Bethany Beach WWII Radar Site (1)

 (1943-1946) - A World War II U.S. Army Radar Site established in 1943. Used to provide fire control information to large caliber (6" and above) coastal gun batteries in the Harbor Defense of the Delaware against enemy warships. Located on leased land near Bethany Beach, Sussex County, Delaware. Closed in 1946.

History




Constructed and transferred for use at Bethany Beach on 3 Nov 1943. Construction costs to date of transfer were $ 10,200. The physical plant consisted of a transmitter building, two powerhouses each with a 1000 gallon fuel tank, a 100' steel tower and an antenna housing disguised as a Water tank atop the tower. The three buildings and the tower were prefabricated steel units furnished by the Signal Corps. The buildings and the tower were placed on concrete pads and footings installed by the Corps of Engineers who erected all of the structures. Access to the antenna on top of the tower was by a small hoist operated by an electric motor.

The radar equipment was installed by the Signal Corps. It required 16.3kW of 120/240 AC, 1 phase, 60 cycle power furnished by commercial power backed up by the two on-site generators. The two 25 kW generators were furnished and installed by the Signal Corps.

Site Operation
The Radar track data was provided by telephone to support Battery 119, Battery Smith, as the primary battery and to secondary batteries including Battery 519, Battery 221 and Battery 222. Battery 119 was a 16" gun battery located on Fort Miles.

Closure
Closed in 1946. The SCR-296-A Radar equipment was declared obsolete by AG letter on 17 Jan 1946. The Tower and radar equipment were to be disposed of while the buildings were to be retained.

Current Status
Fire Control Tower 2 is still standing but with no access to the interior. The antenna support pads and the foundation of the transmitter building can all be seen in back of FC Tower 2. The power building pads were not found.

See Also:
 * Fort Miles
 * Battery 119
 * US Radar Sets
 * SCR-296-A Radar Set
 * Northeastern WWII Radar Sites

Sources:

Links:
 * RCW-Corrected to 1 Aug 1944, CDSG.