How Whatcom County Won The Cold War Traditional Cache
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How Whatcom County Won The Cold War
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Difficulty:
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Terrain:
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Size:  (micro)
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History
Blaine Air Force Station was one of twenty-eight stations built as
part of the second segment of the Air Defense Command permanent
radar network. Prompted by the start of the Korean War, on July 11,
1950, the Secretary of the Air Force asked the Secretary of Defense
for approval to expedite construction of the permanent network.
Receiving the Defense Secretary’s approval on July 21, the
Air Force directed the Corps of Engineers to proceed with
construction.
The 757th Aircraft Control and Warning Squadron was assigned to
Birch Bay AFS, Washington on 15 August 1951. The 757th AC&W
Squadron began operating a pair of AN/FPS-10 radars in January
1952. The site was re-designated Blaine Air Force Station on 1
December 1953. In 1959 Blaine AFS switched to operating an
AN/FPS-20 search radar and AN/FPS-6 and AN/FPS-6A height-finder
radars.
During 1960 Blaine AFS joined the Semi Automatic Ground Environment
(SAGE) system, feeding data to DC-12 at McChord AFB, Washington.
After joining, the squadron was re-designated as the 757th Radar
Squadron (SAGE) on 1 April 1960. By 1963 the station had converted
to an AN/FPS-24 search radar, and had received an AN/FPS-26A
height-finder radar which replaced the AN/FPS-6. On 31 July 1963,
the site was redesignated as NORAD ID Z-46.
In addition to the main facility, Blaine operated an AN/FPS-14 Gap
Filler site in Anacortes, WA
The 757th Radar Squadron was inactivated in 1 January 1979 as part
of the inactivation of Air Defense Command and the general draw
down of antiaircraft radar stations. Today, much of Blane AFS
remains intact, the station however is scheduled for redevelopment
and is now a Whatcom County's Bay Horizon Park which supports a
camp, conference area and recreation center. It still remains
unclear what parts of the former Air Force Station will remain and
which parts will be torn down.
Additional Hints
(Decrypt)
n zntargvp xrl ubyqre oruvaq gur cnex fvta