Cherry Point MCAS Radar Site

 (1957-1963) - A Cold War U.S. Air Force Radar Station established in 1957. Located on Cherry Point Marine Coprs Air Station (MCAS), Craven County, North Carolina. Initially assigned a Permanent ID of M-116 and later, a Sage ID of Z-116. Closed in 1963.

History
Established in 1957 and became operational in 1958 as Cherry Point MCAS Radar Site manned by the 614th Radar Squadron (SAGE). The Main site was located next to Base Operations.

Initial equipment included the [FPS-8]] search radar and one FPS-6 height-finder radar. A second FPS-8 was installed, belonging to the Marine Corps but maintained by the Air Force. On 11 Sep 1960, Hurricane Donna blew down the Air Force FPS-8 antenna onto a car below. The antenna was replaced.

SAGE System Operation


The site began operation as a SAGE site on 1 Jul 1961 initially feeding the Fort Lee SAGE Direction Center DC-04. On 1 Mar 1963 the squadron designation was changed from the 614th AC&W Squadron to 614th Radar Squadron (SAGE) indicating the new SAGE System role.

Closure
The Cherry Point MCAS Radar Site and the 614th were deactivated on 1 Aug 1963.

Gap Fillers
Cherry Point MCAS AFS was responsible for the maintenance of two remote unattended gap-filler radar sites. The Cherry Point MCAS AFS gap-filler radars were located at Engelhard NC and Holly Ridge NC.

Physical Plant
Radar site was located adjacent to Base Flight Operations.

A separate radio site housed the radio equipment for directing aircraft intercepts. The GATR site is now used by the Carteret County fire department as a training site.

Current Status
Two unused towers still exist next to Base Operations other areas repurposed.

See Also:
 * SAGE System
 * Permanent System Radar Sites
 * US Radar Sets
 * Permanent Radar System Direction Centers
 * Fort Lee SAGE Direction Center DC-04

Sources:
 * , page 154.
 * , page 144.

Links:
 * Radomes - Cherry Point MCAS Radar Site
 * Wikipedia - Cherry Point MCAS Radar Site