Hutchinson Air Force Station Hutchinson Air Force Station ( ADC ID : P - 47 , NORAD ID : Z - 47 ) is a closed United States Air Force station . It is located west - southwest of Yoder , Kansas . It was closed for all military use in 1968 . It was operated alongside Hutchinson Air National Guard Base when it was operational . History . In 1951 the United States Air Force Air Defense Command selected a portion of the then - closed World War II NAS Hutchinson facility as a site for one of twenty - eight radar stations built as part of the second segment of the permanent ADC general radar surveillance network for the United States . Prompted by the start of the Korean War , on 11 July 1950 , the Secretary of the Air Force asked the Secretary of Defense for approval to expedite construction of the second segment of the permanent network . Receiving the Defense Secretary ’ s approval on 21 July , the Air Force directed the Army Corps of Engineers to proceed with construction of a radar station on the eastern part of the ground station , about a mile from the runways and ramp / hangars being used by the Navy when it reactivated its facilities . On 1 May 1951 , the 793d Aircraft Control and Warning Squadron ( AC & W Sq ) was activated at Hutchinson Air Force Station ( AFS ) ( P - 47 ) , the radar site on the facility . In May 1952 , the 793 AC & W Sq began operating a pair of AN / FPS - 10 radars , 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 . During 1958 , an AN / FPS - 3 search radar saw duty and a pair of AN / FPS - 6 A height - finder radars were installed . By late 1959 , Hutchinson AFS was performing air traffic control duties for the Federal Aviation Administration . At this time the site operated an AN / FPS - 20 search radar . In the early 1960s , this radar was upgraded and redesignated as an AN / FPS - 66 . During late January 1961 , Hutchinson AFS joined the Semi Automatic Ground Environment ( SAGE ) system , feeding data to Site DC - 22 at Sioux City AFS , Iowa . After joining , the squadron was redesignated as the 793d Radar Squadron ( SAGE ) on 1 February 1962 . The radar squadron provided information 24 / 7 / 365 to the SAGE Direction Center , where it was analyzed to determine range , direction altitude speed and whether or not aircraft were friendly or hostile . On 31 July 1963 , the site was redesignated as NORAD ID Z - 47 . By 1963 , height - finding duties were being performed by AN / FPS - 6 A radars , and one was upgraded to an AN / FPS - 90 in 1964 . In addition to the main facility , Hutchinson operated two AN / FPS - 14 Gap Filler sites : The 793rd Radar Squadron was inactivated on 8 September 1968 , primarily due to budget reductions . With its closure the site was declared excess and closed on 30 September 1968 . Station today . The main support station is now the Hutchinson Community College and Area Vocational School , which have torn down the former military buildings and replaced them with new buildings . Some former military family housing units appear to be in use as private residences . The Federal Aviation Administration took over operation and maintenance of the former Air Force radars . which are still in use . ( N 37 55 ' 23 " W 97 53 ' 15 " ) .