Baker Air Force Station

Baker Air Force Station is a closed United States Air Force General Surveillance Radar station. It is located south of Baker, Oregon. It was closed in 1968.

Baker Air Force Station was initially part of Phase II of the Air Defense Command Mobile Radar program. The Air Force approved this expansion of the Mobile Radar program on October 23, 1952. Radars in this network were designated “SM.”

History

The Station became operational on 1 July 1959 when the 821st Aircraft Control and Warning Squadron was moved to Baker AFS by the 4700th Air Base Wing. The squadron began operating an AN/FPS-35 search radar and an AN/FPS-6 height-finder radar, 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. Baker AFS had the only AN/FPS-35 enclosed by a radome, constructed in 1963.

During 1960 Baker AFS joined the Semi Automatic Ground Environment (SAGE) system, feeding data to DC-16 at Stead AFB, Nevada After joining, the squadron was re-designated as the 821st Radar Squadron (SAGE) on 15 October 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. On 31 July 1963, the site was redesignated as NORAD ID Z-149.

In 1964 an AN/FPS-6A height-finder was added. In 1966 the AN/FPS-6 was retired. Operations ceased on 18 June 1968 as a result of budget restrictions, and the general phase down of air defense radar stations. After it's closure, the containment area became the "New Tribes Mission Training Center". In 2008 the site was offered for sale with a asking price of $750,000.00 To date there has not been much interest due to the asbestos siding on the wood frame constructed buildings. Most of the site remains, the housing area being used for single family homes.

The Radar site has been demolished. The AN/FPS-35 dome was moved and is now used as a high-school gymnasium in Payette, ID

Air Force units and assignments

Units:

• 821st Aircraft Control and Warning Squadron, Assigned to Baker AFS, 1 July 1959

Activated by 9th Air Division at Geiger Field, Washington on 1 September 1957

Reassigned to 25th Air Division, 15 August 1958

Reassigned to 4700th Air Base Wing, 1 September 1958

Re-designated 821st Radar Squadron (SAGE), 15 October 1960

Discontinued on 18 June 1968

Assignments:

• 4700th Air Base Wing, 1 July 1958
• 25th Air Division, 15 May 1960
• San Francisco Air Defense Sector, 1 July 1960
• Reno Air Defense Sector, 15 September 1960
• 26th Air Division, 1 April 1966-18 June 1968

See also

• List of USAF Aerospace Defense Command General Surveillance Radar Stations

References

• A Handbook of Aerospace Defense Organization 1946 - 1980, by Lloyd H. Cornett and Mildred W. Johnson, Office of History, Aerospace Defense Center, Peterson Air Force Base, Colorado
• Winkler, David F. (1997), Searching the skies: the legacy of the United States Cold War defense radar program. Prepared for United States Air Force Headquarters Air Combat Command.
• Information for Baker AFS, OR