Grand Rapids Air Force Station

 (1956-1963) - A Cold War U.S. Air Force Radar Station. Located near Grand Rapids, Itasca County, Minnesota. Initially assigned a Permanent ID of SM-138 and Sage ID of Z-138. Closed in 1963.

History
Established in 1956 and became operational on 1 Feb 1957 as Grand Rapids Air Force Station manned by the 707th Radar Squadron (SAGE).

Initial equipment included the FPS-3 search radar and one FPS-6 height-finder radar. The FPS-3 was upgraded to a FPS-20 in 1958 and later to updated to a FPS-20A. In 1959 a second height-finder was added, a FPS-6B. This configuration met the requirements for the transition to the SAGE System operation.

SAGE System Operation
The FST-2 was installed and the site began operation as a SAGE site in 1959 feeding the Duluth SAGE Direction Center DC-10.

The FPS-20A search radar was upgraded to become a FPS-67 in 1962.

Closure
Grand Rapids AFS and the 707th were deactivated in 1963.

Physical Plant
The physical plant of the site was divided into the main site, a cantonment area, a housing area and two radio sites. The main site housed the operations buildings, the radar towers, and the backup generators. The cantonment area housed the enlisted barracks, the bachelor officer's quarters, the orderly room, the dining hall, the motor pool and other support buildings. Apart from the main site was a small 19 unit housing area for married personnel.

A separate radio site housed the radio equipment for directing aircraft intercepts.

Current Status
The main site is overbuilt with new construction. Parts of the Radio Transmitter and Receiver site still exist. The housing area is in private owners hands. Cantonment area is overbuilt.

See Also:
 * SAGE System
 * Permanent System Radar Sites
 * US Radar Sets
 * Duluth SAGE Direction Center DC-10

Sources:
 * , page 162.
 * , page 127.

Links:
 * Radomes - Grand Rapids Air Force Station
 * Wikipedia - Grand Rapids Air Force Station
 * Waymarking - Grand Rapids Air Force Station