Point Arguello (Spanish: Punta Argüello)^[1][2] is a headland on the Gaviota Coast, in Santa Barbara County, California, near the city of Lompoc.^[3] The area was first used by the United States Navy in 1959 for the launch of military and sounding rockets. It was transferred to the United States Air Force in 1964,^[4] at which time it became part of Vandenberg Air Force Base.^[5]

History

In 1769, the Spanish Portola expedition became the first Europeans to explore this area by land. Soldiers of the expedition named a nearby point Los Pedernales or Punta Pedernales, because they found flints there.^[6] The point was given that name on some early maps, but in 1792 British naval explorer George Vancouver dubbed it Point Arguello for José Darío Argüello, a Spanish frontier soldier who was Commandant of the Presidio of Santa Barbara and acting governor of Alta California.^[7]

USS Edith wrecked off Point Argüello in 1849.^[8]

A High-frequency direction finding (HFDF) was established here by the Navy during World War II. These radio intercept sites along the coast could track Japanese warships and merchant marine vessels as far away as the Western Pacific. The other stations in California were at Farallon Islands, Point Saint George, and San Diego. Bainbridge Island, Washington also hosted a station.^[9]

Launch pads

Rockets listed in italics were launched from the complex after its transfer to Vandenberg Air Force Base in 1964.

PALC-A

Launch Complex A or LC-A at the Point Arguello Naval Air Station in California, United States, subsequently Point Arguello Launch Complex A or PALC-A at the Vandenberg Air Force Base, is a launch complex that was used for a number of sounding rocket launches between 1959 and 1966. It was originally built as Launch Complex A or LC-A at the Point Arguello Naval Air Station, and was subsequently transferred to Vandenberg Air Force Base as PALC-A following the merger of Point Arguello into Vandenberg AFB in 1964.

Point Arguello Launch Complex A

Launch site	Point Arguello Vandenberg
Location	34°40′45″N 120°35′32″W / 34.6791°N 120.5922°W / 34.6791; -120.5922
Short name	LC-A, PALC-A
Operator	US Air Force
Total launches	39
Launch pad(s)	One
Launch history Status Inactive First launch 14 July 1959 Last launch 25 March 1966 Associated rockets Blue Scout Junior Astrobee-1500 Black Brant III DAC Roc Honest John-Nike-Nike Javelin Journeyman Nike-Asp Seagull

Blue Scout Junior, Astrobee, Black Brant, DAC Roc, Honest John-Nike-Nike, Javelin, Journeyman, Nike-Asp and Seagull rockets were launched from the complex whilst it was active.

Launch History

PALC-B

Launch Complex B or LC-B at the Point Arguello Naval Air Station in California, United States was a launch complex which was used for twenty three sounding rocket launches between 1960 and 1963. Astrobee-1500, Deacon-Arrow, Kiva-Hopi, Nike-Cajun, Nike-Viper, Terrier-Asp rockets were launched from the complex whilst it was active.

Launch Complex B

Launch site	Point Arguello
Location	34°40′11″N 120°35′57″W / 34.6697°N 120.5993°W / 34.6697; -120.5993
Short name	LC-B
Operator	US Air Force
Total launches	23
Launch pad(s)	One
Launch history Status Inactive First launch 4 February 1960 Last launch 11 May 1963 Associated rockets Astrobee-1500 Deacon-Arrow Kiva-Hopi Nike-Cajun Nike-Viper Terrier-Asp

The complex was transferred to the Vandenberg Air Force Base as a result of a merger between it and Point Arguello in 1964, however by that time it was already inactive.

Launch History