On 28 May 1957, the 639th AC&W Squadron moved to Lowther and by 15 July, they had installed the radars. When the 639th became operational in 1958, they operated with the AN/MPS-7 Search radar and the AN/MPS-14 Height Finder radar. In 1960, the Squadron received the new AN/FPS-26 Height Finder and the AN/FPS-27 Search radars. The station was SAGE-capable in March 1963.
The RCAF took over the station on 1 July 1963 and renamed the unit 26 Radar Squadron, RCAF Station Lowther, Ontario. Happily for the RCAF personnel, the 639th had become SAGE-Operational in March 1963 so they were spared the majority of the testing required at each site as the system was brought on-line. Also, just prior to the hand-over, the station began to report to North Bay with the Long Range Radar providing data on the airspace north of the Great Lakes. This was carried out in conjunction with Lowther's sister radar squadrons located at Sioux Lookout and Falconbridge. Prior to sending data to North Bay, the squadron had transmitted their data to Sault Ste. Marie Air Defence Sector, later renamed 23rd NORAD Region, at Duluth, Minnesota.
Lowther assumed new responsibilities as of January 1964, when it took on a Back Interceptor Control (BUIC) role. As a result of the unification of Canada's three branches of the military, 36 Radar Squadron Lowther became CFS Lowther effective 5 October 1967. The long range radar unit fell under control of the Canadian NORAD Region's Canada East ROCC, which became operational by August 1984.
CFS Lowther ceased operations on 1 April 1987 and the base was closed out in August of that same year.
--The NBC Group - Don Nicks, John Bradley, Chris Charland.