Tolicha Peak Electronic Combat Range | military

USA / Nevada / Beatty /
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An Air Force site that is used during Green Flag Exercises to train fighter pilots in the field of Electronic Warfare.
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Coordinates:   37°18'49"N   116°45'57"W

Comments

  • not just fighter pilots...
  • Formally "Tolicha Peak Electronic Warfare Range" or TPEWR; was an integral part of the "Flag" training from Nellis. The most well known of these was Red Flag - an All-Out Combat exercise for All Aircraft crews. The range supported Live Bombing, as well as the Electronic Threats. The nearest town was Beatty, NV and the range crews stayed there at night, then traveled to the range during the day. Although only a Small operation, (maybe up to 100 people) it was a Very Busy place. Missions flew through the range all day, and the Radar crews were tasked to track them, or shoot them down - Simulated of course. Because of the Realistic Conditions, there were quite a few aircraft crashes on the range. In the early 80's, the range was contracted to Ford Aerospace, and the name changed to Tolicha Peak Electronic Combat Range. However, the Military personnel were gone by then and never used that name.
  • I was one of the USAF personnel that originally set up and operated on Tolicha Peak installation which at the time consisted of 3 radar units, AN/MLQ-T3, AN/MPS-19 and a smaller one man unit nomenclature excapes me.
  • I was a ground radio tech (AFSC 30454) there in 1977-78. We were stationed at Nellis AFB, drove up to Beatty every week, where we lived in over-priced, definitely not 4-star lodging. Everyday we would take a long ride up the hill to the site in trucks. Once a fighter plane crashed near us (the pilot died), and another dropped dropped a phosphorus bomb a bit too close for comfort. I worked on ancient tube-radios that were used in WWII. But what a great group of people to work with!
  • I also worked at TP in the early 90s. I had worked with the old TEWTS (1972 - 1976) when these radar systems where used in Lincoln Co (near Panaca) to train Wild Weasel crew prior to their going to SEA. I had my 'own' MRC-45 radio van. Good time then. Then it all moved to Tonopah.range complex. I had to travel to Tonopah as well. It all sucked to the max - and a major reason they contracted the work out.
This article was last modified 18 years ago