Cambria Air Force Station Cambria Air Force Station is a closed United States Air Force General Surveillance Radar station . It is located south - southeast of Cambria , California . It was closed in 1980 . History . Cambria Air Force Station was one of twenty - eight stations built as part of the second segment of the Air Defense Command permanent radar network . Prompted by the start of the Korean War , on July 11 , 1950 , the Secretary of the Air Force asked the Secretary of Defense for approval to expedite construction of the permanent network . Receiving the Defense Secretary ’ s approval on July 21 , the Air Force directed the Corps of Engineers to proceed with construction . The 775th Aircraft Control and Warning Squadron was initially assigned to a temporary " Lashup " site ( LP - 2 ) that was established in November 1951 at Cambria equipped with an AN / TPS - 1 C radar . On 1 December 1953 the permanent station was activated with AN / FPS - 3 search and AN / CPS - 4 height - finder radars , replacing the earlier site , and initially the station functioned as a Ground - Control Intercept ( GCI ) and warning station . As a GCI station , the squadron ' s role was to guide interceptor aircraft toward unidentified intruders picked up on the unit ' s radar scopes . In 1955 the height - finder radar was replaced by an AN / FPS - 6 . An AN / FPS - 8 search radar also operated for a short time from 1955 to 1956 . In 1959 the site featured two AN / FPS - 3 , and AN / FPS - 6 and AN / FPS - 6A radars . In 1961 the site received an AN / FPS - 7 radar featuring ECCM capability . In 1961 the site also replaced the AN / FPS - 6A height - finder radar with an AN / FPS - 6B model . In April 1961 Cambria AFS joined the Semi Automatic Ground Environment ( SAGE ) system , feeding data to DC - 17 at Norton AFB , California . After joining , the squadron was redesignated as the 775th Radar Squadron ( SAGE ) on 1 May 1961 . The radar squadron provided information 24 / 7 the SAGE Direction Center where it was analyzed to determine range , direction altitude speed and whether or not aircraft were friendly or hostile . In 1963 an AN / FPS - 26 A replaced the AN / FPS - 6B height - finder radar , and continued routine radar surveillance throughout the 1960s and 1970s . Cambria AFS was re - designated as NORAD ID Z - 2 on 31 July 1963 . In addition to the main facility , Cambria operated the AN / FPS - 14 Gap Filler site : Over the years , the equipment at the station was upgraded or modified to improve the efficiency and accuracy of the information gathered by the radars . In 1979 Cambria came under Tactical Air Command ( TAC ) jurisdiction with the inactivation of Aerospace Defense Command and the creation of ADTAC . Operations ceased on 30 September 1980 as a result of budget restrictions , and the general phase down of air defense radar stations . Today , what was Cambria Air Force Station is in private hands . It was operated by the Coast Guard as a NAVTEX ( Navigational Telex , broadcasting safety notices & weather info to ships ) station . The station sold 1 / 13 / 05 for $ 2 , 000 , 000 . Most buildings are in reasonable condition with most of the towers still remaining . Air Force units and assignments . Units . Assignments : External links .