Melville Air Station

{{Short description|Radar station in Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada 1953–1988}} {{morefootnotes|date=January 2024}} {{Use American English|date=January 2024}} {{Use dmy dates|date=December 2023}} {{Infobox military structure |name=Melville Air Station |partof= Pinetree Line |location= Labrador, Canada |coordinates={{Coord|53|17|44.90|N|060|32|22.59|W|display=inline|name=Melville AS N-24}} |ensign= File:USAF - Aerospace Defense Command.png |image=Melville Air Station Emblem.png |image_size=130px |caption= |type=Radar Station |code=N-24 |built=1953 |builder=United States Air Force |materials= |height= |used=1953-1988 |demolished= |condition= |ownership= |controlledby= Northeast Air Command<br>Aerospace Defense Command |garrison= |commanders= |occupants= |battles= |events= }} {{Location map|Canada Newfoundland and Labrador|label=Melville AS |marksize=6|mark=Red_pog.svg |lat_dir=N|lat_deg=53|lat_min=17|lat_sec=44.90 |lon_dir=W|lon_deg=060|lon_min=32|lon_sec=22.59 |position=left|width=300|float=right |caption=Location of Melville Air Station, Labrador}} {{kml}}

'''Melville Air Station (ADC ID: N-24)''' was a General Surveillance Radar station. It was located on the summit of Dome Mountain, {{convert|5.4|mi|km}} west of CFB Goose Bay, Newfoundland and Labrador.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.radomes.org/museum/cadin.html|title = The CADIN Pinetree Line Locations}}</ref> It was closed in 1988.

==History== The site was established in 1953 as a General Surveillance Radar station, funded by the United States Air Force. It was used initially by the Northeast Air Command, which stationed the 641st Aircraft Control and Warning Squadron on the station on 1 November 1957. The station functioned as a Ground-Control Intercept (GCI) and warning station. As a GCI station, the squadron's role was to guide interceptor aircraft toward unidentified intruders picked up on the unit's radar scopes.

It was equipped with the following radars: * Search Radar: AN/FPS-3C, AN/FPS-502, AN/FPS-20A, AN/FPS-87A, AN/FPS-93A, AN/CPS-6B * Height Radar: AN/TPS-502, AN/FPS-6B, AN/FPS-90

The station was reassigned to the USAF Air Defense Command on 1 April 1957, and was given designation "N-24".<ref>[http://www.radomes.org/cgi-bin/museum/acwinfo2x.cgi?site=%22Melville+AS,+Goose+Bay,+NL,+CN%22&key=MelvilleASGooseBayNLCN&doc=MelvilleASGooseBayNLCN Information for Melville AS, NL]</ref>

In 1971, the USAF transferred control of the site to the Canadian Forces. It was closed in 1988.

==USAF units and assignments == '''Units:''' * 641st Aircraft Control and Warning Squadron, Activated at Grenier Air Force Base, New Hampshire 26 May 1953 : Moved to Melville Air Station, 1 November 1957 : Discontinued 30 June 1971

'''Assignments''' * 64th Air Division, 1 August 1953 * 4732d Air Defense Group, 1 April 1957 * Goose Air Defense Sector, 1 April 1960 * 37th Air Division, 1 April 1966 * 21st Air Division, 31 March 1970 – 30 June 1971

==References== {{Air Force Historical Research Agency}} {{Reflist}} * A Handbook of Aerospace Defense Organization 1946 - 1980, by Lloyd H. Cornett and Mildred W. Johnson, Office of History, Aerospace Defense Center, Peterson Air Force Base, Colorado * Winkler, David F. (1997), Searching the skies: the legacy of the United States Cold War defense radar program. Prepared for United States Air Force Headquarters Air Combat Command.

Category:Radar stations of the United States Air Force Category:Aerospace Defense Command military installations Category:Military installations in Newfoundland and Labrador Category:Installations of the United States Air Force in Canada Category:1953 establishments in Newfoundland and Labrador Category:Military installations established in 1953 Category:Military installations closed in 1988 Category:1988 disestablishments in Newfoundland and Labrador