Hutchinson Air Force Station
Hutchinson Air Force Station | |
---|---|
Located near: Yoder, Kansas | |
Coordinates | 37°55′34″N 097°53′13″W / 37.92611°N 97.88694°W |
Type | Air Force Station |
Site information | |
Controlled by | United States Navy United States Air Force |
Site history | |
Built | 1942 |
In use | 1952-1968 |
Hutchinson Air Force Station (ADC ID: P-47, NORAD ID: Z-47) is a closed United States Air Force station. It is located 2 miles (3.2 km) west-southwest of Yoder, Kansas. It was closed for all military use in 1968. It was operated alongside Hutchinson Air National Guard Base when it was operational.
History
In 1951 the
Receiving the Defense Secretary's approval on 21 July, the Air Force directed the Army Corps of Engineers to proceed with construction of a radar station on the eastern part of the ground station, about a mile from the runways and ramp/hangars being used by the Navy when it reactivated its facilities.
On 1 May 1951, the 793d Aircraft Control and Warning Squadron (AC&W Sq) was activated at Hutchinson Air Force Station (AFS) (P-47), the radar site on the facility. In May 1952, the 793 AC&W Sq began operating a pair of
By late 1959, Hutchinson AFS was performing air traffic control duties for the
On 31 July 1963, the site was redesignated as
In addition to the main facility, Hutchinson operated two
- Ellsworth, KS (P-47A) 38°50′29″N 098°11′49″W / 38.84139°N 98.19694°W
- Wilsey, KS (P-47B) 38°40′02″N 096°44′11″W / 38.66722°N 96.73639°W
The 793rd Radar Squadron was inactivated on 8 September 1968, primarily due to budget reductions. With its closure the site was declared excess and closed on 30 September 1968.
Station today
The main support station is now the Hutchinson Community College and Area Vocational School, which have torn down the former military buildings and replaced them with new buildings. Some former military family housing units appear to be in use as private residences.
The Federal Aviation Administration took over operation and maintenance of the former Air Force radars. which are still in use. (N 37 55' 23" W 97 53' 15").
See also
- List of USAF Aerospace Defense Command General Surveillance Radar Stations
- List of United States Air Force aircraft control and warning squadrons
References
This article incorporates public domain material from the Air Force Historical Research Agency
- Cornett, Lloyd H; Johnson, Mildred W (1980). A Handbook of Aerospace Defense Organization, 1946 - 1980 (PDF). Peterson AFB, CO: Office of History, Aerospace Defense Center. Archived from the original (PDF) on 13 February 2016. Retrieved 11 February 2013.
- Winkler, David F.; Webster, Julie L (1997). Searching the skies : the legacy of the United States Cold War defense Radar Program. Champaign, IL: US Army Construction Engineering Research Laboratories. ]
- Information for Hutchinson AFS, KS