Minot Air Force Base
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| Minot Air Force Base
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| IATA: MIB – ICAO: KMIB – FAA: MIB | |||
| Summary | |||
| Airport type | Military: Air Force Base | ||
| Owner | U.S. Air Force | ||
| Location | Minot, North Dakota | ||
| Commander | Colonel Joel Westa | ||
| Elevation AMSL | 1,668 ft / 508 m | ||
| Coordinates | |||
| Runways | |||
| Direction | Length | Surface | |
| ft | m | ||
| 11/29 | 13,197 | 4,022 | Concrete |
Minot Air Force Base (Minot AFB) (IATA: MIB, ICAO: KMIB) is a base of the United States Air Force in Ward County, North Dakota, 15 km (8 mi) north of the city of Minot. In the 2000 census, the base was counted as a CDP with a total population of 7,599.
Minot AFB is the home of two major Air Force Wings: the Air Combat Command (ACC) 5th Bomb Wing, and the Air Force Space Command (AFSPC) 91st Space Wing.
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[edit] Units
[edit] 5th Bomb Wing
The 5th Bomb Wing (ACC) is the host unit at Minot AFB; its commander is the installation commander, and the unit is responsible for all base services, such as housing, the library, the Officer's Club, etc. The primary mission of the 5th Bomb Wing is to maintain and operate B-52H Stratofortress bombers assigned to the 23d Bomb Squadron. Minot AFB is one of two bases with B-52s; the other is Barksdale AFV near Shreveport, Louisiana.
The 5th Bomb Wing consists of the following groups:
- 5th Operations Group
The 5th Operations Group is the backbone of the 5th Bomb Wing, providing the aircrews who fly the wing's B-52H Stratofortress aircraft. The 5th OG is comprised of the 23rd Bomb Squadron and the 5th Operations Support Squadron.
- 5th Mission Support Group
The 5th MSG consists of the 5th Civil Engineer Squadron, 5th Communications Squadron, 5th Force Support Squadron and 5th Security Forces Squadron, 5th Contracting Squadron and 5th Logistics Readiness Squadron.
- 5th Maintenance Group
The 5th Maintenance Group supports the dynamic operations of both the 5th Bomb Wing and 91st Space Wing. It provides on- and off-equipment maintenance on B-52H Stratofortresses, and special support on Minuteman III missiles and UH-1N helicopters. The group also provides munitions, aircraft maintenance and maintenance operations support. Squadrons assigned to the 5th MG are the 5th Munitions Squadron, 5th Maintenance Squadron, 5th Maintenance Ops Squadron and 5th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron.
- 5th Medical Group
The 5th Medical Group offers outpatient services including family practice, dental, pediatrics, internal medicine, aerospace medicine, physical therapy, optometry and Women’s Health Care. The group consists of the 5th Medical Operations Squadron and 5th Medical Support Squadron.
On August 30th 2007, a B-52 originating from Minot AFB, carried 6 cruise missiles with W-80 nuclear warheads to Barksdale AFB in Louisiana, with no knowledge of base personnel or crew. This incident sparked controversy across the country and launched a critical investigation; the results of which proved that this was an isolated incident and only a select few were capable of having information on the whereabouts of the missiles. [1]
Whilst the policy is to neither confirm nor deny the presence of nuclear weapons [1] there have been statements made to the press by the Air Force acknowledging the presence of nuclear weapons on the base, including the W80-1 warhead. [2]
[edit] 91st Space Wing
The 91st Space Wing (AFSPC) is responsible for maintaining the Minuteman III nuclear missiles located in three main fields across North Dakota. It is one of the Air Force’s three operational intercontinental ballistic missile units, the others being at Malmstrom Air Force Base, Montana, and F.E. Warren Air Force Base, Wyoming.
Operational groups of the 91st wing are:
- 91st Operations Group
The 91st Operations Group is the operational backbone of the 91st Space Wing, with its mission to defend the United States with safe and secure Intercontinental Ballistic Missiles (ICBMs) -- ready to immediately put bombs on target. Through its five squadrons, the group remains a key facet of The United States' deterrent force. The five squadrons assigned to the group are the:- 740th Missile Squadron ("Vulgar Vultures")
- 741st Missile Squadron ("Gravelhaulers")
- 742d Missile Squadron ("Wolf Pack")
- 91st Operations Support Squadron
- 54th Helicopter Squadron
- 91st Maintenance Group
The 91st Maintenance Group is the maintenance backbone of the 91st Space Wing. The group was originally activated as the 91st Maintenance and Supply Group on November 10, 1948. Today, the group is responsible for providing maintenance and logistics support for the wing’s ICBM fleet.The two squadrons assigned to the group are:- 91st Missile Maintenance Squadron
- 91st Maintenance Operations Squadron
- 91st Security Forces Group
The 91st Security Forces Group provides command and control for three squadrons -- the 791st Missile Security Forces Squadron, 91st Missile Security Forces Squadron and 91st Security Support Squadron -- for the active defense of assets vital to national security.
[edit] Geography
Minot AFB is located at [3].
According to the United States Census Bureau, the Minot AFB CDP has a total area of 7.6 square miles (19.7 km²), of which, 7.2 square miles (18.7 km²) of it is land and 0.4 square miles (1.0 km²) of it (5.01%) is water.
[edit] Demographics
As of the census[4] of 2000, there were 7,599 people, 2,112 households, and 1,943 families residing in the CDP. The population density was 1,053.9 people per square mile (406.9/km²). There were 2,441 housing units at an average density of 338.5/sq mi (130.7/km²). The racial makeup of the CDP was 79.14% White, 10.23% African American, 0.70% Native American, 2.84% Asian, 0.14% Pacific Islander, 2.80% from other races, and 4.15% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 6.17% of the population.
There were 2,112 households out of which 68.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 86.5% were married couples living together, 3.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 8.0% were non-families. 6.6% of all households were made up of individuals and none had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.25 and the average family size was 3.40.
In the CDP the population was spread out with 36.3% under the age of 18, 24.0% from 18 to 24, 38.1% from 25 to 44, 1.5% from 45 to 64, and 0.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 22 years. For every 100 females there were 120.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 126.6 males.
The median income for a household in the CDP was $32,255, and the median income for a family was $32,306. Males had a median income of $22,458 versus $16,659 for females. The per capita income for the town was $11,629. About 5.0% of families and 5.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 5.2% of those under age 18 and none of those age 65 or over.
[edit] Public schools
For its dependents, the base has three public schools operated by Minot Public Schools: two elementary schools (Dakota & North Plains) and a middle school (Memorial). Students in grades 9-12 attend Minot High School in the city of Minot, fifteen miles south. Minot High School is split between two campuses: Central Campus (downtown) for freshmen & sophomores, and the Magic City Campus (on the southwest side of the city) for juniors & seniors.
Also in Minot is Bishop Ryan High School, a private Catholic secondary school.
[edit] History
Construction of Minot AFB began in May 1956, and the base officially opened on January 10, 1957.
[edit] Air Defense Command Use
The initial USAF host unit was the Air Defense Command (ADC) 32d Air Base Group, activating on February 8, 1957.
The ADC 32d Fighter Group was the first operational unit at Minot, with its 433d Fighter-Interceptor squadron. However, no aircraft were assigned to the unit, and January 1958 the 433d FIS was inactivated. It was replaced in February 1960 by the 5th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron (The Spittin Kittens) was transferred to Minot from Suffolk County Airport, NY. The 5th FIS flew the Convair F-106 Delta Dagger. .
ADC F-106 operations continued at Minot until the command was deactivated in 1979 and became a part of Tactical Air Command (ADTAC).
A Semi Automatic Ground Environment (SAGE) facility was built and activated in June 1961. SAGE was housed in a huge, windowless blast-resistant concrete building with a pair of 275-ton computers. The computers processed air surveillance information and sent the data to Air Defense Command units. While the SAGE network operated until 1983, the Minot AFB website says the Minot SAGE facility was deactivated after less than two years of operation, in May 1963. The facility was then renamed the PRIDE Building ("Professional results in daily effort") and became a large office building (four stories including the basement) housing many different organizations.
[edit] Strategic Air Command Use
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The Strategic Air Command (SAC) had units assigned to Minot AFB in 1958 for air refueling support. The 4136th Strategic Wing was formed 01 Sep 1958, (906th Air Refueling Squadron & the 4136th Combat Defense Squadron were activated 01 Jun 1959) supported the first SAC KC-135A Stratotanker assigned, nicknamed "Miss Minot," arrived September 23, 1959 and remained on base until the 906th Air Refueling Squadron (Tail Flash (Tail Flashes & Nose Art were authorized in the late 1980’s)- "The Sun Never Sets on the 906th") was relocated to Grand Forks AFB, ND in January of 1994.
The scope of operations grew as the Air Force assigned bombers to Minot in 1961 by the transfer of the 525th Bombardment Squadron (from the 19th Bombardment Wing at Homestead AFB, FL) on March 8, 1961, (preceded by the activation of the 60th Munitions Maintenance Squadron on December 1, 1960, and followed by 4136th Armament & Electronics Maintenance Squadron, 4136th Field Maintenance Squadron, & 4136th Organizational Maintenance Squadron 1n March 1961, with the 4136th Airborne Missile Maintenance Squadron being added in November 1962), being equipped with the new Boeing B-52H Stratofortress. Demonstrating the capabilities of the B-52 bomber, on January 10-11, 1962, a B-52H from the 4136th Strategic Wing at Minot set a new distance in a straight line world record, flying unrefuelled 12,532 miles from Kadena AB, Okinawa to Torrejon AB, Spain.
On February 1, 1963, SAC, as part of a conversion to convert to unit designations with historical importance, activated the 450th Bombardment Wing and 720th Bombardment Squadron and the formation of the 450th Airborne Missile Maintenance Squadron, 450th Armament & Electronics Maintenance Squadron, 450th Field Maintenance Squadron, & the 450th Organizational Maintenance Squadron simultaneously.
In 1961, the Air Force selected the land around Minot for a new Minuteman I ICBM complex. The 455th Strategic Missile Wing ICBM-Minuteman was activated in December 1962 along with the 455th Missile Maintenance Squadron, July 1962. The 740th and 741st Strategic Missile Squadron operationally controlled the ICBMs. In January 1963, the 743d Strategic Missile Squadron was activated with a third squadron of Minuteman ICBMS. During the 1970s the 150 missile sites around the region (10-70 miles from the base) were converted to Minuteman IIIs; a model of the older Minuteman I stands at the main gate.
Command of Minot AFB passed from Air Defense Command to the Strategic Air Command in July 1962 as the base's mission changed. The new command unit; the 810th Air Division (SAC) was organized along the 862d Combat Support Group (SAC) became the host unit on the base. Units assigned to the 862d Combat Support Group were the 862d Civil Engineering Squadron, the 862d Combat Defense Squadron (later: redesignated 862d Security Police Squadron), replacing the 4136th CDS), the 862d Food Service Squadron (later: redesignated 862d Services Squadron), 862d Operations Squadron (later: redesignated 862d Communications Squadron), 862d Supply Squadron and 862d Transportation Squadron, The 862d Medical Group was also formed and reported to the Commander, 810th Air Division.(SAC).
In July 1968, the 450th BW and 455th SMW were inactivated, being replaced by the 5th Bombardment Wing from Travis AFB, California, when jurisdiction of Travis was assumed by the Military Airlift Command and the 91st Strategic Missile Wing from Glasgow AFB, Montana, when Glasgow was closed. These changes were in line with the Air Force policy of keeping active those units with the most illustrious histories. The 23d Bombardment Squadron assumed operational control of all B-52 aircraft for the 5th BW. Unit Designations Assigned at Minot on June 25, 1968 were the 5th Bombardment Wing and 23rd Bombardment Squadron, 5th Airborne Missile Maintenance Squadron, 5th Armament & Electronics Maintenance Squadron (later: redesignated as the 5th Avionics Maintenance Squadron), 5th Field Maintenance Squadron, 5th Organizational Maintenance Squadron & the 5th Munitions Maintenance Squadron. 91st Strategic Missile Wing [Minuteman], 91st Missile Maintenance Squadron.
On July 2, 1969 the 862d Medical Group was renamed the USAF Hospital. Minot, and the 862d Services Squadron was inactivated; its functions were assumed by the 862d Combat Support Group.
The 810th Strategic Aerospace Division was inactivated 30 Jun 1971.
The 862d Combat Support Group was deactivated on July 31, 1972, with host unit duties being taken over by the 91st Combat Support Group (SAC). Under SAC policy, missile wings were fixed in locations, where aircraft units were considered a mobile and the host units were assigned to the missile wings. Units assigned to the 91st Combat Support Group were the 91st Civil Engineering Squadron, the 91st Security Police Squadron, 91st Communications Squadron, 91st Supply Squadron and 91st Transportation Squadron, The USAF Hospital, MINOT.
The 4th Post Attack Command & Control Squadron at Ellsworth AFB, SD maintained several EC-135 “Looking Glass” Aircraft on an alert at MAFB for coverage of the missile squadrons as a secondary (Airborne) Launch Control Center.
Late in 1973 a second Alert Parking Ramp ("Christmas Tree") was added across the runway from the original facility, the 416th Bombardment Wing from Griffiss AFB, NY maintained two B-52G’s with AGM-28B Hound Dog Missiles and two KC-135A aircraft along with two KC-135 Aircraft from the 380th Bombardment Wing at Plattsburgh AFB, NY. On January 2, 1975, the 57th Air Division was activated at MAFB, and on September 30, 1975, the 91st Missile Maintenance Squadron was replaced by the 91st Field Missile Maintenance Squadron, and the 91st Organizational Missile Maintenance Squadron
Following the 1980 Iran hostage crisis, SAC tasked the former 57th Air Division to organize the Strategic Projection Force. The 57th AD became the host unit, providing logistical, security, administrative and other support services to the 5th BMW, 91st SMW and tenant organizations.
In the early 1990s the base prepared for change as the Air Force directed reorganization. Here, the 5th Bomb Wing assumed host base responsibilities.
Reference: AIR FORCE BASES VOL 1 ACTIVE BASE WITHIN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA ON 17 SEPT 1982 ROBERT MUELLER UNITED STATES AIR FORCE HISTORICAL RESEARCH CENTER ISBN: 0-912799-53-6
http://www.airforcehistory.hq.af.mil/Publications/fulltext/airforce_bases_us.pdf
Note: As with any publications there are minor errors a small mount of units listed twice or missing for unit listings
[edit] Air Combat Command/Air Force Space Command Use
On 1 June 1992, Air Combat Command (ACC) was formed, with Strategic Air Command being inactivated. ACC absorbed the former assets of SAC, along with command responsibilities for the Eighth Air Force, and through it, the 5th Bomb Wing and host command of Minot Air Force Base.
In 1993 control of the ICBM force was transferred by ACC to Air Force Space Command. The 91st Missile Wing was assigned to AFSPC on 1 July 1993.
[edit] See also
- 5th Bomb Wing
- 91st Bomb Group - World War II
- Eighth Air Force
[edit] References
- Minot AFB history from Strategic-Air-Command.com
- GlobalSecurity.com Minot AFB
[edit] External links
- Minot Air Force Base at MinotAFB.com (Comprehensive Minot AFB Directory)
- Minot Air Force Base (official site)
- Resources for this U.S. military airport:
- AirNav airport information for KMIB
- ASN accident history for MIB
- NOAA/NWS latest weather observations
- SkyVector aeronautical chart for KMIB
- FAA Airport Diagram(PDF), effective 5 June 2008
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