L D Cantrell

The 790th Radar Squadron was a United States Air Force unit activated in 1951 as part of the nation's early warning radar defense network during the Cold War. Stationed at Kirksville Air Force Station in Missouri, the squadron was tasked with providing ground-controlled interception and airspace surveillance to detect and track potential Soviet bomber threats. Throughout its operational years, the 790th played a crucial role in the Air Defense Command's mission to protect the central United States. The squadron remained active until it was inactivated in 1968 as advances in technology and changes in defense strategy led to the consolidation of radar sites.