grand forks air force base minuteman missile silo

Earlier that same week, on 1 May, ADC transferred the 18th Fighter- Interceptor Squadron (FIS) and its F-101B Voodoos, from Wurtsmith AFB, Michigan, to Grand Forks. The 905 ARS acquired its first KC-135A Stratotanker on. Strategic Air Command organized the 905th Air Refueling Squadron (ARS) (Heavy) at Grand Forks on 1 February 1960. In 1960, the Air Force stationed the first flying units at Grand Forks AFB. The command expected to equip the unit with bombers and tankers within a few years. In the meantime, SAC activated the 4133d Strategic Wing (Provisional) as a tenant unit at Grand Forks AFB on 1 September 1958. The Grand Forks Air Defense Sector covered the air space of three US states and one Canadian province. The sector became operational with the semi-automatic ground environment (SAGE) system on 15 December 1959. In December 1957, the US Air Force activated the Grand Forks Air Defense Sector of the North American Air Defense Command (NORAD). This unit would serve as the host unit for a fighter-interceptor squadron, an air defense sector operation, and SAC units. On 8 February 1957, the ADC activated the 478th Fighter Group (FG) at Grand Forks. During that same month, the Air Force announced it would build up Grand Forks AFB to support Strategic Air Command (SAC) bombers and tankers as well as ADC fighter-interceptors.

Contractors began construction of the base with grubbing operations for the 12,350-foot runway on 5 February 1956. The citizens of Grand Forks donated money toward the purchase of 5,400-acres of land 15 miles west of the city. The Defense Department chose Grand Forks as the site for the new installation in 1954. Origin of current name: Named after a city in North Dakota.ĭate current name was assigned to base: December 1, 1955Ĭhanges in Capability: Base operations building, control tower, storage tanks, and jet fuel facilities completed July 31st 1957 fighter base, 1957-1961 hangars, base headquarters building, and first runway completed December 31st 1957 SAGE building accepted March 15th 1958 150 Minuteman II missile sites and 15 launch control facilities installed January 1965-January 1966, replaced by 150 Minuteman III missiles in 1974 744-unit Capehart housing project completed June 15th 1965 200-man dormitory and 300-unity trailer park occupied July 1966 assembly-surveillance-inspection facility completed August 7th 1970 nuclear storage maintenance buildings accepted February 1971 facilities for remote alert tour aircraft completed January 1973 164-unit Capehart housing project completed spring 1982 facilities for air launched cruise missiles completed fall 1983.ĭuring the early 1950s, as the Cold War between the United States and the Soviet Union continued, the US Air Force announced plans to build an Air Defense Command (ADC) fighter-interceptor base in eastern North Dakota. Location: Located 16 miles west of Grand Forks, ND, about 275 miles northwest of Minneapolis, MN.

Grand forks air force base minuteman missile silo