Historic California Posts, Camps, Stations and Airfields
Oxnard Radar Site L-35
(Port Hueneme Radar Site L-35)
 
A World War II Army Air Force air defense radar site. Assigned to the Los Angeles Control Group, this operated the radar systems identifield below:
 
 
 
US Army Corps of Engineers Los Angeles District Cantonment Area History (1996)
 
Location: The Radar Site L-35 Cantonement Area is located approximately 3 miles southeast of the City of Port Hueneme, in Ventura County, California. The site is located on Arnold Road approximately 2,020 feet south of Hueneme Road. The former Cantonement Area is located in Township 1 North, Range 22 West, Section 26.

Site History: A War Department Real Estate Directive dated 10 April 1942 authorized the acquisition of the 5.59-acre site in Ventura County for Radar Site L-35, Cantonement Area. 5.58 acres were acquired by lease from private parties. 0.1 acre was acquired by license from the County of Ventura on 1 January 1943 for the construction and operation of a water pipeline. Other improvements consisted of tents, wooden buildings, and a water well. The property was used by the Army Air Forces (AAF) for a Cantonement Area which was associated with Radar Site L-35. Radar Site L-35 was a separate installation located elsewhere. The Cantonement Area was declared surplus in June 1947 and was released in June 1948. After the AAF vacated the property all tents and wooden buildings were removed from the site. The property owner at that time removed the wooden buildings and the land was subsequently recultivated. The property is currently used as farm land, the majority of which is under cultivation. An active well exists at the approximate location of the well used by the AAF. A barn is located west of the well, but it probably is not on the subject site. It was not determined if the existing well is the same well used by the AAF, or if the pipeline that was installed is still present.
 
 
US Army Corps of Engineers Los Angeles District Cantonement Area History (1997)
 
The Army Air Forces acquired 5.59 acres under Real Estate Directive 773 dated 10 April 1942, for Radar Site L-35, Cantonement Area. This included 5.58 acres acquired in lease from John and Joseph Friedrich, and 0.01 acre acquired in license from the County of Ventura.

The property was used by the Army Air Force for a Cantonement Area. This Cantonement Area was associated with a separate installation known as Radar Site L-35 which was located elsewhere. Both installations were under the purview of the Pacific Coast Air Warning and Defense Systems plan. Improvements at the Cantonement Area consisted of several tents and small wooden buildings, a water pipeline, and a well. 3. The 5.59-acre property was declared surplus by the Army Air Forces in June 1947, and was released in June 1948 to the original
owners, John and Joseph Friedrich, and County of Ventura. The property is currently used as farmland and the majority of it is under cultivation. The tents and wooden buildings have been
removed. An active well is currently located at the approximate site of the well used by the AAF. It is not known if this is the original well and it is not known if the water pipeline still exists on the property.
 

Site Map
 
 
 
SCR-270-D Mobile Long Wave Aircraft Warning Set
 
 
Description: Six-vehicle mobile, long wave early warning aircraft detector. Azimuth and range supplied. Set is equipped with "A" scope.
Uses: To establish a screen of warning which provides information of approaching aircraft as early as possible but with a sacrifice of accuracy in range, azimuth and elevation. IFF equipment RC-150 is used.
Performance and Siting: Maximum range on a single bomber flying at indicated heights, when set is on a flat sea level site:
 
 Altitude, feet  1,000  5,000  20,000  25,000
 Range, miles  20  50  100  110
Set should be sited at a height between 100' and 1000' above an unobstructed reflecting surface.
 
Transportability: Complete set is carried in 6 vehicles, the largest of which measures 30'4" x 9'10" x 8'. Total weight of shipment is 101,790 lbs; total volume 11,485 cu. ft.
Installation: Operates from trucks in which mounted. Can be placed in operation about 6 hours after arrival at site.
Personnel: Seven men comprise operating crew. For 24 hour operation about 50 men are required to run radar, communication radio, and camp.
Power: 15.3 KW, supplied by PE-74, 25 KVA gasoline-driven generator, having fixed consumption of 4 gal. per hour, non-leaded gasoline.
 
 
SCR-271-D and SCR-271-E Fixed Long Wave Aircraft Warning Set
 
Description: Fixed long wave early warning aircraft detector. Azimuth and range supplied on "A" scopes. 271-D has a 100' tower; 271-E, a 50' tower.
Uses: To establish a screen of warning which gives data on aircraft as early as possible, but with a sacrifice of accuracy in range, azimuth and elevation. IFF equipment RC-151 is used.
Performance and Siting: Maximum range on a single medium bomber flying at indicated altitudes, when set is on a flat sea level site:
 
 Altitude, feet  1000  5000  20,000  25,000
 SCR-271-E Range, miles  20  50  100  110
 SCR-271-D Range, miles  25  60  120  135
Sets should be sited so that the mean antenna height is between 100 and 1000 ft. above an unobstructed flat surface. The 100' tower should be used when it is desired to get additional low coverage, or to insure clearance above surrounding trees or other obstructions.
Transportability: Sets are packed in 106 units, weighing a total of 42,279 lbs. Largest unit is 176" x 25" x 20". Total volume is 4008 cu. fit.
Installation: Requires a weatherproof building approx. 20' x 40' for housing radar components and a building approx. 20' x 20' for housing the power units and switchboard. A 100 foot tower on concrete footings is required for an SCR-271-D and a 50-ft. tower for an SCR-271-3. Buildings and tower are built by engineers in about 3 weeks. Radar can be installed by five men in about two weeks.
Personnel: 7 men are operating crew. For 24 hour operations, about 50 men are required for radar, communication radio, and camp.
Power: 15.3 KW supplied by PE 74, 25 KVA gasoline-driven generator. Consumption is 4 gal. per hour, non-leaded standard commercial gas.
 
 
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.
 
 

 

 
 
 
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Updated 8 February 2016