Mill Valley Air Force Station
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Mill Valley Air Force Station was a USAF installation on the West Peak of Mt. Tamalpais in Mill Valley, California. Its primary purpose was the operation of the radar facilities on Mt. Tam and command and control of anti-aircraft missile systems around the Bay Area. MVAFS has stood largely vacant since the early 1980's and has seen various occupancy by the FAA.
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[edit] History
The Federal Government entered a lease with the Marin Municipal Water District in 1942 to occupy the land atop Mt. Tam's West Peak and build an Army installation. Commissioned in 1953, the station operated until its final tenant unit, the 666th Radar Squadron, was deactivated in 1980. In 2005, the Federal Government's lease expired and the land was returned to the MMWD.
[edit] Current usage
Most people who have attended the annual Mountain Play have parked in a lot that once comprised part of MVAFS. The characteristic "golf balls" that dot the ridgeline of Mt. Tam are reminders of the station's legacy.
