Gumbo was visiting the flat northern American plains, specifically Grand Forks Air Force Base in North Dakota. Congratulations to GeorgeG, PortMoresby and GarryRF who recognized where we were.
I’ve never served in the military and have visited only two US Air Force Bases in my life. One was in Colorado Springs where our friends (2 Air Force veterans) gave us a tour of the training facility and some of the planes on exhibition, a very memorable visit. My second was this Air Force Base (AFB) in North Dakota, where one can visit a diverse display of aircraft and missiles outside the main entrance gate. Apparently free guided tours of these aircraft can be arranged for groups of 6 and more with 2 weeks notice, but as just my father and I were visiting and ours was a spur-of-the-moment decision, this didn’t apply to us. We did not actually enter the AFB, just explored the planes outside the entrance gates.
Grand Forks AFB, home of the “Warriors of the North”, is actually 15 miles west of the city of Grand Forks. It is the land to the 319th Air Base Wing, the only base in Air Mobility Command to receive remotely piloted aircraft systems (drones). The AFB is home to about 6,300 individuals, mostly Active Duty Military and their families, but also a few hundred civilian employees and retirees.
The base was built on a 5,400 acre site in the mid-1950s during the height of the Cold War. At that time, it was intended as an Air Defence Command fighter interceptor base. Grand Forks AFB was reassigned from the Air Defense mission to Strategic Air Command (SAC) and in 1963 became home to Minuteman intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs). The primary mission of the base changed in 2013 to the launch, recovery and maintenance of unmanned air vehicles. Grand Forks AFB is home to The 319th Air Refueling Wing, one of only three “super tanker” operations in the USAD, which facilitates the far reach of all types of aircraft by fueling them during flight (a skill I’ve always found amazing).
My father was fascinated by the aircraft on display as was I. We spent well over an hour looking at the fine craftsmanship and engineering of these planes, which included:
B52 G Stratofortress
Perhaps the largest plane I’ve ever been allowed to explore. A long range bomber (almost 9,000 miles) capable of carrying 66,000 pounds of bombs.
(If you look carefully, you’ll see that my father is not much taller than the rear wheels of the B52)
Hound Dog Air to Surface Missile:
Used in the Vietnam era. Speed Mach 2, range 500 miles.
Minuteman III ICBM
Missile Transporter Erector:
Capable of moving and installing Minutemen ICBMs. Each unit could carry 80,000 pounds and drive at 40 mph. It was retired in 1989.
B25J “Flo“
A World War II era aircraft, flown by some of the early pilots to serve at Grand Forks AFB.
F-101 “VooDoo”
Fighter/bomber/interceptor.
A-26C “Invader”
Attack bomber.
KC-135 Stratotanker
Air-to-air refueling tanker. Range 11,192 miles. Speed 585 mph, max altitude 50,000 ft.
UH-19D “Chickasaw”
UH-1B Huey
It is amazing that a plane as large and heavy as the B52 can get off the ground! They have a much more limited job now that the precise weaponry of cruise missiles and drones and the like have been developed.
First time I saw a B52 it appeared from inside a cloud and flew at low level up the River Mersey. It was so big you’d think it was just hanging in the air.. stationary. But the beat of those massive engines was enough to remind you that this was a spectacle to behold.
Nice photos and aircraft details. My niece served in the Air Force and was stationed at Grand Forks AFB on one of her assignments.
They have certainly improved the static displays since I was stationed there in the mid 80’s. I actually worked on the B-25 when it was being prepped for display. Looks very nice now.