Military

This category is for active or abandoned military sites.

Mid-Canada Line Test Site 012

At the early phase of the Cold War, the primary perceived threat was waves of Soviet bombers flying over the arctic to rain nuclear horror down upon North America. A line of radar stations across Canada, the Pinetree Line, was constructed to detect such an attack. But shortcomings in this line were being identified even before construction had been completed.

Calumet AFS

Calumet Air Force Station began operations in 1953 as part of the second wave of construction of such sites. It opened with AN/FPS-3 and AN/FPS-5 radars. In 1956, an AN/FPS-6 height-finder radar was installed, and 1958 saw further improvement with the installation of the AN/FPS-20 search radar.

Antigo AFS

Operations began here on May 1, 1951 with the 676th Aircraft Control and Warning Squadron. They began with an AN/FPS-3 search radar and in June, 1952, acquired an AN/FPS-4 height-finder.

Sandy Hook

Sandy Hook has a rather impressive array of military history from various periods to look at. One of the most prominent, Fort Hancock, was a coastal defense installation built in 1895. It's primary function was to assist in the defense of New York Harbour. From 1874 until 1919, it oversaw operations at the Sandy Hook Proving Ground which was used to test cannon designs and accuracy from the Civil War until 1919.. In 1893, the US's first disappearing gun battery was installed here and named Battery Potter.

Fort Wetherill

Military activity began on this site as early as the 18th century with the British, French and Americans occupying "Dumpling Rock at various points until abandoned in 1779.

North Truro AFS

Operations began here in 1951 with the 762d Aircraft Control and Warning Squadron moved in with two WWII-era AN/CPS-3 radars. Its role at this point was as a Ground Control Intercept station, vectoring intercept aircraft toward unidentified targets. In 1955, the AN/FPS-8 radar was added to the base. This system was upgraded to AN/GPS-3 before being removed from service in 1960. In 1956, the primary search radar was the CPS-6B.

Fort William and Mary

Fort William and Mary was first constructed by the British in 1632 to defend the harbour at Portsmouth. On December 14, 1774, it was raided by locals led by John Langdon. The garrison of 5 men and one officer were easily overrun by Langdon's 40 volunteers who took 72 barrels of gun powder. A day later, another group of rebels, this time led by John Sullivan, again raided the fort taking all of the arms, supplies and some cannons.

Lyndonville AFS

This base was originally opened as North Concord AFS and became operational in 1956. It was equipped with AN/MPS-11 and AN/MPS-14 radars. In 1958, the AN/FPS-6A height-finder radar was added, and in 1959, an AN/FPS-3. In 1959, it became part of the SAGE system, feeding data to Topsham AFS. In August, 1962, the station began reporting to Steward AFB in New York.

NORAD Short-Range Development Site

The Distant Early Warning (DEW) line of radar across the arctic was modernized and the overall number of stations required was reduced. The chain was renamed the North Warning System (NWS).

Fort McNutt

During WWII, Shelburne, Nova Scotia was designated as an alternate port to Halifax Harbour. As such, the entrance to the Roseway River needed to be protected. Fort McNutt was constructed in 1939, and was in operation until 1943. It was garrisoned by the 104th Coast Artillery Battery.

Military