Savannah Air Force Station

 (1955-1979) - A Cold War U.S. Air Force Radar Station established in 1955 as Hunter Air Force Base Radar Site. Located on former Hunter Air Force Base (now Hunter Army Airfield) near Savannah, Chatham County, Georgia. In 1967, the radar site was renamed Savannah Air Force Station when Hunter AFB was transferred to the US Army. Initially assigned a Permanent ID of M-112 and later a Sage ID of Z-112 in 1963. Closed in 1979. Reopened in 1979 as a Georgia Air National Guard Tactical Radar Site. Active military facility.

History
Established in 1955 and became operational in 1955 as Savannah Air Force Station manned by the 702nd Radar Squadron (SAGE).

Initial equipment included the MPS-7 search radar (mobile FPS-3, a TPS-10D height-finder, and a MPS-14 height-finder (mobile FPS-6) radars. Between 1956 and 1958, a GPS-3 was operating.

By 1959 only a FPS-20A search radar and a MPS-14 height-finder was operating. A second height-finder, a FPS-26, was installed about 1961. In 1962, the FPS-20A was upgraded to become an FPS-67. This configuration (a SAGE qualified long-range search radar and two SAGE qualified height-finders) met the requirements for transition to SAGE System operation.

SAGE System Operation


The site began operation as a SAGE site in 1961 initially feeding the Gunter SAGE Direction Center DC-09. On 1 Feb 1962, the squadron designation was changed from the 702nd AC&W Squadron to 702nd Radar Squadron (SAGE) indicating the new SAGE System role. With the deactivation of the Gunter SAGE Direction Center DC-09 in 1969, control of Savannah AFS was switched to the Fort Lee SAGE Direction Center DC-04 in Virginia.

The FPS-67 search radar was upgraded to a FPS-67B in 1966. The MPS-14 height-finder was removed in 1968.

The FST-2 Coordinate Data Transmitter was probably replaced with a solid state FYQ-47 Common Digitizer by February 1973 when the 18 months FAA/USAF replacement program was complete.

On 1 Feb 1974, the squadron was redesignated 702 Radar Squadron, dropping the (SAGE) designator.

Closure
Savannah AFS and the 702nd were deactivated on 5 June 1979.

117th Air Control Squadron (ACS)
On 3 Nov 1979 the 117th Air Control Squadron, Georgia Air National Guard, assumed the 200 acres vacated by Savannah AFS.

In the early 1970s, the 117th received TPS-43E radar and the TSQ-91 Tactical Air Control System Control and Reporting Center (CRC). New Modular Control Equipment was received in January 1994. The 117th ACS conversion to the state of the art Modular Control System, and the TPS-75 radar completed in July 1996.

Gap Fillers
Savannah AFS was responsible for the maintenance of three remote unattended gap-filler radar sites. The Savannah AFS gap-filler radars were located at MCAS Parris Island SC, Alma GA, and Jeffersonville GA.

Current Status
Occupied since 3 Nov 1979 by 117th Air Control Squadron, Georgia Air National Guard. Some original buildings remain.

See Also:
 * SAGE System
 * Permanent System Radar Sites
 * US Radar Sets
 * Gunter SAGE Direction Center DC-09
 * Fort Lee SAGE Direction Center DC-04

Sources:
 * , page 46, 162.
 * , page 111.
 * Hunter Army Airfield

Links:
 * Radomes - Savannah Air Force Station
 * Wikipedia - Savannah Air Force Station