Empire Air Force Station
USA /
Michigan /
Empire /
World
/ USA
/ Michigan
/ Empire
World / United States / Michigan
military, radar station, United States Air Force
Empire Air Force Station is a former United States Air Force Aerospace Defense Command (ADC) long range radar site located about a mile south of Empire, Michigan.
The radar site was operated by the 752nd Aircraft Control and Warning (AC&W) squadron, starting in late 1951. The unit operated and maintained an AN/CPS-6B radar at this site. In 1958 this radar was replaced by an AN/FPS-6. A second height-finder radar arrived a year later.
In 1960 Empire site began operating an AN/FPS-7 radar, and joined the SAGE system. One of the AN/FPS-6 height-finder radars was supplanted by an AN/FPS-26A in 1963.
In 1964 Empire site became an ADC/FAA (Federal Aviation Administration) Joint Surveillance System (JSS) site.
The 752nd Radar Squadron (SAGE) was deactivated in April 1978, and the AN/FPS-26A height-finder was decommissioned in this time frame. The FAA assumed control of the radar operations area except for the AN/FPS-6 height-finder radar (now modified to the AN/FPS-116 variant). The National Park Service assumed control of the rest of the property.
Circa 1980 or 1981, the AN/FPS-7 search radar was replaced by an FAA model ARSR-3 search radar. The AN/FPS-116 height-finder radar was removed circa 1988. The ARSR-3 was replaced by an ARSR-4 in the late 1990’s.
Many of the veterans of this site still reside in the area and in Traverse City, Michigan, approximately 26 miles east of Empire. The museum in Empire has a full history of the air station, including a historical marker and the original rock marker for the Dining Hall on display. Reunions are held annually for the veterans of Empire AFS.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Semi_Automatic_Ground_Environment
The radar site was operated by the 752nd Aircraft Control and Warning (AC&W) squadron, starting in late 1951. The unit operated and maintained an AN/CPS-6B radar at this site. In 1958 this radar was replaced by an AN/FPS-6. A second height-finder radar arrived a year later.
In 1960 Empire site began operating an AN/FPS-7 radar, and joined the SAGE system. One of the AN/FPS-6 height-finder radars was supplanted by an AN/FPS-26A in 1963.
In 1964 Empire site became an ADC/FAA (Federal Aviation Administration) Joint Surveillance System (JSS) site.
The 752nd Radar Squadron (SAGE) was deactivated in April 1978, and the AN/FPS-26A height-finder was decommissioned in this time frame. The FAA assumed control of the radar operations area except for the AN/FPS-6 height-finder radar (now modified to the AN/FPS-116 variant). The National Park Service assumed control of the rest of the property.
Circa 1980 or 1981, the AN/FPS-7 search radar was replaced by an FAA model ARSR-3 search radar. The AN/FPS-116 height-finder radar was removed circa 1988. The ARSR-3 was replaced by an ARSR-4 in the late 1990’s.
Many of the veterans of this site still reside in the area and in Traverse City, Michigan, approximately 26 miles east of Empire. The museum in Empire has a full history of the air station, including a historical marker and the original rock marker for the Dining Hall on display. Reunions are held annually for the veterans of Empire AFS.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Semi_Automatic_Ground_Environment
Wikipedia article: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Empire_Air_Force_Station
Nearby cities:
Coordinates: 44°48'9"N 86°3'10"W
- Camp Grayling 85 km
- Alpena County Regional Airport and Capt. Phelps Collins Air National Guard Base (APN/KAPN) 198 km
- Naval Radio Transmitter Facility, Republic 231 km
- Fort Custer Military Res 280 km
- Joliet Army Ammunition Plant (CLOSED) 414 km
- Land Force Central Area Training Centre Meaford 418 km
- NASA Plum Brook Station 466 km
- Canadian Forces Base Borden 484 km
- Camp Ravenna Joint Military Training Center 561 km
- Unmaintained Seneca Portion of I-90 611 km
- Empire Township 4.3 km
- Kasson Township 14 km
- Benzie County Michigan 18 km
- Dickson Township 57 km
- Norman Township 67 km
- Meade Township 76 km
- Freesoil Township 76 km
- Grant Township 79 km
- Newkirk Township 85 km
- Lake County Michigan 92 km
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