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60-680: The Sunspot telescope facility is located in Sunspot, New Mexico , and is part of the Lincoln National Forest on the western edge of the Sacramento Mountains . The ~250 acres (100 ha) area is located on National Forest Service lands, managed by the U.S. Department of Agriculture , U.S. Forest Service (USFS), Lincoln National Forest, and the Sacramento Ranger District . Established by

120-704: A Solar Observatory date back to the sudden increased interest of solar physics to the US military during the Second World War . In 1940, the High Altitude Observatory (HAO) was established in 1940 in Climax, Colorado, by Walter Orr Roberts and Donald Menzel. It was associated with both Harvard College Observatory and the University of Colorado and was incorporated in 1946. At the time it was

180-596: A conventional strike force in Europe, the 366th Tactical Fighter Wing moved to Holloman. The move was a result of French president Charles DeGaulle 's deep suspicion of "supranational organizations" and his country's shift away from the NATO orbit in the early 1960s that ultimately led to the closure of American air bases in France . 366th TFW was organized as follows: At the time of the wing's arrival at Holloman, they flew

240-556: A diverse range of native flora and fauna including more than 200 species of birds, as well as mule deer. It was named after the presence of the National Solar Observatory on Sacramento Peak , in a vote that was allegedly rigged by the observatory's director John Evans . The road leading to Sunspot from Cloudcroft is New Mexico State Road 6563 , named for the brightest wavelength of hydrogen emission , H-alpha . This scenic byway features signposts marking

300-453: A former host unit at Holloman, the 366th TFW which was transferred from Da Nang Air Base South Vietnam . F-15 Eagle era On 20 December 1977, the wing began converting from the F-4D to F-15A/Bs. The transition was completed on 4 June 1978. History was made during February 1980, when two pilots from the 49th each flew their F-15s 6,200 miles in just over 14 hours, establishing a record for

360-504: A larger scale than at any comparable observatory; design, development, and fabrication of the required optical device; and concurrently, theoretical studies of solar structure and characteristics" On the western side of the Sacramento peak, there are wide open views of Apache Point Observatory and Sloan Digital Sky Survey telescopes. From the overlook beside the telescope, White Sands National Park stands out as gypsum white against

420-535: A major role, dropping the first bombs against an Iraqi leadership target in Baghdad on 19 March 2003. In all, F-117 pilots flew more than 80 missions and dropped nearly 100 enhanced guided bomb units against key targets. Approximately 300 people deployed with the air package and provided direct support to the F-117 mission. Additionally, hundreds of other 49th FW personnel were deployed on other missions. The 479th TTW

480-442: A result, solar observations "became essential to the war effort". Suddenly the field of solar astronomy became an appealing goal for both astronomers and the military. The Sacramento Peak Observatory was conceived as a complementary telescope to the existing facilities in Climax, as Roberts had realized that "there were long periods of cloudiness, especially during the winter, when it was not possible to make observations", and hence

540-584: A second dedicated solar observatory should be established. The practical applications for solar research, as discovered by the military during World War II, regarding the impact solar activity had on radio communication spurred the US Congress to provide for a military-funded observatory. It became an important mission of the USAF to establish a solar observatory and "after the war, when the Air Force recognized

600-496: A suborbital flight launched 31 January 1961, the first great ape in space, and Enos on a 1961 orbital flight as the third great ape to orbit Earth. The 366th Tactical Fighter Wing arrived on 15 July 1963, making Holloman a Tactical Air Command (TAC) operating base. On 8 April 1966, the 4758th Defense Systems Evaluation Squadron (DSES) arrived from Biggs AFB Texas . The squadron evaluated aircraft weapons systems and to provide training for air defense units. Aircraft flown by

660-618: A wing's entire fleet. In May 1972 the 49th deployed their F-4 aircraft and 2,600 personnel to Takhli RTAFB Thailand . During this deployment the 49th flew more than 21,000 combat hours over just about every battle zone from An Loc to vital installations in the Hanoi vicinity. During five months of combat, the wing did not lose any aircraft or personnel. The unit received an Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with Combat "V" Device for its participation. The 49th TFW officially closed out its Southeast Asia duty on 9 October 1972, turning over Takhli to

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720-604: Is operated and maintained by the Association of Universities for Research in Astronomy . The telescope and site are both open to the public, and the visitors center offers guided tours of the site on Saturdays and Sundays. On other days there is a self-guided 1/2 mile trail around the telescope and White Sands overlook. Sunspot is an unincorporated community located the Lincoln National Forest which has

780-548: Is operated by New Mexico State University through support from the state of New Mexico and provides guided tours of the site and the telescope for the public on Saturday and Sunday. Self-guided tours are available during other times. The Visitor Center contains exhibits from the Dunn Solar Telescope , the Apache Point Observatory , and the Lincoln National Forest. The origins of Sunspot as

840-470: Is zoned to Cloudcroft Municipal Schools . [REDACTED] Media related to Sunspot, New Mexico at Wikimedia Commons Holloman Air Force Base Holloman Air Force Base ( IATA : HMN , ICAO : KHMN , FAA LID : HMN ) is a United States Air Force base established in 1942 located six miles (10 km) southwest of the central business district of Alamogordo , which is the county seat of Otero County , New Mexico , United States. The base

900-738: The Lincoln National Forest in Otero County , New Mexico , United States, about 18 miles (29 km) south of Cloudcroft . Its elevation is 9,186 feet (2,800 m). The Sunspot Solar Observatory and Apache Point Observatory are located in Sunspot in the Sacramento Mountains. The site of Sunspot is leased by the National Science Foundation (NSF) from the US Forest Service (USFS), and

960-664: The Republic F-84F Thunderstreak , which were former Air National Guard aircraft transferred to France during the 1961 Berlin Crisis as part of Operation Tack Hammer. At Holloman, the wing began converting to the new McDonnell Douglas F-4C Phantom II in February 1965. Later that year, the wing sent its first squadron to the Republic of Vietnam . The 390th Fighter Squadron was assigned to Da Nang AB , and

1020-487: The Tonopah Test Range Airport Nevada , arrived at Holloman. The 37th Tactical Fighter Wing at Tonopah was inactivated with the transfer of the last F-117s to Holloman on 8 July 1992. F-117s were initially assigned to the following squadrons: These squadrons were PCS (moved Permanent Change of Station) to Holloman as part of the 37th Operations Group on 15 June 1992. The formal transfer to

1080-497: The 391st went to Cam Ranh Bay AB in early 1966. On 20 March 1966 the rest of the wing entered the conflict and moved to Phan Rang AB , Republic of Vietnam in support of combat operations in Vietnam . With the transfer of the 366th to Vietnam, the 6583d Air Base Group became the host unit at Holloman. On 1 July 1968, the 49th Tactical Fighter Wing arrived at Holloman Air Force Base from Spangdahlem AB , West Germany , becoming

1140-734: The 4758th DSES were the B-57 Canberra and F-100 Super Sabre . On 31 October 1970 the squadron was merged with the 4677th DSES at Tyndall AFB Florida . On 1 August 1970, per Air Force Systems Command Special Order G-94, the Air Force Missile Development Center was inactivated. TAC assumed host responsibilities for Holloman Air Force Base. Associate units and programs transferred to other locations within Air Force Systems Command . The Test & Evaluation activities that remained were

1200-616: The 48th saved 33 lives in real-world rescues in the American Southwest. The unit was inactivated on 1 February 1999. The 8th and 9th Fighter Squadrons deployed to Aviano Air Base , Italy and Spangdahlem Air Base , Germany , from 21 February–1 July 1999, in support of Operation Allied Force. Flying more than 1,000 total sorties, pilots flew into heavily defended skies, littered with surface-to-air missiles and anti-aircraft fire. In particular, F-117A pilots bravely trusting in their aircraft's low observable technology struck some of

1260-416: The 49th Operations group occurred on 8 July 1992 when the 37th OG was inactivated. In 1993 these squadrons were inactivated with assets transferred to the 7th, 8th and 9th Fighter Squadrons. The 7th was designated a combat training squadron, the 8th and 9th being deployable operational fighter squadrons. On 1 July 1993, the 20th Fighter Squadron was activated as part of the 49th Operations Group, taking over

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1320-501: The 49th underwent a number of transitions. On 1 October 1991, the 49th was redesignated the 49th Fighter Wing as part of an Air Force wide redesignation of units. On 1 November 1991, the 7th Fighter Squadron ceased F-15 operations, performing a Lead-In Fighter Training (LIFT) mission with Northrop AT-38B Talons , preparing for the transition to the Lockheed F-117A Nighthawk . during most of 1992. On 1 June 1992

1380-605: The 8th Fighter Squadron ceased F-15 operations and started flying AT-38B LIFT missions. The 9th Fighter Squadron ceased F-15 operations on 5 June 1992 and received F-4E aircraft from the 20th Fighter Squadron from the closing George AFB California as the Fighter Training Unit for the German Air Force. The last F-15 departed Holloman 5 June 1992, ending 14 years of Eagle operations. On 9 May 1992, four Lockheed F-117A Nighthawk stealth fighters from

1440-818: The Central Inertial Guidance Test Facility (CIGTF), the High Speed Test Track , the Radar Target Scatter Facility (RATSCAT), and the Target Drone Facility. These organizations were combined to form the nucleus of a Holloman AFB tenant organization, the 6585th Test Group , with the Air Force Special Weapons Center (AFSWC) at Kirtland Air Force Base , New Mexico, designated as the headquarters for

1500-630: The F-4Es of the 9th FS. The mission of the 20th FS was to conduct training with the German Air Force. The F-4Es which the 20th FS flew initially were USAF-owned aircraft, however in 1997 the squadron began flying German-owned F-4F aircraft. The F-4Fs, however flew in USAF markings. The 20th Fighter Squadron was inactivated on 20 December 2004 and the F-4Fs were flown to the Aerospace Maintenance and Regeneration Group . The first arrival, 72-1118,

1560-637: The German Air Force Flying Training Center. Planned for the British Overseas Training program which was not pursued, construction for the USAAF base 6 mi (9.7 km) west of Alamogordo, New Mexico , began on 6 February 1942. After the nearby Alamogordo Bombing and Gunnery Range was established by Executive Order No. 9029 (range designation on 14 May), the neighboring military installation

1620-704: The Holloman range and the White Sands Proving Ground merged to become the New Mexico Joint Guided Missile Test Range (later renamed White Sands Missile Range ), and the renamed Holloman Air Force Base (13 January 1948) supported WSMR launch complexes ( Launch Complex 33 , etc.) firing of Tiny Tim (the first Army rocket) , Rascal , V-2 rocket , Ryan XQ-2 Drone, Falcon , MGM-13 Mace , MGM-1 Matador , and AGM-45 Shrike . The 2754th Experimental Wing

1680-517: The QF-106 as a target for an infrared homing missile. The aircraft had burners placed on pylons underneath the wings to act as IR sources for heat-seeking missiles. The intention of the program was for the QF-106 to survive repeated engagements with air-to-air missiles , to make it possible for each QF-106 to last as long as possible before it was destroyed. The last shootdown of a QF-106 (57–2524) took place at Holloman AFB on 20 February 1997. The QF-106

1740-624: The Rapid Deployment Force until July 1981, when the tasking was transferred to the 1st Tactical Fighter Wing, Langley Air Force Base Virginia . The 49th demonstrated its capabilities in the fall of 1988, winning top honors at the William Tell air-to-air weapons competition. The wing outdistanced the nearest competitor by more than 2,000 points. The 49th won a variety of awards, including the coveted "Top Gun" for best fighter pilot. F-117 Nighthawk era From 1991 to 1993,

1800-792: The Sacramento Peak Observatory is the Richard B. Dunn Solar Telescope (DST), previously known as the Vacuum Tower Telescope. In addition to the DST, Sunspot Solar Observatory hosts four other telescopes. The John W. Evans Solar Facility (originally built 1952) hosted instruments for the High Altitude Observatory and the Air Force Research Lab and until 2009 obtained daily observations of million degree coronal emission that were used to predict

1860-800: The Test Group. In 1975, AFSWC was disestablished, and the 6585th Test Group at Holloman became part of the Armament Development and Test Center (ADTC) at Eglin AFB Florida . Holloman was designated a Tactical Training Center on 1 August 1977 and on 1 October 1993, the Air Force Development Test Center at Eglin AFB was redesignated as the Air Armament Center (AAC). In 1986, a contract

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1920-603: The U.S. Air Force (USAF) via a Memorandum of Agreement with the USFS in 1950, the facility was transferred to NSF in 1976. NSF and the USFS executed a land use agreement (1980) to formalize this transfer and the continued use of the land for the NSO. It was later known as the Sacramento Peak Observatory , and as one site of the National Solar Observatory (NSO). In 2018, all scientific research and public outreach at

1980-542: The USAF itself. Much of the conversion work was done before the aircraft were removed from storage at AMARC, with further work being carried out at East St Louis , Illinois . The QF-106s began operating as a Full-Scale Aerial Target (FSAT) in late 1991 at White Sands Missile Range New Mexico, and later at the Eglin Gulf Test Range in Florida (based at Holloman and Tyndall). A typical mission would employ

2040-611: The base was planned to "be manned by a skeleton crew merely as a plane refuelling station, [for] emergency landings, etc.", and it was temporarily inactivated on 28 February 1946. Post-war the AAF was used to support the Alamogordo Guided Missile Test Base which had its first Boeing Ground-to-Air Pilotless Aircraft launch on 14 November 1947. With the September 1947 formation of the USAF, in late 1947

2100-548: The first dual-based tactical fighter wing. The 6583d Air Base Group was inactivated in place. Under the dual-basing concept, the 49th, stationed at Holloman, deployed individual squadrons periodically to Europe , fulfilling their NATO commitment. The operational squadrons of the 49th TFW upon its arrival were: All three squadrons flew the McDonnell Douglas F-4D Phantom II . In 1972 squadron aircraft tail codes were standardized on "HO". In 1969,

2160-501: The local sheriff. A local TV station provided a call-in from a supposed employee with a disguised voice, although this was later found to be faked by the reporter. On September 17 AURA re-opened Sunspot, following an investigation into criminal activity involving Apache Point Observatory personnel. Later, court documents reported that the closure was due to threats from the Apache Point Observatory janitor who

2220-410: The longest flight of a single-seat fighter aircraft. The flights required six aerial refuelings, proving the global power of the 49th Tactical Fighter Wing. In July 1980, the wing acquired the commitment of a primary Rapid Deployment Force unit. This tasking, which lasted for a year, required the wing to be ready to deploy its aircraft, crews, and support personnel on short notice. The wing served with

2280-539: The most valuable, and highly guarded targets in Serbia . The F-117s penetrated the heavily defended areas, which conventional aircraft could not reach, and at least two aircraft were lost. Global War on Terror People, airplanes, and equipment of the 49th Fighter Wing played a key role in the continued global war against terrorism and particularly in Operation Iraqi Freedom . The wing's F-117s played

2340-433: The need to organize its own long-range program of solar studies, it quite naturally turned for specialized assistance to the recently formed High Altitude Observatory (HAO)". In September 1947, the USAF issued a contract to HAO and Harvard University to conduct a survey and thereby identify an appropriate site for a new solar observatory and to determine which instruments to install at the new site. Any seasonal cloud cover at

2400-660: The new site needed to arrive in the opposite season to that at Climax, in order to then provide for year-round coverage of the Sun. Similar to Climax, the atmosphere above the new site should be exceptionally free from haze and dust in order to permit for the best possible observing. Roberts and Menzel examined the White Sands Proving Ground (an area used as a research rocket firing range near Holloman Air Force Base in Alamogordo, New Mexico). They "concluded that

2460-680: The onset of the following solar cycle . The other two Dome buildings (Hilltop Dome 1963, Grain Bin Dome 1950) are not used for research. An Antarctic Mount telescope is situated beside the Visitors' Center on site and provides a light feed into the Visitors' Center. As the name suggests, this telescope was previously deployed in the Antarctic. The Sunspot Astronomy and Visitor Center provides an interactive astronomical experience through activities, displays, and informational exhibits. The Center

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2520-503: The range, a detached installation operated by the base was the Alamogordo Gasoline Storage and Pumping Station Annex . In 1944 the "base operating unit" changed to the 231st Army Air Force Base Unit (25 March) and 4145 AAFBU (24 August), and on 16 April 1945 Alamogordo AAF was relieved of its training mission and assigned to Continental Air Forces to become a permanent B-29 base. Instead, by 30 January 1946,

2580-649: The recommendation that Sacramento Peak be chosen as the solar research site for USAF. By April 1948, the Committee on Geophysical Sciences (then within the War Department's Research and Development Board) formally accepted this recommendation and a contract was written, mandating the Air Force to complete the observatory. The specifics of the contract called for "the preparation of detailed plans for an integrated solar research facility, which would combine observational, analytical, and data-reduction activities, all on

2640-412: The relative locations of the planets from the sun in proportion to their distance to Sunspot. On September 6, 2018, AURA voluntarily evacuated the site of Sunspot for security reasons. This prompted the formation of multiple conspiracy theories, including presence of aliens, military intelligence operations, impending solar storms, and FBI raids. These all originated from false information provided by

2700-461: The sandy background of the desert. On a clear day it is possible to see all the way south to the cities of El Paso, Texas , and Ciudad Juárez , Mexico, and all the way north to the Trinity test site . The overlook can also be used for viewing rocket launches from White Sands Missile Range . Sunspot, New Mexico Sunspot is an unincorporated community in the Sacramento Mountains in

2760-409: The section of the Sacramento Mountains in which Sacramento Peak is located would be especially promising for a solar research site. Further inquiries and inspection tended to confirm this initial reaction". Holloman Air Force Base could be used to supply the equipment and any supplies. Sacramento Peak was, at 9200 feet was also low enough to be more accessible to researchers than Climax at 11,000 feet and

2820-537: The telescope facility was taken over by the Sunspot Solar Observatory and AURA remain the operator of infrastructure on the site, including maintenance. Sunspot Solar Observatory is a global consortium that currently consists of personnel both in Sunspot, New Mexico , at New Mexico State University in Las Cruces, New Mexico , and other institutes across the world The flagship telescope at

2880-468: The thickly forested setting blocked interference from rising air currents up the mountain. A small crew of five made the initial camp at the Sunspot site. This crew included Roberts, John "Jack" W. Evans (a student of Menzel's), and Rudy Cook (who had worked with Robert in Climax). Cook's companions soon returned home, leaving Cook and his dog Rocky to man the site. By the end of 1947, Menzel and Roberts made

2940-496: The threat was no longer present, Sunspot was reopened by AURA. On September 24, 2018 Wired magazine published an article on the observatory. It stated that "Assuming New Mexico State gets a contract that goes till 2021, the site’s ultimate future may still be in flux. The National Science Foundation presented four potential ending options, and their impacts, earlier this year." Of these 4, NSF determined to keep Sunspot in operation in partnership with New Mexico State University. It

3000-415: The wing participated in its first dual-basing exercise, Crested Cap I, deploying 2,000 personnel and 72 aircraft to NATO bases in Europe. Also in 1969, the 49th earned the coveted MacKay Trophy for the "most meritorious flight of the year", for the redeployment from Germany to Holloman after Crested Cap II. The MacKay Trophy recognized the 49th for the fastest non-stop deployment of jet aircraft accomplished by

3060-455: The world's highest permanent observatory for astronomy, at an elevation of over 11,000 feet, and was designed purely for studying the Sun. Roberts worked with the Bureau of Standards, "forecasting radio conditions on the basis of solar observations". Such studies of the upper atmosphere were critical for predicting conditions for radio communication, guided missiles, and supersonic aircraft and, as

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3120-425: Was activated at Holloman on 1 January 1977 to provide Lead-In Fighter Training (LIFT) training for pilots assigned to fly tactical fighter or attack aircraft. The 479th Flew AT-38B Talons with the following squadrons: All 479th TTW aircraft carried the "HM" tail code. The LIFT program was sharply cut back in 1991, and the wing replaced by the 479th Fighter Group at Holloman, with the aircraft being consolidated under

3180-444: Was activated on 20 September 1949 to oversee all research and development projects. The Holloman Air Development Center became the base operating unit on 10 October 1952, and the 3,500 ft (1,100 m) rocket-powered sled was first run on 19 March 1954. On 10 December 1954, Lt Colonel (Dr.) John P. Stapp rode a Holloman rocket propelled test sled, Sonic Wind No. 1, to a speed of 632 miles per hour (1,017 km/h). The center

3240-515: Was awarded to Flight Systems Inc. (later Honeywell) to modify 194 surplus Convair F-106 Delta Dart aircraft stored at Davis-Monthan AFB Arizona to the QF-106A target drone configuration. This program came to be known as Pacer Six, and the first flight of a converted drone took place in July 1987. Following the completion of an initial batch of ten QF-106s in 1990, most of the work was transferred to

3300-441: Was delivered by Col. Kevin Zeeck on 18 November. The second, 72-1218, arrived at the base two days later. The remaining 14 F-4s arrived at AMARG by the second week of January 2005 in 4 further waves. The 48th Rescue Squadron was activated at Holloman AFB on 1 May 1993 with its six Sikorsky HH-60G Pave Hawk helicopters. The personnel of the 48th deployed six times in support of Operations Northern and Southern Watch. Additionally,

3360-554: Was designated Alamogordo Field Training Station (27 May) and Alamogordo Army Air Base (operated by the 359th Base Headquarters beginning on 10 June 1942). Alamogordo Army Air Field (Alamogordo AAFld, Alamogordo AAF) was named on 21 November as a Second Air Force installation equipped with aprons, runways, taxiways and hangars. From 1942 to 1945 the AAF had more than 20 different groups for overseas training, initially flying Boeing B-17 Flying Fortresses then Consolidated B-24 Liberators . Training began in 1943 and in addition to

3420-471: Was named in honor of Col. George V. Holloman , a pioneer in guided missile research. It is the home of the 49th Wing (49 WG) of the Air Education and Training Command (AETC). In addition to hosting several combat wings, Holloman supports the nearby White Sands Missile Range and currently hosts the Royal Air Force RPAS (Remotely Piloted Aircraft System) Formal Training Unit (FTU) and the Italian Air Force RPA training courses. The base previously hosted

3480-699: Was renamed the Air Force Missile Development Center on 1 September 1957 and inactivated on 1 August 1970. Additionally, Captain Joseph W. Kittinger, Jr. , stepped out of an open balloon gondola at 102,800 feet (31.3 km) on 16 August 1960, in an attempt to evaluate techniques of high altitude bailout. Capt Kittinger's jump lasted 13 minutes, reaching a velocity of 614 mph (988 km/h). That jump broke four world records: highest open gondola manned balloon flight, highest balloon flight of any kind, highest bailout, and longest free fall. The Aero-Medical Field Laboratory at Holloman "conducted space flight training with chimpanzees [in] 1961–1962", including Ham on

3540-550: Was replaced by the QF-4 Phantom drone. Today, the 96th Test Group from Eglin Air Force Base Florida is responsible for operational testing and evaluation of new equipment and systems proposed for use by these forces. Current initiatives include advanced self-protection systems for combat aircraft, aircrew life support systems, aerial reconnaissance improvements, new armament and weapons delivery systems, and improved maintenance equipment and logistics support. On 15 July 1963, after serving at Chaumont-Semoutiers Air Base , France as

3600-430: Was subsequently the center of a federal investigation. During the course of the investigation, AURA had decided to evacuate the site and terminated the contract that had been held by the janitor. Apache Point Observatory had not been closed despite the ongoing presence of the suspect at that location during the investigation. The suspect was known by a few others who had been previously removed from Sunspot, or fired. Once

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