657th Radar Squadron

• Formation and Role: The 657th Radar Squadron was established in 1949 as part of the United States Air Force’s Air Defense Command and primarily tasked with ground-controlled interception and airspace surveillance during the Cold War. • Location: The squadron was based at Houma Air Force Station, near Houma, Louisiana, a key site for monitoring the Gulf of Mexico approaches for potential Soviet threats. • SAGE System Integration: In the early 1960s, the unit was integrated into the Semi-Automatic Ground Environment (SAGE) system, a revolutionary computer network that automated the detection and interception of enemy aircraft. • Radar Technology: The squadron operated several radar systems over its history, including the AN/FPS-20 search radar and AN/FPS-6 height-finder radars, which were state-of-the-art at the time. • Cuban Missile Crisis Vigilance: During the Cuban Missile Crisis in October 1962, the 657th was on high alert, scanning for any Soviet bomber or missile activity approaching the southern United States. • Air Defense Identification Zone (ADIZ): The squadron played a crucial role in monitoring and maintaining the southern ADIZ, identifying and tracking all aircraft entering U.S. airspace from the Gulf region. • Friendly Skies: Personnel from the squadron often coordinated with both civilian air traffic control and NORAD, ensuring that commercial flights and unidentified aircraft were properly distinguished. • Deactivation: The squadron was inactivated on June 30, 1980, as advances in satellite and over-the-horizon radar made many ground-based stations obsolete. • Legacy: Many veterans of the 657th went on to serve in other radar and air defense roles, contributing their expertise to the evolving American air defense network. • Preserved Site: While much of the original Houma AFS has been redeveloped, some radar towers and buildings still remain, serving as reminders of the squadron’s role in Cold War defense.