Othello Air Force Station Othello Air Force Station ( ADC ID : P - 40 , NORAD ID : Z - 40 ) is a closed United States Air Force General Surveillance Radar station . It is located south of Othello , Washington . It was the home station of the 637th Aircraft Control and Warning Squadron ( AC & W Sq ) ( later the 637th Radar Squadron ) and the 637th Air Defense Group , closing in 1975 . History . Othello 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 . This site took over coverage once provided by the temporary " Lashup " site L - 28 , Spokane , Washington , which operated between 1950 - 1952 . The 637th AC & W Sq had moved to Saddle Mountain , Washington by 1 January 1951 . The squadron began operating an AN / FPS - 3 long - range search radar and an AN / FPS - 5 height - finder radar in January 1952 , assuming coverage from the temporary " lashup " sites L - 29 at Larson AFB and L - 30 at Richland , Washington . 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 . The site was renamed Othello Air Force Station on 1 December 1953 . In 1956 ADC replaced the height - finder radar with an AN / FPS - 6 . In 1958 the 637th AC & W Sq operated an AN / FPS - 20 search radar and added an AN / FPS - 6A height - finder radar . In July 1960 the joined the regional Semi - Automatic Ground Environment ( SAGE ) center , the squadron being redesignated as the 637th Radar Squadron ( SAGE ) on 1 September . 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 . On 31 July 1963 , the site was redesignated as NORAD ID Z - 40 . In 1963 the AN / FPS - 20 radar was replaced by an AN / FPS - 7 C set featuring an ECCM capability ( the AN / FPS - 7C was later modified to the AN / FPS - 107 version ) . Also in 1963 the AN / FPS - 6 was retired as an AN / FPS - 26 A height - finder radar was being installed , completed in 1964 . In addition to the main facility , Othello operated several AN / FPS - 14 Gap Filler sites : The 637th Radar Sq was inactivated and replaced by the 637th Air Defense Group in March 1970 . The upgrade to group status was done because of Othello AFS ' status as a Backup Interceptor Control ( BUIC ) site . BUIC sites were alternate control sites in the event that SAGE Direction Centers became disabled and unable to control interceptor aircraft . The group was awarded the Air Force Outstanding Unit Award for the period from 1 March 1970 through 31 May 1971 for exceptionally meritorious service The group was inactivated and replaced by the 637th Radar Squadron . as defenses against manned bombers were reduced . The group was disbanded in 1984 . The squadron was inactivated on March 31 , 1975 due to a draw - down of ADC and budget constraints . Today , the site is abandoned and deteriorating , and has the look of a ghost town . The site and housing area are deteriorating , with tall weeds , grasses , and shrubs growing everywhere .