Indian Mountain Air Force Station facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Indian Mountain Long Range Radar Siteformerly Indian Mountain Air Force Station    |
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| Part of Eleventh Air Force (PACAF) | |
 Indian Mountain AFS
Location of Indian Mountain AFS, Alaska
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| Coordinates | 66°04′17″N 153°41′04″W / 66.07139°N 153.68444°W |
| Type | Air Force Station |
| Site information | |
| Controlled by |  United States Air Force |
| Site history | |
| Built | 1951 |
| In use | 1951-Present |
| Garrison information | |
| Garrison | 708th Aircraft Control and Warning Squadron (1953–1983) |
Indian Mountain Air Force Station was once a very important radar base. It was located in Alaska, about 15.8 miles (25.4 km) east of a place called Hughes. This station helped the United States Air Force watch for aircraft.
It closed as a full Air Force Station in 1983. But it still works today as a Long Range Radar (LRR) site. It is part of the Alaska NORAD Region. This means it helps protect the skies over North America. The 611th Air and Space Operations Center at Elmendorf AFB in Alaska manages it. It is one of fifteen LRR sites in Alaska.
Contents
History of Indian Mountain Air Force Station
Indian Mountain Air Force Station was built for defense during the Cold War. Its main job was to give early warnings. This was in case of an attack on Alaska by the Soviet Union. It was one of ten original stations built in the early 1950s. These stations formed a permanent air defense system in Alaska.
Building the Station
Construction of the station began in September 1950. It was finished in November 1953. The Army Corps of Engineers led this big project. Building the station was very challenging because of its location.
Workers built a 9.1-mile (14.6 km) road. This road went up to the mountain top where the radars were. This area was called the "upper camp." They also built a "lower camp" with an airstrip. The airstrip opened in May 1952. It had a very steep slope, making it unique.
Life at the Station
The station had many buildings. These included a power plant, fuel tanks, and a gym. There were also living quarters and recreation areas. People could play sports like skiing and basketball. Most buildings were connected by heated hallways. This meant personnel could wear lighter uniforms indoors.
The coverings of the radar towers were also heated. This kept them from getting damaged by extreme cold and strong winds. People usually stayed at the station for only one year. This was because of the tough conditions.
The airstrip was next to the station. It was a 4,100-foot (1,200 m) gravel strip. Medium transport planes like the C-130 could land there. They brought supplies, equipment, and mail. Mail usually arrived twice a week. Because it was so remote, the people there had to fix things themselves. Water pipes sometimes froze and burst.
Radar Operations
The 708th Aircraft Control and Warning Squadron (AC&W Sq) started working in November 1953. They collected information 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. This data went to the air defense center at Murphy Dome AFS near Fairbanks. There, experts figured out if planes were friendly or not. The station used different types of radars, including the AN/FPS-3 and AN/FPS-6.
Communication Systems
At first, the station used a high-frequency radio system. But this system was not very reliable. It often had problems because of weather. So, the Alaskan Air Command (AAC) decided to build the White Alice Communications System. This was a network of radio sites.
The Indian Mountain White Alice site started in 1957. It was located near the radar towers. This system was stopped in 1979. A new satellite system took its place. This was part of a plan to use more modern communication.
Upgrades and Changes
Over the years, the radar equipment was improved. This made the information more accurate. In 1983, Indian Mountain AFS got a new radar, the AN/FPS-117. This radar could send aircraft tracking data by satellite. It sent the data to the main control center at Elmendorf AFB.
Because of these upgrades, the 708th AC&W Sq was no longer needed. It closed on November 1, 1983. The station then became a Long Range Radar (LRR) Site. In 1990, the site's control moved to the Eleventh Air Force.
Later, in 1998, "Operation Clean Sweep" began. This project cleaned up old Cold War stations in Alaska. The goal was to restore the land. The cleanup work at Indian Mountain was finished by 2005.
Current Status of the Site
Today, not much is left of the old Indian Mountain Air Force Station. The 611th Air and Space Operations Center at Elmendorf AFB manages the site. The site is usually not staffed all the time.
A few civilian contractors visit the site. They use the old airstrip, now called the Indian Mountain LRRS Airport. These contractors provide maintenance and support. They make sure the radar system keeps working properly. The site is continuously attended by contractors. They maintain the runway, power station, roads, buildings, radar, and other facilities.
Air Force Units and Assignments
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Units
- 708th Aircraft Control and Warning Squadron
- Activated: December 8, 1952
- Inactivated: November 1, 1983
Assignments
- 160th Aircraft Control and Warning Group, December 8, 1952
- 548th Aircraft Control and Warning Group, February 5, 1953
- 11th Air Division, April 18, 1953
- 5001st Air Defense Group, September 20, 1954
- 10th Air Division, October 1, 1955
- 5060th Aircraft Control and Warning Group, November 1, 1957
- 11th Air Division, around July 1, 1959
- 5070th Air Defense Wing, August 1, 1960
- Alaskan Air Command, November 1, 1961
- 708th Aircraft Control and Warning Squadron, 1961
- 531st Aircraft Control and Warning Group (later 11th Tactical Control Group, 11th Tactical Control Wing, 11th Air Control Wing, 611th Air Operations Group, 611th Air and Space Operations Center), July 15, 1977
- 807th Engineer Aviation Battalion
- 925th Engineer Aviation Group
