Mount Hebo
Radar Station
Hebo, Oregon
Last Update: 10-7-2006
Click on photos below for larger images.
Wally Reil (wreil at fix.net) lived with his parents and brother Ron for a couple of years on a mountain top along the Pacific Coast in Oregon, in the tiny community of Hebo, about 20 miles south of Tillamook, along Highway 101. This was in 1964, 1965. My father, Lt. Colonel Walter Reil, was base commander of the United States Air Force Mount Hebo Radar Station. In those days the U.S. Air Force had numerous large radar facilities located all along the western coast of the the United States up through Canada to Alaska watching for enemy planes and ships. This was an extremely unique place to live, being in the 6th & 7th grades, living a housing area of 27 homes at elevation 3,500 feet. My 7th grade class was a huge 13 students. We really knew everyone VERY well. The radar base was at elevation 4,000 feet. We enjoyed a couple of years of wonderful backwoods living, having heavy snow each winter and hunting deer and bear. Sad to say that the radar station is no longer in existence. The base was totally removed and the hilltop is now completely restored to its pre-installation natural state. During those years, my brother Ron had some challenging experiences on that mountain. Those experiences expanded greatly years later when he served in the U.S. Navy. For some interesting "Narratives" of his highly interesting life, check out Ron's website .
Mount Hebo Radar Station Base Commander
Lt. Colonel Walter O. Reil
Here are a number of photos of Mount Hebo Radar Station during its highly important duty. Many of these photos were provided by Scott Gross.
I loved this place. It holds a wonderful place in my heart.
