Perrin Air Force Station
History
Founded in 1941 as a training site for World War II pilots, Perrin Army Air Field was deactivated in 1946, but reopened as Perrin Air Force Base in April 1948. The base held jet pilot and survival training for flight crews through 1969. Perrin Air Force Radar Station was established during the Korean War in 1952. Initially the station functioned as a Ground-Control Intercept (GCI) and warning station. As a GCI station, the squadron's role was to guide interceptor aircraft toward unidentified intruders picked up on the unit's radar scopes. In 1962 operation of the radar site was transferred to Air Defense Command and Perrin Air Force Station was established as an annex of Duncanville AFS, TX. It was equipped with an AN/FPS-20 search radar and an AN/FPS-6 height-finder radar. At the end of 1963, the site was performing duty as a joint-use facility for the Federal Aviation Administration and Air Defense Command.
In 1964 the 745th Aircraft Control and Warning Squadron relocated to Perrin from Duncanville AFS after it was closed. Upon activation it was designated as RP-78, replacing the P-78 site at Duncanville. It was also designated as NORAD site Z-78. Also in 1964 the search radar was upgraded to an AN/FPS-20A; in 1965, this radar was further upgraded to an AN/FPS-66.
The 745th AC&W Squadron was inactivated on 30 September 1969 and Perrin AFS was closed on 30 June 1971 due to a draw-down of ADC and budget constraints. Today the former radar site is used by small businesses in the area.
Air Force units and assignments
Units:
- 745th Aircraft Control and Warning Squadron, Assigned 1 July 1964
- Inactivated on 30 September 1969
Assignments:
- Oklahoma City Air Defense Sector, 1 July 1964
- 31st Air Division, 1 April 1966 – 30 September 1969
See also
- List of USAF Aerospace Defense Command General Surveillance Radar Stations
- Perrin Air Force Base Historical Museum
References
This article incorporates public domain material from the Air Force Historical Research Agency
Notes
- ^ "Abandoned Texas military forts, bases, and airfields". Retrieved 16 August 2023.
- ^ "Our History - Perrin AFB - North Texas Regional Airport". Retrieved 6 June 2023.
Bibliography
- A Handbook of Aerospace Defense Organization 1946 - 1980, by Lloyd H. Cornett and Mildred W. Johnson, Office of History, Aerospace Defense Center, Peterson Air Force Base, Colorado
- Winkler, David F. (1997), Searching the skies: the legacy of the United States Cold War defense radar program. Prepared for United States Air Force Headquarters Air Combat Command.
- Information for Perrin AFS, TX
