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MPN-14 and TPN-19 Mobile Radars from the USAF 3rd MOB

Fellow USAF radar technician Charles Pritt just checked in with a plethora of info and photographs about his time in the 3rd MOB (aka 3CCG or 3rd Combat Communications Group).

Charles sent me the following note in January of 2013. Enjoy.

"Here is my [service] info, the best I can recall:

I enlisted for 6 years, 1973-1979. I had a job description of ATC Radar Repairman Repairman, 30351.

  • 1973 – training, Keesler AFB, Biloxi, MS
  • 1973 – 1976 Yokota AB, Japan - 1837th EIS, 1956th Communication Group
  • 1976 – 1979 Tinker AFB, Oklahoma City, OK - 3rd MOB

Chalco Paper Tape Reader used in TPN-19 radar (Mark J. Blair image) - RF Cafe

Chalco Paper Tape Reader procured by Mark J. Blair. See Mark's restoration photos. Please contact Mark if you worked with the Mark's other vintage comms equipment (PDP-8/M computer) - RF Cafereader on the TPN-19 system. Here is some of Mark's other vintage comms equipment.

I attended Technical training at Keesler, from April to September 1973, for Radar Repair.

My first assignment after Technical school was to the 1837th E&I squadron at Yokota AB, Japan starting in October 1973. Since we were not supporting a daily operational radar system and the only time we worked on Radar was when we went on TDY, we usually just sat around the office, talking, drinking coffee or studying radar books for our promotions.

Thankfully we were very often TDY. I was sent to Thailand to close down the radar system at Ubon, sent to the Philippines, Clark AB, to modify the Rapcon equipment from tube based equipment to solid state equipment, did the same procedure at Kadena AB in Okinawa, and made several TDYs to Korea, and I even made a TDY all the way to Altus AFB, Oklahoma to assist the MOB outfit there with an MPN-14 system remodel. After a year and a half, the 1837th was merged with the 1956th Communications Group so I was involved with the daily operational support of the ATC radar system at Yokota AB.

After my assignment at Yokota AB in Japan, my next assignment was to the 3rd MOB in Tinker AFB, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. I finished out my time in the Air Force there.

I have attached some photos, and below is the description of the photos as best as I can recall. I am scanning all my old photos and slides, back then we took a lot of slides, and I have a lot of radar related photos, so I will gather these up and send them along when I can. "

All of the following photos are courtesy of Charles Pritt:

Approach radar antenna outside Keesler AFB training building - RF Cafe

Approach radar antenna outside Keesler AFB training building.

ASR, PAR, VHF, and UHF antennas on the MPN-14 mobile radar - RF Cafe

ASR, PAR, VHF, and UHF antennas on the MPN−14 mobile radar.

TPN-19 Precision Approach Radar (PAR) antenna from the 3rd MOB - RF Cafe

TPN−19 Precision Approach Radar (PAR) antenna from the 3rd MOB.

Rapcon upgrade in progress at Clark AB, Philippines - RF Cafe

Rapcon upgrade in progress at Clark AB, Philippines

TPN-19 Rapcon unit from the 3rd MOB - RF Cafe

TPN−19 Rapcon unit from the 3rd MOB.

MPN-14 radar outside training building at Keesler AFB, MS - RF Cafe

MPN-14 radar outside training building at Keesler AFB, MS.

MPN-14 radar at Clark AB, Philippines - RF Cafe

MPN−14 radar at Clark AB, Philippines

Airport Surveillance Radar (ASR) antenna from the TPN-19 - RF Cafe

Airport Surveillance Radar (ASR) antenna from the TPN−19.

Air traffic controller's PPI at Clark AB, Philippines - RF Cafe

Air traffic controller's PPI at Clark AB, Philippines

TPN-19 radar transmit unit from the 3rd MOB - RF Cafe

TPN−19 radar transmit unit from the 3rd MOB.

 

 

Posted August 30, 2021
(updated from original post on 1/15/2013)
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