Hutchinson Air Force Station

Coordinates: 37°55′34″N 097°53′13″W / 37.92611°N 97.88694°W / 37.92611; -97.88694 (Hutchinson AFS P-47)
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Hutchinson Air Force Station
Located near: Yoder, Kansas
USGS photo, 1 October 1991
Hutchinson AFS is located in Kansas
Hutchinson AFS
Hutchinson AFS
Location of Hutchinson AFS, Kansas
Coordinates37°55′34″N 097°53′13″W / 37.92611°N 97.88694°W / 37.92611; -97.88694 (Hutchinson AFS P-47)
TypeAir Force Station
Site information
Controlled by United States Navy
 United States Air Force
Site history
Built1942
In use1952-1968

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

NAS Hutchinson facility as a site for one of twenty-eight radar stations built as part of the second segment of the permanent ADC general radar surveillance network for the United States. Prompted by the start of the Korean War
, on 11 July 1950, the Secretary of the Air Force asked the Secretary of Defense for approval to expedite construction of the second segment of the permanent network.

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

AN/FPS-6
A height-finder radars were installed.

By late 1959, Hutchinson AFS was performing air traffic control duties for the

Sioux City AFS, Iowa. After joining, the squadron was redesignated as the 793d Radar Squadron
(SAGE) on 1 February 1962. The radar squadron provided information 24/7/52 to 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

AN/FPS-90
in 1964.

In addition to the main facility, Hutchinson operated two

AN/FPS-14
Gap Filler sites:

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

References

Public Domain 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