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| MPN-14 ASR/PAR Mobile Radar - Robins AFB, GA
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Many thanks to those of you who have sent these photos to me for publication. I have received a lot of e-mail on them in the couple years that they have been on the Internet. If you know anyone in any of the Mobs, 1 through 5, please have them contact me and send photos. If you only have hard copies or negatives, I will be glad to scan them and send the original back to you.
- Kirt Blattenberger
Radar System Designations & Descriptions
Update: While sorting through boxes of archived items recently, I ran across a pile of folders full of U.S. Air Force documents for base assignment, shot records, TDY deployment, training, performance reports, etc.. A lot of paperwork accrued in four short years. For out-processing (1982), I was issued a checklist that required going all over the base (Robins AFB, Georgia) to collect files, turn in issued gear, and sign multiple statements regarding why I was making the unwise decision to not re-enlist. Very few papers survived my purge; only the most significant remain. Here are a few of those documents, arranged in chronological order of issuance. If you, too, were in the USAF, many will look familiar.
   
    
MPN-14 Radar Shop
Thanks to MSgt. Robert Bennett, aka "Gatorbob" for this group of great photos.
MOB School at the 5CCG
Robins AFB, GA
MPN-14 Radar at Site Alpha
MPN-14 Radar at Sculthorpe AB, UK
GPN-22 Radar at Kadena AFB, Okinawa
FPN-16 Radar, Griffiss AFB, NY
MPN-14 at Carswell AFB, TX
Sez Gatorbob: When I see the pictures and names it brings back a lot of old memory's - long hours and hard work but some of the best times of my life I will never forget!
Here a few names of Radar Leper Colony I remember:
• Dallas Sharp was Radar Super Lives about 30 mi from me
• Tim Elsenbeck was one of my 3 levels think he is in PA
• Ken Andrews in OK/FAA was in the 3rd and 1st with me he
pointed me to your web site
• Robert "Bob" Bullock think he is working in England
• Butch Satterwhite in OK/FAA in the 1st/TPN-19 shop
as I was leaving
• Sheryl Finch is a minister
These guy have been MTA for sometime haven't heard or seen anything on them:
• Dave Elgen
• Bob Abiney
• Bob Short
• Don Boots
• Greg Dimtroff
• George Hayes
• Larry Torrez
• Bruce Wilson
FPN-16, Precision Approach Radar
These Pix Were Sent by Jim Carthew
2029 Communications Squadron
at Ellsworth AFB, 1971-1974
MPN-14, TPS-75, MUTES Radars
These Pix Were Sent by Jason Merrill
MPN-14k Equipment Trailer
AN/TPS-75 Radar in Kirkuk, Iraq
"I believe to be an AN/TPN-18 US Marine model or the AN/TPN-8 series US Army model. This same antenna group and receiver-transmitter are mounted on a stable platform and used on US Navy amphibs as their precision approach radar AN/SPN-35 series." - thanks to Dallas SharpConfirmation (thanks to John Hairell): "The TPN-8 and -18 looked exactly the same – the interior details differed. From the truck in the background and the base of the radar in the photo (which dates it) I can tell that the photo is of a TPN-18. The TPN-8 was developed by Gilfillan as a GCA radar in a joint USMC/Army effort. The Army used both the TPN-8 and the TPN-18, which was a more advanced model of the -8. I have never been able to ascertain whether the USMC ever officially used either of these radars, though I do know some of their air traffic controllers trained on them. The TPN-8 was used as a developmental base for the SPN-35 later used by the Navy. Both the TPN-8 and -18 were used in Vietnam. I was a US Army radar air traffic controller from 1977 to 1981 and was specifically trained on and used the TPN-18. As far as I know no TPN-8s were still in use by the mid-70s – they had all been upgraded to -18 status. The TPN-18 was still in use until relatively recent times. "
Multiple Threat Emitter Systems (MUTES)
Old Glory in front of Radar Antenna
Our man in the field - Jason M.
Radar Operator, Paul Kelley photo
MPN-14 from Robins AFB, GA, 5CCG
These photos were graciously supplied
by Don Hicks
MPN-14 Deployed to Loring AFB, ME
(circa 1981, Don Hicks photo)
Commando Leader Don Hicks Calling In Backup
MPN-14 Deployed to Sonto Cano AB, Honduras
(cicra 1988, Don Hicks photo)
Don Hicks, Mark Belore, Mike Jasso, Steve Haynes,
J.D. Black, Danny Heagren (Don Hicks photo)
Steve Haynes, Desert Storm
(circa 1991, Don Hicks photo)
Flight Checking the TPN-19 at Grand Forks
(Don Hicks photo)
Ed Kopp, Joe Kast, Mark Wilson, Mike Shipton
Valdosta, GA (circa 1987-90, Don Hicks photo)
Don Hick On MPN-14 Ops Trailer
- prior to camouflage paint job -
(circa 1978-79, Don Hicks photo
MPN-14 RAPCON (circa 1980-82, Don Hicks photo)
TPN-19 PAR Radar (Don Hicks photo)
Dave Paschal (Don Hicks photo)
Don Hicks, Steve Haynes, Mark Wilson, Mike Shipton
Shaw AFB (Don Hicks photo)
Mark Goodrich, Dave Derman
(Don Hicks photo)
| AN/MPN-14 Radar at Aviano AB, Italy
Many thanks to Greg Bucchieri for sending
these nice photos from his time in the USAF!
USAF AN/MPN-14 Radar System at Aviano AB, Italy c1970
This system was freshly back from 'Nam duty.
USAF Radar Clutter Fence at Aviano AB, Italy c1970
AN/FPN-47 at K.I. Sawyer AFB, Michigan
S.A.G.E. (Semi Automatic Ground Environment)
building before FPN-47 radar was installed.
This was one of the first buildings erected at KI.
S.A.G.E. as it looks today with FPN-47 radar antenna visible in background. The radar is now remotely operated out of Minneapolis Center RAPCON.
Compliment of Jim Flinn
MPN-13 at the 1966 AMA Nats?
 This is a blow-up of the suspected MPN-13 mobile radar unit that is in the background of the photo below. Clearly visible are the X-band elevation antenna, the S-band airport surveillance radar antenna, and VHF/UHF radio masts and antennas. The maintenance trailer is not in view, but would be sitting in back of the operations trailer. I don't think there was a mobile RAPCON back in 1967.
The 1967 Academy of Model Aeronautics (AMA) National Aeromodeling Championships (Nats) was held at the Los Alamitos Naval Air Station in California. Up until the early, the U.S. Navy sponsored the AMA Nats as a means of introducing potential young aviators and maintenance guys to the exciting Navy life. At some point, there was not enough participation of youngsters in the Nats to make the Navy deem the expense worthwhile. Too bad. This picture came from the September 1967 American Modeler magazine.
MPN-13 Radar Video
Bien Hoa Air Base in Vietnam, c1967
...from the Critical Past website
(thanks to Don Hicks for the link)
Magazine Ad for Gilfillan:
Gilfillan Delivers...
a complete GCA radar every 48 hours!
MPN-14 Mobile Radar System
Ubon, Thailand,
Pictures submitted by MSgt. Auford Neal, ret.  MPN-14 Ops & Maintenance Trailers on Turntable  MPN-14 Mobile RAPCON  Ubon Maintenance Building  Ubon MPN-14 Installation
AN/SPG-55BTerrier Missile Fire Control Radar The fellow on the left with the beard is Jerry Johnson, and the fellow on the right is Richard Snyder. Is this a quintessential military dude shot or what? Aboard the USS Gridley (DLG-21) Tonkin Gulf (circa 1972) Gary Steinhour photo.
MPN-14, S/N 88
Photos by Dan Miller Thanks to Paul Mayo for this photo of his AN/MPN-14, S/N 88, deployed to Shaw AFB, around 1974. It has the first AN/TPX-42 Interrogator Set (IFF user interface) installed. Paul was not a member of the 5th, but worked at Tac Com (Langley) as a Tech Rep/Field Engineer for AIL on the TPX-42. He did a lot of the mods and TCTOs for the MPN-14s plus training and a couple of deployments (1973 to 1977).  MPN-14 at RAF, Weathersfield, England (circa 1982, Dan Miller Photo)
 Thomas Sherrill, former USAF TPN-19 tech, working on FAA radar at Atlanta Hartsfield International Airport, supporting the FAA Eastern Service Area
AN/TPX-42 IFF System
 AN/TPX-42 IFF Test System Chassis  AN/TPX-42 IFF Data Processing Unit Chassis  AN/TPX-42 IFF Data Processing Unit Chassis  GPN-27 Radar Signal Simulator |
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Kirt
