Fort Ebey WWII Radar Site

 (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 Puget Sound against enemy warships. Located on Fort Ebey on Whidbey Island, Island County, Washington. Closed in 1946.

History


Constructed under project No. RAD 9-137 and transferred for use on 20 Sep 1943 as Fort Ebey SCR-296A Radar Site. Construction costs to date of transfer were $14,300. The physical plant consisted of a transmitter building, one powerhouse with a 1000 gallon fuel tank, a 100' steel tower and an antenna housing disguised as a Water tank atop the tower. The two 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 a single on-site generator. The 25 kW generators were furnished and installed by the Signal Corps.



Site Operation
The Radar track data was provided by telephone to support Battery 248 as the primary battery and to secondary Battery Tolles-B. Battery 248 was a 6" gun battery located nearby, also on Fort Ebey.

The SCR-296A 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.

Closure
Closed in 1946.

Current Status
Part of the 645 acre Fort Ebey Washington State Park. The remains of the Radar Site can be seen in and around Tent Campsite #10. Three of the tower piers are protected by fencing but the adjacent transmitter building foundation is somewhat concealed by debris. The generator building pad is exposed on the north side of the Kettles Trail that passes by the site. Further down the trail is another concealed foundation on the south side of the trail that is thought to be the radar site operation building.

See Also:
 * Fort Ebey
 * Battery 248
 * US Radar Sets
 * SCR-296-A Radar Set
 * Western WWII Radar Sites

Sources:

Links:
 * Fort Ebey RCW-Corrected to 20 Sep 1943, CDSG.