The Coast Star
  February 28, 2008

The InfoAge Science and History Learning Center in Wall Township recently obtained electronic warfare equipment, which included two Quick Look II airborne Electronic Intelligence [ELINT] pods [above], which flew on an OV-1 Mohawk reconnaissance aircraft, as well as other equipment that had previously been classified by the U.S. government.  Photo courtesy Fred Carl

Something new and exciting is about to start at the InfoAge Science and History Learning Center in Wall Township, and it has to do with the “secret” science known as electronic warfare.

“If one were to write a book, it might be entitled, ‘Camp Evans — The Untold Story,’” said John Cervini, a Camp Evans veteran, as well as a member of both the Association of Old Crows [AOC] and InfoAge.

With the help of the AOC, an international, professional organization dedicated to increasing public awareness of electronic warfare, whose Garden State Chapter is headquartered on the post at Fort Monmouth, InfoAge is embarking on a Special Project to determine the history of electronic warfare at Camp Evans, and ultimately to establish an Electronic Warfare Museum with hands-on, interactive exhibits, according to Mr. Cervini.

“For years now, many articles have been written about the role Camp Evans played in the history of Wireless Communication and Radar development,” Mr. Cervini stated. “But now the public will hear about the critical part that Camp Evans and its dedicated employees played in advancing the state-of-the art intelligence monitoring equipment, electronic countermeasures and sophisticated intercept and direction-finding systems.”

Soon, the public will have the opportunity to learn about esoteric programs and equipment, said Mr. Cervini, such as Cefly Lancer, Cefirm Leader, Guardrail, Quick Look, Hot Brick and many others.

“Many facts about these systems were highly classified, and only now can specific information be released to the general public,” Mr. Cervini enthusiastically stated.

“We’re rebuilding the collection at a private level,” InfoAge Director Fred Carl stated.

“Camp Evans is known for wireless history, World War I history and World War II history,” but the Cold War era is one that has not received as much attention as the others, said Mr. Carl.

The first step to acquire electronic warfare equipment was taken by Steve Makrinos, a long time AOC Garden State Chapter member, who spent most of his distinguished Army civilian career at Camp Evans, said Mr. Cervini.

Mr. Makrinos recently made a trip to the Tobyhanna Army Depot in Pennsylvania to inspect U.S. Army equipment that was considered excess and no longer in the inventory. Having been to the depot many times during his career, Mr. Makrinos renewed acquaintances with some key people, especially Frank Zardecki, one of Tobyhanna’s executives and a good friend of Mr. Makrinos.

While there, according to Mr. Cervini, they had enough time to tour one of the buildings containing excess equipment where Mr. Makrinos spotted some things he recognized. He and Mr. Zardecki entered into an informal agreement which would allow specific items, identified as having a historical connection to Camp Evans, to be set aside and donated to the InfoAge Learning Center.

“A while back, with the help of a few InfoAge volunteers and the cooperation of Wall Township officials, a truck was dispatched to Tobyhanna and returned with a number of items which are currently being stored in the historical district,” Mr. Cervini stated. They included two Quick Look II airborne Electronic Intelligence [ELINT] pods, which flew on an OV-1 Mohawk reconnaissance aircraft; as well as an S-250 shelter which housed the Ground Station for the Side Looking Airborne Radar [SLAR] system. The entire system — radar, shelter, data link, among other items, is known as the UPD-7. The SLAR designation is the AN/APS-94, and it also flew on the Mohawk.

“This is the first step in accumulating equipment and facts relating to the ‘Untold Story,’” Mr. Cervini said.

The new equipment “adds a whole new modern dimension to its [InfoAge’s] history,” Mr. Carl stated.

The AOC is currently compiling a list of people to contact who have or might have direct knowledge of electronic warfare and electronic countermeasures artifacts and equipment developed by the U.S. Army at Camp Evans, according to Mr. Cervini.

For more information about InfoAge, please visit www.infoage.org. InfoAge is located at 2201 Marconi Road in Wall.