Cross City Air Force Station is a former United States Air Force facility, located east of Cross City, Florida. Overview Originally a small civil airport, during World War II it was active as a training base for the Army Air Forces School of Applied Tactics and Third Air Force. Closed after the war and returned to civil control, in 1958 the United States Air Force exercised a right of return and a portion of the airport became an Air Defense Command ground interceptor radar site. Closed by the Air Force in 1970, the radars were turned over to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). Today it is part of the Joint Surveillance System (JSS), designated by NORAD as Eastern Air Defense Sector (EADS) Ground Equipment Facility J-10. History World War II The airport was opened as a public airport in April 1940. In August 1942, the facility was requisitioned by the United States Army Air Forces, and construction began to convert the Civil Aeronautics Administration airport in Cross City to a dive bomber military training airfield. The construction included the addition of and improvements to buildings, taxiways, roads, and hard stands. Historical documents list three ranges at the Cross City AAF: a shoot-in-butt, a rifle range, and a skeet range. Known as Cross City Army Airfield, it was used as part of the Army Air Forces Center (AAF Center)'s combat simulation school in Central and Northern Florida and as a unit training center by Third Air Force. Army Air Forces School of Applied Tactics / Army Air Forces Tactical Center Activated on 27 October 1942 as part of the Army Air Forces School of Applied Tactics (AAFSAT), Cross City AAF was assigned as a sub-base of Orlando Army Air Base, and came under the jurisdiction of the 50th Fighter Group stationed at Orlando. The 50th assigned the 305th Fighter Squadron (Single Engine), flying Bell P-39 Airacobra aircraft, to the field on 21 October 1942 to fly training missions from Cross City. In 1943, the AAFSAT was renamed the Army Air Forces Tactical Center (AAFTC). In June 1943, the 305th Fighter Squadron was replaced by the AAFTC's 81st Fighter Squadron (Single Engine), flying P-47 Thunderbolts until 1 February 1944. In support of the training mission, the Horseshoe Point Auxiliary Airfield () was constructed and used by the school as an auxiliary and emergency landing airfield. No personnel were permanently assigned to Horseshoe