Hamilton Manual Direction Center P-48

 (1955-1966) - A Cold War Manual System Direction Center first established in 1955 on Hamilton Air Force Base, Novato, Marin County, California. Named Hamilton Manual Direction Center after the location. Assigned a Permanent System ID of P-48. Deactivated as a Manual Direction Center in 1959 and converted to a Manual Combat Center (MCC-6) in 1962. Reconfigured as a SAGE System Combat Center (SCC-5) in 1966 using BUIC II computer equipment. Closed in 1969.

Hamilton Manual Air-Defense Control Center (P-48) (1955-1959)
Established in 1955 and became operational in 1955 as Hamilton Manual Direction Center (ADCC) P-48.

Hamilton Manual Combat Center (MCC-6) (1962-1966)
With the activation of the SAGE System, the Hamilton Manual Direction Center P-48 closed down and the facility was converted into a Manual Combat Center using just SAGE System displays (no FSQ-7/8 Computer) remoted from the Stead SAGE Direction Center DC-16. The Hamilton Remote Combat Center became operational in June 1962.

The Stead SAGE Direction Center DC-16 was deactivated on 1 Apr 1966. From 1 Apr 1966 to 1 Jul 1966, the combat center at Hamilton operated in a manual configuration while new equipment was installed.

Hamilton SAGE Combat Center (SCC-5) (1966-1969)
The Manual Combat Center (MCC-6) was replaced by a SAGE Combat Center (SCC-5) on 1 Apr 1966 in the same blockhouse. Data was fed to the NORAD SAGE Combat Center (SCC-5) blockhouse at Hamilton AFB via the Semi-Automatic Ground Environment (SAGE) system. Instead of an FSQ-8 computer, the Hamilton SAGE Combat Center used a three-string GSA-51 BUIC II computer system (minus BUIC consols). SCC-5 started initial operation on 1 April 1966.

Closure
Headquarters Western NORAD Region was inactivated at Hamilton Air Force Base on 31 Dec 1969 and the Hamilton SAGE Combat Center (SCC-5) was deactivated.

Current Status
The original Manual Direction Center building was leveled and the area it occupied is now overbuilt with houses.

See Also:
 * Stead SAGE Direction Center DC-16
 * Permanent System Radar Sites
 * Permanent Radar System Direction Centers
 * Manual System

Sources:
 * , page 34.
 * 1965 NORAD CONAD History Jul-Dec 1965, page 8, 25-26.
 * 1966 NORAD CONAD History Jan-Dec 1966, page 9.

Links:
 * Radomes - Hamilton Manual Direction Center
 * Waymarking - Hamilton AFB