Brookfield Air Force Station is a closed United States Air Force General Surveillance Radar station near Brookfield, Ohio.
History
Brookfield Air Force Station, constructed as part of the Air Defense Command permanent network, 1 opened in April 1952. 2 The site (P-62) was staffed by the 662nd Aircraft Control and Warning Squadron with AN/FPS-3 and AN/FPS-5 radars. Brookfield functioned as a Ground Control Intercept (GCI) and warning station. As a GCI station, Brookfield was to guide interceptor aircraft toward unidentified intruders sited on the unit’s radar scopes. It allowed the outdated Lashup site L-18 in Ravenna to close.
In 1957, the AN/FPS-5 radar was replaced with AN/FPS-4 only to be transposed with AN/FPS-6 in 1958. 2 Brookfield was augmented with two unmanned AN/FPS-14 and AN/FPS-18 gap filler sites in Thompson and Lewisville.
The 662nd Radar Squadron and associated operations transferred to Oakdale Air Force Station in Pennsylvania on November 1, 1959, due to budget cuts. 2 Brookfield was reused as a gap filler site (RP-62E) for Oakdale from February 1964 to June 1968.
Units
- 662d Aircraft Control and Warning Squadron
- Selfridge Air Force Base, Michigan (L-17): April 18, 1950. Not operational;
- Lashup site (L-18), Ravenna, Ohio: January 1 – September 30, 1951;
- Brookfield Air Force Station, Brookfield, Ohio: October 1, 1951 – October 31, 1959;
- Oakdale Air Force Station, Pennsylvania: November 1, 1959.
Assignments
- 541st Aircraft Control and Warning Group (30th Air Division): April 18, 1950;
- 30th Air Division: February 6, 1952;
- 4708th Defense Wing: February 16, 1953;
- 30th Air Division: July 8, 1956;
- Detroit Air Defense Sector: April 1 – November 1, 1959.
Reuse
In 1963, General Services Administration transferred the Brookfield site, containing 24.23 acres of land and 15 buildings, to Trumbull County for use as a nursing home.3 The county desired a replacement for the circa 1836 Trumbull County Home, overcrowded and deteriorating. 4
The county renovated the complex in 1965 at a cost of $140,000. 4 The buildings were repurposed into a mess hall, administrative offices, dormitories, recreation, chapel, and intensive care units.
The Trumbull County Nursing Home closed circa 1984.
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Sources
- Cornett, Lloyd H., Jr., and Mildred W. Johnson. A Handbook of Aerospace Defense Organization 1946-1980. Office of History Aerospace Defense Center, 1980.
- “Information for Brookfield AFS, OH.” Radomes. N.p., n.d. Web.
- “New Nursing Home.” Lancaster Eagle-Gazette 18 May. 1963: 3. Print.
- Belding, Bill. “Trumbull Tries to Keep Pace With Changes in Nursing Homes.” News-Reporter [Hubbard] 23 Jun. 1965: 3. Print.
7 Comments
Add Yours →Just was there. Ran into the landowner. He was nice guy named Joe but wasn’t happy that I was there. No trespassing signs are up. Missed the one at the beginning of the road. He does have cameras up too. Brookfield police and Joe patrol the land few times a day. Time to move on to the next spot.
Thanks for the heads up been trying to find new places to go to and explore but looks like this wont be one of them did at least get to go to old jefferson proving grouds last year for a bit
I was station there 1958 -1960. I was. A radar tech, but the last 6 months they had us answering the telephone.most of the base moved to Pittsburg . I was an Airman 2 nd class.
As an urbex photographer, the place is easily accessible from the woods. You just have to get past the guy who claims he owns it (it’s County property).
Actually, the property has not been county owned since 2012 (other than part most the road). The owner is not one to stray away from trying to press charges so be careful
This location is now heavily watched and protected by motion sensors and cameras. Caught trespassing here and you’ll be taken out in cuffs to scare you.
Great post! I live in Youngstown and I saw this post and saved it. Earlier today I went and found this place! It was awesome! Maybe if you’re in the YO area we can meet up and talk about these historic sites.
Wes