Historic California Posts, Camps, Stations and Airfields

Olema Radar Site J-77

 

 

The antenna of an SCR-588 Radar Set at Olema Radar Site (Air Force Historical Research Agency)

 

 

An Aircraft Warning Service radar station located in Olema on Point Reyes (vicinity of 38° 2'1.82"N 122°49'30.46"W). Established in 1942, this site was equipped with the SRC-588 radar set. The site was occupied 656th Signal Aircraft Warning Company and later Detachment F, 653rd Signal Aircraft Warning Service Company. Both elements were under the control of the San Francisco Control Group (411th Army Air Forces Base Unit). After 24 February 1947, the garrison was mannded by a detachment of Squadron B, 412th Army Air Force Base Unit (Western Aircraft & Control Group). After 21 May 1947, it was manned by a Detachment, 636th Aircraft Control and Warning Squadron. The site was declared surplus on 25 July 1947. The site was completely dismantled and turned of to the Sacramento District, US Army Corps of Engineers on 31 March 1948 for disposal.

 

SCR-588 Long Wave Aircraft Detector and Ground Control Intercept Radar

 

Description: Fixed medium-range, long wave aircraft detector and GCI. Provides azimuth, range, and altitude data. Type HR and PPI scopes.

 

Uses: To give continuous plan position and accurate relative height of enemy plane and friendly fighter plane for GCI. Set can also be used for early warning and to give increased coverage at low angles of search. IFF equipment RC-188 is used. When operating as GCI, VHF equipment SCR-624 is required.

 

Performance and Siting: Maximum range on a medium bomber, with set on flat sea level site:

Altitude, feet	1,000	5,000	10,000	25,000
Range*, miles	20	50	95	105

*Range of PPI limits GCI operation to about 45 miles.

 

When operating as GCI, set must be sited so that a flat unobstructed surface extends at least 1/4th mile in the height-finding sector. Good GCI sites are extremely rare. For early warning, sets should be sited between 100 and 1,000 feet above an unobstructed surface.

Transportability: Set is packaged for shipment in 55 units, weighing a total of 54,000 lbs. Largest unit measures 15.3' x 3.8' x 1.8'. Total shipping space is 3500 cu. ft.

 

Installation: Requires a weatherproof building approximately 20' x 40' for housing radar components and a building approximately 20' x 20' for power units and switchboard. A 25' tower on concrete footing is required for support of antenna. Buildings and tower can be built by Engineers in about 3 weeks. Radar can be installed by 5 men in 2 weeks.

 

Personnel: 8 men are operating crew. For 24-hour operation about 54 men are required to run radar, communication radio, and camp.

 

Power: 4 KW at 230 volts and 1 KW at 115 volts, from three PE-198 electric diesel units, supplied with set. (Two units operate simultaneously). Fuel consumption is 21/2 gals. of Diesel fuel oil per hour.

 

 

 

 

 

Search our Site!

Search the Web Search California Military History Online

 

Questions and comments concerning this site should be directed to the Webmaster

 

Updated 8 February 2016