LORAN STATION CAROLINA BEACH
Station Information
| Site Survey: |
10 - 12 JUL 1961 | Permanent Loran-C Station | site survey | photos |
| Construction Date: | 1952 | CYTAC/ LORAN C 1961 | Transmitter Building 1974 | Barracks building 1987 | New S/P building |
| Constructed by:
|
|
| Established: Commissioned: |
1957 1957 |
| Decommissioned: Disestablished: |
10 MAY 2010 01 JUN 2010 |
| Operated by: |
USCG
|
| Station Project code name: |
1962 | CLOSE II |
| AKA: |
CAPE FEAR |
| Station Unit Identifier:
|
05-40117 |
| Mail address: |
1964: P.O. Box 591, Carolina Beach, NC 28428 |
| Personnel Allowance: | 1981: 1 Officer; 10 Enlisted 1989: 4 Enlisted |
| Station Mascot: | 1987: Bonehead |
| Station events: | 1949 - 1957: USAF acquired 210 acres and constructed CYTAC testing station. 1957 - 1962: USCG operated and maintained an expermental Loran-C station. 27 MAY 1957: U.S. Air Force transferred station to USCG. Accepted by LCDR C S Rojeski (CAPT Of The Port Wilmington, NC) on behalf of the Coast Guard. 15 AUG 1957: The first Finance and Supply inspection was conducted by CHSPCK Thomas E. Hurt (D5). 26 SEP 1958: Hurricane Helen with sustained winds of 135 mph and gusts of 160 causing the upper 200 feet to topped slightly missing the operations building on the 28 SEP. Station off air until Spring 1959. 1959: In the spring, station commenced transmission of the Loran-C signal upon completion of new installed 625ft tower. 1967: Transmission tower replaced by the TIP array. 01 JAN 1972: Assisted an injury civilian. 13 JUL 1972: Isolation transformer #2 failed. 24 JUL 1972: Station experience multiple power failures causing isolation transformer #1 failure. Station off-air Generator # 2 inoperative; commercial power applied, Signal building isolation transformer fail – no power to either Signal or Transmitter buildings; cesium battery pack caught on fire; power company replaced Signal building isolation transformer, Isolation transformer from Jupiter arrived (the only one in Coast Guard inventory); Isolation transformer #1 replaced; #2 isolation transformer still inoperative. 25 JUL 1972: At 0605Z station back on air and in tolerance. 02 AUG 1972: Isolation transformer #2 replaced. 01 APR 2009: Unstaffed operations commenced 14 APR - 15 MAY 2014: Demolition of antenna and station conducted by contractor. |
| Commanding Officer/Officer in Charge: |
1957 - 1958: RELE Elliot J. Echols (APR - JUL) 1958 - 1961: LT William R. Fearn (JUL - JUL) 1961 - 1964: LCDR Bruce H. Edwards (JUL - 03 JUN) 1964 - 1966: LCDR Gordon R. Campbell (03 JUN - MAY) 1966 - 1968: LT Robert L. Burjoice (MAY - AUG) 1968 - 1971: LT Ronald W. Williams (AUG - 30 JUL) 1971 - 1973: LTJG Kenneth S. Shepard (30 JUL - JUL) 1973 - 1975: LTJG Alvin A. Sarra (JUL - JUL) 1975 - 1977: LTJG Shephen H. Francis (JUL - 02 AUG) 1977 - 1980: CWO4 Irvin L. Gaines (02 AUG - 07 OCT) 1980 - 1984: CWO 4 Kirk D. Rose (07 OCT - 27 JUN) 1984 - 1988: CWO4 Peter S. Hughes (27 JUN - 30 NOV) 1988 - 1989: ETC Charles F. Reimer (30 NOV - 31 OCT) 1989 - 1992: ETC Charles A. Safrit (31 OCT - 21 AUG)* 1992 - 1996: ETC Billy J. Woolwine (21 AUG - 19 JUN)* 1996 - 1999: ETC Jason W. Cockrell (19 JUN - 19 FEB) 1999 - 1999: ET1 James T. Ligon (19 FEB - 14 APR) 1999 - 2003: ETC John G. Sauls (14 APR - 01 MAY) 2003 - 2007: ETC Stacy T. Rourk (01 MAY - 19 JUN) 2007 - 2010: ETC Michael C. Smith (19 JUN - 10 MAY) Decomm * Promoted to next rank during tour |
Change of Command:
03 JUN 1964 LCDR Bruce H. Edwards | LCDR Gordon R. Campbell - pdf
31 OCT 1989 ETC Charles F. Reimer | ETC Charles A. Safrit - pdf
21 AUG 1992 ETC Charles A. Safrit | ETC Billy J. Woolwine - pdf
17 JUN 1996 ETC Billy J. Woolwine | ETC Jason W. Cockrell - pdf
14 APR 1999 ET1 James T. Ligon | ETC John G. Sauls - pdf
01 MAY 2003 ETC John G. Sauls | ETC Stacy T. Rourk - pdf
19 JUL 2007 ETC Stacy T. Rourk | ETC Michael C. Smith - pdf
Station Operations
LORAN-C
34 03 46.208 N 77 54 46.100 W (WGS-84)
| Operational date: Declared Operational: |
12 AUG 1957 – 021300Z JUN 1962 Experimental Equipment 281200Z AUG 1962 – Chain declared Operational |
| Operations terminated: |
082000Z FEB 2010 |
| Station Operation: |
1957 - 1978 MASTER (SM} 1978 - 1979 MASTER (SM) & SECONDARY (SS) 1979 - 2010 SECONDARY (DS) |
| Chain: Loran Rate: Function: Baseline: Chain: Loran Rate: Function: Baseline: Chain: Loran Rate: Function: Baseline: Chain: Loran Rate: Function: Baseline: |
EAST COAST 1957 - 1962 (EXPERMENTAL) S0 M M-X: Approx. 438 Nautical miles M-Y: Approx. 548 Nautical miles EAST COAST 1962 - 1978 SL-0 | SS-0 | SS-7 | 9930 M M-X: Approx. 1358 Nautical miles M-Y: Approx. 573 Nautical miles M-Z: Approx. 576 Nautical miles M-W: Approx. 436 Nautical miles M-T: Approx. 328 Nautical miles M-S: Approx. 889 Nautical miles NORTHEAST U.S. 1978 - 2010 9960 Y M-Y: Approx. 521 Nautical miles SOUTHEAST U.S. 1979 - 2010 7980 Z M-Z: Approx. 411 Nautical miles |
| Radio Call Sign: |
|
| On-air testing date: | 1957 |
| On-Air: | S0 | 12 AUG 1957 S0 | Spring 1959 SL-0 | 021300Z JUN 1962 | Operational chain SS-0 | 1966 | Rate change SS-0 | 1967 | New Transmitting Antenna SS-7 | 06 JAN 1969 | Rate Change 9930 | 25 FEB 1975 | Changed Identification of GRI 7980 – 010000Z OCT 1979 | Chain reconfiguration 9960 – 09 SEP 1978 | Chain reconfiguration |
| Off-Air: |
S0 | 28 SEP 1958 | HURRICANE HELENE* (See station events) S0 | 021300Z JUN 1962 | Experimental chain operation terminated SL-0 | 1966 | Rate change SS-0 | JAN 1967 | Transmitting tower replacement SS-0 | 06 JAN 1969 | Rate change SS-7 | 25 FEB 1975 | Changed Identification of GRI 9930 | 302400Z SEP 1979 | Chain reconfiguration 7980Z | 082000Z FEB 2010 | Service terminated 9960Y | 082000Z FEB 2010 | Service terminated |
| Equipment: | 1957 - 1962: Experimental AN/FPN-15 1962 - 1975: AN/FPN-41/42 SN: 19&20 1971 OCT 26: Cesium oscillators installed 1972 FEB 10: Austron 2055 Phase mircostepper installed for evaluation 1975 - 1984: AN/FPN-54 Timers with AN/FPN-42 transmitters 1987 - 2005: AN/FPN-65 Timers with AN/FPN-64 transmitter 2005 - 2010: TSC installed |
| Radiator: | 1953 - 1958: 625 ft TLM Trylon, Model 6000S 625ft TLM – Wind Turbine Model 6000c 1959 – 1967 625ft – Stainless Inc, Model 1803 (TIP) – 15 MAY 1967 - 2014 |
Awards:
Coast Guard Unit Commendation
01 JUN 1982 - 08 FEB 1983
SEUS Chain
Coast Guard Mertorious Unit Commendation
01 JUL 1996 - 30 SEP 1996*
01 JAN 1999 - 31 DEC 1999
* DENOTES OPERATIONAL DISTINGUISHING DEVICE IS AUTHORIZED
Documents:
24 DEC 1959 Oh Saint Nick by station crew - pdf
21 DEC 1961 Invitation for bid -pdf
1980 Station information letter - pdf
05 NOV 1981 District Five Inspection Report - pdf
10 MAY 2010 Disestablishment Ceremony pamphlet - pdf
OCT 2013 Historic American Engeering Report - pdf
Photos:
U.S. Coast Guard Official photos
Larry Cribb 1958-59 photo collection
Greg Lambert 1982 photo collection
Mike Smith 2000's photo collection
Station Floor tile - those who served during the SSX installation c./Sept-Oct 1987
Contributed by Gary Thomas
Thanks Gary!
Contributed by Mike Smith
Thanks Mike!