CFS Falconbridge

 (1952-1993) - A Cold War Pinetree Line Canadian Forces Radar Station first established in 1952 near Falconbridge, Ontario as RCAF Station Falconbridge. Initially manned by the 33 AC&W Squadron and assigned a site ID of C-9. On 10 Aug 1967 the base was renamed Canadian Forces Station Falconbridge. Closed in 1985.

Canadian Forces Station Falconbridge
Falconbridge was established in 1952 as a Pinetree Line radar site and became operational on 15 Aug 1952 manned by the 33 AC&W Squadron reporting to the No. 3 Air Defence Control Centre (ADCC), located at RCAF Station Edgar. No. 3 ADCC also coordinated the operations of:
 * 32 AC&W Squadron at RCAF Station Foymount
 * 33 AC&W Squadron at RCAF Station Falconbridge
 * 34 AC&W Squadron at RCAF Station Senneterre
 * 912 AC&W Squadron at USAF Ramore Air Station

The original configuration of radar equipment included one FPS-3 search radar and two ISG-98 height-finders. The FPS-3 was mounted atop the four story main operations building and the two ISG-98 height-finders were mounted on two separate towers flanking the main building. The ISF-98 height-finder antennas were designed to rotate synchronously with the FPS-3 antenna providing two slant beams for height detection (they did not nod). Difficulties with the ISG-98 led to the installation of two TPS-501 height-finders on the sides of the main building.

On 19 Jan 1956 the two ISG-98s were dismantled and one stored in each of the separate towers. The two TPS-501s were then moved from the main building onto the separate towers. The ISG-98s were shipped back to the depot on 4 Apr 1956.

The height-finder saga continued with the installation of a separate FPS-6 height-finder tower and the acceptance of a FPS-6 height-finder radar on 5 Oct 1956. Blanking issues initially led to some problems but they were resoved. A second FPS-6 tower and radar set was installed and the TPS-501s were removed. This second tower was completed with a radome on 8 Oct 1960 and the FPS-507 (Canadian version of FPS-6) was accepted on 2 Nov 1960.

The FPS-3 search radar was modified, became an FPS-508 (Canadian version of FPS-20) and was accepted for service on 3 May 1960. On 6 Sep 1960 the Mark X IFF equipment was changed out for new the GPA-501 (SIF) equipment.

With the changes implemented in 1960, the site radar equipment was prepared and configured for the coming SAGE System operation.

SAGE System
In 1962 a SAGE Annex building was constructed at the rear of the main operations building and the FST-2B was installed in preparation for SAGE operation. In 1963 Falconbridge was declared SAGE System ready and the unit designation was changed to 33 Radar Squadron in 1964. As a SAGE radar site the unit reported to the 23 NORAD Region in Duluth, Minnesota, Duluth SAGE Direction Center DC-10, but their data was also fed to the North Bay SAGE Direction Center DC-31.

In March 1972, a detachment of the Air Weapons Control and Countermeasures School (AWC&CS) located in North Bay was established at Falconbridge CFS. The school taught the TQ-3 level Air Defence Technicians Course.

With the SAGE System deactivation in 1983, the Falconbridge radar site became part of the Canada East ROCC, which was declared fully operational in August 1984.

The Squadron was deactivated in December 1985 and the site closed 1 Nov 1986.

Physical Plant
The physical plant of the site was divided into the main site, a cantonment area, a housing area and radio sites. The main site was located on a hill and housed a large four story operations buildings, two flanking radar towers and later two separate radar towers and a SAGE building. The cantonment area below housed the enlisted barracks, the bachelor officer's quarters, the orderly room, a combined mess, the motor pool and other support buildings. Apart from the main site but adjacent to the cantoment area was a 101 unit housing area for married personnel and a small trailer park. Initially, a radio transmitter site and a separate radio receiver site were located on/near the main site. The SAGE System required a separate Ground to Air Transmitter/Receiver (GATR) radio site and that was located near the airport. It housed the radio equipment for directing aircraft intercepts from the SAGE System.

Current Status
Private property. Main site demolished and leveled. Cantonment site has some buildings in use by a development company but the remainder are boarded up. The housing area is in use with some units upgraded. The road to the main site is chained and locked.

See Also:
 * Permanent System Radar Sites
 * US Radar Sets
 * Pinetree Line
 * SAGE System

Sources:

Links:
 * Radomes - Falconbridge Air Station
 * Wikipedia - CFS Falconbridge
 * Military Bruce - RCAF Station Edgar]
 * C & E Museum - CFS Falconbridge Photos
 * C & E Museum - CFS Falconbridge History