| Havre Air Force Station | |
|---|---|
| Part of Air Defense Command (ADC) | |
| Type | Air Force Station |
| Built | 1951 |
| In use | 1951-1979 |
| Controlled by | United States Air Force |
| Garrison | 778th Aircraft Control and Warning Squadron |
Havre Air Force Station (ADC ID: P-25, NORAD ID: Z-25) is a closed United States Air Force General Surveillance Radar station. It is located 26 miles (42 km) north-northwest of Havre, Montana. It was closed in 1979.
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In late 1951 Air Defense Command selected Simpson, Montana as a site for one of twenty-eight radar stations built as part of the second segment of the permanent radar surveillance network. Prompted by the start of the Korean War, on July 11, 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 July 21, the Air Force directed the Corps of Engineers to proceed with construction.
On 1 March 1951 the 778th Aircraft control and Warning Squadron was activated at Simpson and began operating AN/FPS-3 and AN/FPS-4 radars, and initially the station functioned as a Ground-Control Intercept (GCI) and warning station. As a GCI station, the squadron's role was to guide interceptor aircraft toward unidentified intruders picked up on the unit's radar scopes. The site was renamed Havre Air Force Station on 1 December 1953. The Air Force added an AN/GPS-3 c. late 1958 that stayed until 1965.
During 1961 Havre AFS joined the Semi Automatic Ground Environment (SAGE) system, initially feeding data to DC-20 at Malmstrom AFB, Montana. After joining, the squadron was re-designated as the 778th Radar Squadron (SAGE) on 1 March 1961. The radar squadron provided information 24/7 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 NORAD ID Z-25.
In the early 1960s AN/FPS-6 and AN/FPS-6B radars took over height-finder duties. The AN/FPS-6B was upgraded to an AN/FPS-90 in 1964; it was deactivated in 1969. In 1965 an AN/FPS-27 replaced the AN/GPS-3 as the search radar.
In addition to the main facility, Havre operated two AN/FPS-18 Gap Filler sites:
Over the years, the equipment at the station was upgraded or modified to improve the efficiency and accuracy of the information gathered by the radars. As a Backup Interceptor Control (BUIC) site, from 1970-1974, the 778th Radar Sq was replaced by a like-numbered Air Defense Group. Havre AFS ceased operations on 1 July 1979 with the inactivation of Aerospace Defense Command. The 778th Radar Squadron was inactivated on 28 September 1979.
The station was re-opened in 1986 as a SAC electronic bomb scoring site. Closed again in the mid/late 1990s. In 199 the station was home to the Anchor Academy, a school for troubled teenage boys, but now that is closed. Today, the former Havre Air Force Station is largely abandoned. A few homes remain in the former military housing area are used as private residences.
This article incorporates public domain material from websites or documents of the Air Force Historical Research Agency.