 search radar was installed. In 1958 the 760th AC&W Sq operated a newly installedAN/FPS-20 radar, and the AN/FPS-3 radar was retired. An AN/FPS-6A height-finder was added also in 1958. In 1960 the AN/FPS-20 was modified to theAN/FPS-20A model. During 1960 Colville AFS joined theSemi Automatic Ground Environment (SAGE) system, initially feeding data to DC-15 atLarson AFB, Washington. After joining, the squadron was redesignated as the 760th Radar Squadron (SAGE) on 15 July 1960. 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.
In addition to the main facility, Colville operated severalAN/FPS-14 Gap Filler sites:
In November 1960 this site was closed due to budget constraints. Today the site remains standing, abandoned and severely deteriorated.
This article incorporatespublic domain material from the Air Force Historical Research Agency
