Hell's Kitchen in Manhattan in New York County, New York — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)
Grumman (WF-2) E-1B Tracer
In 1954, the U.S. Navy began to developed a carrier-based aircraft that would provide early-warning surveillance and airborne control functions for the fleet. The result was the Grumman E-1B Tracer. The most distinctive feature of the Tracer was the radome, the aerodynamic structure over the wing. The radome concealed a massive dish-type radar system called the APS-82, which had a search radius of 250 miles (402 km).
The Tracer was a derivative of the Grumman S-2 Tracker anti-submarine aircraft and C-1 Trader transport aircraft. The Tracer had a deeper fuselage, which accommodated a crew of radar operations. It also had a new tail unit, with twin fins and rudders, and a central fin to support the radome.
Flying above a carrier task force, the Tracer and its crew of four provided an electronic bird's eye view of the surrounding airspace. The radar extended the view of the task force hundreds of miles over the horizon. Detachments of two Tracers along with aircrews and supporting personnel were deployed on Intrepid for operations off the coast of Vietnam. Tracers provided F-8 Crusaders with information on enemy MiG fighter activity and monitored alpha strikes over North Vietnam.
The Tracer entered service in 1958 and served aboard Intrepid until the ship's retirement in 1974. The Tracer
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Length: 45 feet 4 inches (13.8 m)
Wingspan: 73 feet 5 inches (22.3 m)
Height: 16 feet 10 inches (5.1 m)
Empty Weight: 20,638 pounds (9,361 kg)
Max Weight: 26,800 pounds (12,156 kg)
Top Speed: 253 miles per hour (407 kph)
Ceiling: 22,000 feet (6,705 m)
Crew: Four, two pilots and two radar operators
Payload: APS-82 radar system
Erected by Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Air & Space • War, Vietnam • Waterways & Vessels. A significant historical year for this entry is 1954.
Location. 40° 45.866′ N, 74° 0.007′ W. Marker is in Manhattan, New York, in New York County. It is in Hell's Kitchen. It can be reached from the intersection of 12th Avenue (New York State Route 9A) and West 46th Street, on the right when traveling south. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 549 12th Ave, New York NY 10019, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in New York City. It is also in the American Northeast and in the Mid-Atlantic. Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region, North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Netherland and also one of the original Thirteen Colonies.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Israel Aircraft Industries Kfir (a few steps from this marker); Grumman F9F-8 (AF-9J) Cougar (a few steps from this marker); McDonnell F3H-2N (F-3B) Demon
Credits. This page was last revised on February 17, 2023. It was originally submitted on November 9, 2022, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. This page has been viewed 330 times since then and 19 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on November 9, 2022, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia.
