637th Radar Squadron

The 637th Radar Squadron is an inactive United States Air Force unit. It was last assigned to the 25th Air Division, Aerospace Defense Command, stationed at Othello Air Force Station, Washington.[1]

637th Radar Squadron
Emblem of the 637th Radar Squadron
Active1947-1970, 1974-1975
CountryUnited States
Branch United States Air Force
TypeGeneral Radar Surveillance

History

The squadron was originally activated at Long Beach Municipal Airport CA as the 637th Aircraft Control & Warning Squadron as part of the initial cold war air defenses of the Western United States. The following year it moved to Lashup Site L-32 at McChord AFB, WA.[2] In 1959, it moved to Site L-29 at Moses Lake AFB, WA.[2]

The squadron finally moved to its final station at site LP-40 (later P-40, Z-40) on Saddle Mountain, WA in 1951.[1] In 1960, the unit was integrated into the Semi Automatic Ground Environment (SAGE) control system and was redesignated the 637th Radar Squadron (SAGE).[1] Because it was stationed at a Backup Interceptor Control (BUIC) site, it was inactivated in 1970 and replaced by the like numbered 637th Air Defense Group (ADG).[1] As defense systems against manned bomber threats were reduced, it was activated once again in 1974 to replace the 637th ADG.[1] It was last inactivated on 31 March 1975.[1]

The unit was a General Surveillance Radar squadron providing for the air defense of the United States.

Lineage
  • Constituted as the 637th Aircraft Control and Warning Squadron, 1947
Activated on 21 May 1947
Redesignated 637th Radar Squadron (SAGE), 1 September 1960
Inactivated, 1 March 1970
Activated, 1 January 1974
Inactivated on 31 March 1975

Assignments

Stations
  • Long Beach Municipal Airport, CA, 21 May 1947
  • McChord AFB, WA, 16 April 1948
  • Moses Lake AFB (later Larson AFB) WA, 1 May 1949
  • Saddle Mountain, WA, 1 January 1951
Site renamed Othello Air Force Station, 1 December 1953 - 31 March 1975
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References
  1. Cornett& Johnson, p.155
  2. Mueller, p. 394

 This article incorporates public domain material from the Air Force Historical Research Agency website http://www.afhra.af.mil/.

  • Cornett, Lloyd H; Johnson, Mildred W (1980). A Handbook of Aerospace Defense Organization, 1946 - 1980 (PDF). Peterson AFB, CO: Office of History, Aerospace Defense Center.
  • Mueller, Robert (1989). Air Force Bases, Vol. I, Active Air Force Bases Within the United States of America on 17 September 1982 (PDF). Washington, DC: Office of Air Force History. ISBN 0-912799-53-6.
  • Winkler, David F.; Webster, Julie L (1997). Searching the skies : the legacy of the United States Cold War Defense Radar Program. Champaign, IL: US Army Construction Engineering Research Laboratories. LCCN 97020912.

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