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USAF Survivable Low Frequency Communications System Site, Hawes (site)

USA / California / Lenwood /
 military, communication -to be cleaned / removed, interesting place

Former site of a solid-state transmitter station and tower site. It was built in the 1960s following the closure of Hawes Army Airfield. Hawes Radio Tower was a mast radiator insulated against ground, which provided VLF communication to ground and mobile nuclear missile facilities during the Cold War. It was over 1,200 feet tall and could be accessed via an internal elevator. It transmitted at a maximum power of 100 kW, transmitting data at 5 & 10 characters per second. The facility was partially built into the ground and was designed to withstand a moderate nuclear blast from a distance of 10 miles. The facility was self-sustaining and employed a sophisticated ventilation system as well as backup diesel generators.

The system was a backup for launching the ICBMs that were controlled by Strategic Air Command. An identical transmitter site was located in Nebraska. Another transmitter was located aboard the flying command post, "Looking Glass."

The radio relay site was closed in 1985 with the tower being demolished with explosives the following year. Following the January 5, 2008 execution-style shootings of two teens in the former bunker, the bunker was destroyed by the BLM and US Air Force in April-May 2008.

www.globalsecurity.org/wmd/systems/slfcs.htm
www.airfields-freeman.com/CA/Airfields_CA_PalmdaleN.htm...
www.militaryphotos.net/forums/showthread.php?t=124090&p...
Nearby cities:
Coordinates:   34°55'2"N   117°22'36"W

Comments

  • desu
    The communications bunker was destroyed after two teens were shot execution style here in January '08.
  • jjmaccrimmon
    This bunker was demolished completely in Apr-May 2008 following the murder of two teens there (Jan 08). The families of the teens slain successfully convinced the Air Force to destroy the bunker.
This article was last modified 16 years ago