Grand Forks Air Force Base

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Grand Forks Air Force Base
IATA: RDR - ICAO: KRDR
Summary
Airport type Military
Operator USAF
Elevation AMSL 913 ft (278.3 m)
Coordinates 47°57′40.2″N, 97°24′04.2″W
Runways
Direction Length Surface
ft m
17/35 12,350 3,764 Asphalt

Grand Forks Air Force Base (Grand Forks AFB or GFAFB) (IATA: RDR, ICAO: KRDR) is a base of the United States Air Force located in Grand Forks County, North Dakota 15 miles (24 km) west of the city of Grand Forks, North Dakota on U.S. Highway 2. It is part of the "Grand Forks, ND-MN Metropolitan Statistical Area" or "Greater Grand Forks". As of the 2000 census, the base CDP had a total population of 4,832.

It is the home of the 319th Air Refueling Wing, which consists of the KC-135 Stratotanker. It is under the Air Mobility Command.

Contents

[edit] History

Due to the continuance of the Cold War between the United States and the Soviet Union, Grand Forks AFB was built as an Air Defense Command fighter-interceptor air base. The site for the base was chosen in 1954 and the land was paid for by the citizens of Grand Forks, which is located 15 miles west of the city. The beginning of the 5,400 acre air base started in 1956 with the construction of a 12,300-foot runway. In 1957, the air base brought the 478th Fighter Group into service. Between 1957 and 1959, the Grand Forks Air Defense Sector of NORAD and SAGE became operational, which was able to cover three U.S. states and one Canadian province. In 1958, the 4133d Strategic Wing was activated, which would soon add both tankers and bombers to its unit. 1960 was an important year for GFAFB when the 905th Air Refueling Squadron, the 18th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron, and the 478th Fighter Wing (which replaced the 478th Fighter Group) were all activated. In 1962, GFAFB accepted the 30th Bombardment Squadron from Homestead AFB in Florida and incorporated it into the 4133d Strategic Wing. In 1963, the 319th Bombardment Wing was activated, replacing the inactived 4133d Strategic Wing. In the same year, the Grand Forks Air Defense Sector and the 478th Fighter Wing were also deactivated. In 1971 the 18th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron was inactivated and the 460th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron replaced the unit. The 804th Combat Support group was soon inactivated in 1972, and in 1973 the upgrade of the Minuteman IIIs to 321 SMW was completed. In 1974, although the 460th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron won first place at the William Tell Air-to-Air Competition in Florida, it was inactivated due to the restructuring of the air defense system in GFAFB. In 1986, the B-52Gs left Grand Forks Air Force Base for good and were replaced by the B-1B Lancer in 1987. A change in the host unit occurred again, when in 1988, the 42d Air Division was assigned for base support in place of the 321 SMW. The next decade would bring some of the biggest changes to GFAFB. In 1991, the 42d Air Division was deactivated, and the base became part of the Air Combant Command unit.

[edit] Base realignment, 2005

In May of 2005, The Pentagon recommended to the BRAC commission that GFAFB should be realigned. This would prevent the base from being closed, but would result in a significant loss in personnel levels as well as a loss of the tanker mission. To make up for these losses, the Air Force has proposed that a new family of unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) missions be located at the base as well as "emerging missions" in homeland security. Also, there have been some signs that the tanker mission might be retained with a new fleet of planes replacing the older ones.

[edit] Geography

A missile on display at the entrance of GFAFB.
Enlarge
A missile on display at the entrance of GFAFB.

Grand Forks AFB is located at 47°56'50" North, 97°21'32" West (47.947341, -97.358877)GR1.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the base has a total area of 21.2 km² (8.2 mi²). 21.2 km² (8.2 mi²) of it is land and none of the area is covered with water.

[edit] Demographics

As of the censusGR2 of 2000, there are 4,832 people, 1,279 households, and 1,230 families residing on base. The population density is 228.1/km² (590.5/mi²). There are 1,516 housing units at an average density of 71.6/km² (185.2/mi²). The racial makeup of the base is 80.86% White, 8.40% Black or African American, 0.89% Native American, 2.42% Asian, 0.31% Pacific Islander, 2.67% from other races, and 4.45% from two or more races. 5.98% of the population are Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There are 1,279 households out of which 77.3% have children under the age of 18 living with them, 88.5% are married couples living together, 4.1% have a female householder with no husband present, and 3.8% are non-families. 3.0% of all households are made up of individuals and 0.0% have someone living alone who is 65 years of age or older. The average household size is 3.41 and the average family size is 3.48.

On the base the population is spread out with 38.4% under the age of 18, 20.4% from 18 to 24, 39.4% from 25 to 44, 1.7% from 45 to 64, and 0.1% who are 65 years of age or older. The median age is 22 years. For every 100 females there are 115.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there are 123.9 males.

The median income for a household on the base is $36,414, and the median income for a family is $36,104. Males have a median income of $24,413 versus $17,750 for females. The per capita income for the base is $11,503. 4.2% of the population and 4.0% of families are below the poverty line. Out of the total population, 3.6% of those under the age of 18 and 0.0% of those 65 and older are living below the poverty line.

[edit] Timeline

  • 1954 The Department of Defense chose Grand Forks as the site for a new installation.
  • 5 Feb 1956 Contractors begin construction of the base.
  • 8 Feb 1957 Air Defense Command (ADC) activated the 478th Fighter Group at Grand Forks AFB as the host unit for the base.
  • 1 Sep 1958 Strategic Air Command (SAC) activated the 4133d Strategic Wing (Provisional) as a tenant unit at Grand Forks AFB.
  • 15 Dec 1959 The Grand Forks Air Defense Sector of the North American Air Defense Command became operational with the Semi Automatic Ground Environment (SAGE) System.
  • 1 May 1960 The 18th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron (FIS) was stationed at Grand Forks AFB with its F-101B Voodoos.
  • 6 May 1960 The 905th Air Refueling Squadron (ARS) (Heavy), a unit assigned to the 4133d Strategic Wing, received its first KC-135A Stratotanker.
  • 28 Dec 1960 The 478th Fighter Wing was activated under the ADC and became the host unit for the base.
  • 29 Apr 1962 The 30th Bombardment Squadron, a unit assigned to the 4133d Strategic Wing, received its first B-52H Stratofortress.
  • 1 Feb 1963 Strategic Air Command organized the 319th Bombardment Wing (Heavy) at Grand Forks AFB. The 319 BMW became the host wing as the 4133d Strategic Wing inactivated and command of the base transferred from the ADC to SAC.
  • 19 Aug 1964 Strategic Air Command activated the 804th Combat Support Group (CSG) as the host unit at Grand Forks AFB.
  • 1 Sep 1964 Strategic Air Command stationed the 4th Air Division, later named 4th Strategic Aerospace Division, at Grand Fork AFB.
  • 1 Nov 1964 The 321st Strategic Missile Wing (SMW) was organized at Grand Forks AFB and construction began on its Minuteman II missile complex.
  • Dec 1966 The 321 SMW became operational with the Minuteman II missile.
  • 15 Apr 1971 Air Defense Command inactivated 18 FIS.
  • 30 Jun 1971 The 4th Strategic Air Division transferred to Francis E. Warren AFB, Wyoming.
  • 1 Jul 1971 The 321 SMW assumed host unit duties from the 804 CSG.
  • 30 Jul 1971 Air Defense Command stationed the 460th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron, with F-106 Delta Darts, at Grand Forks AFB.
  • 8 Mar 1973 The 321st Strategic Missile Wing completed an upgrade to Minuteman III missiles.
  • 1974 The ADC inactivated the 460 FIS.
  • 1986-1987 The 319th Bombardment Wing converted from the B-52G Stratofortress and KC-135A Stratotanker to the B-1B Lancer and KC-135R Stratotanker.
  • 16 Jun 1988 Strategic Air Command transferred the 42d Air Division (AD) to Grand Forks as the host support unit for the base.
  • 9 Jul 1991 Strategic Air Command inactivated the 42 AD and appointed the 319th Bombardment Wing as the host unit for the base.
  • 1 Sep 1991 The 319th Bombardment Wing was redesignated as the 319th Wing. The 321st Strategic Missile Wing was redesignated as the 321st Missile Wing (MW).
  • 1 Jun 1992 The Air Force inactivated Strategic Air Command and reassigned Grand Forks AFB to Air Combat Command. The 319th Wing was redesignated as the 319th Bomb Wing. The 905 ARS was functionally reassigned to Grissom AFB, Indiana, although it continued to operate from Grand Forks AFB.
  • 1 Jul 1993 The 321 MW was reassigned to Air Force Space Command.
  • 1 Oct 1993 The Air Force redesignated the 319th Bomb Wing as the 319th Air Refueling Wing, reassigned it to Air Mobility Command, and reassigned the 905th Air Refueling Squadron to the wing.
  • 1994 As part of restructuring at Grand Forks the Air Force reassigned the 906th, 911th, and 912th Air Refueling Squadrons to Grand Forks AFB.
  • 26 May 1994 The last B-1B Lancer departed from Grand Forks AFB, marking the end of over 30 years of bombers at Grand Forks.
  • 1 Jul 1994 Air Force Space Command redesignated the 321 MW as the 321st Missile Group (MG).
  • 1 Oct 1995 The Clinton Administration approved the Base Realignment and Closure IV committee's recommendation to remove 150 Minuteman III intercontinental ballistic missiles from the Grand Forks Air Force Base missile complex and inactivate the 321 MG.
  • April 1997 After a harsh winter, the Grand Forks area suffered a devastating flood. Members of the Grand Forks Air Force Base were called into action, first to help protect the town from the rising waters and later to house the victims of the disaster.
  • 2 Jul 1998 The 321 MG inactivated after 34 years of service at Grand Forks AFB.
  • 6 Oct 1999 The first missile silo was imploded in accordance with the Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (START).
  • 24 Aug 2001 The last missile silo was imploded in accordance with the START Treaty.

[edit] External links

Greater Grand Forks Metropolitan Area (North Dakota/Minnesota)
Core cities: Grand Forks, North Dakota | East Grand Forks, Minnesota
Counties: Grand Forks County, North Dakota | Polk County, Minnesota
Other communities: North Dakota: Buxton | Emerado | Grand Forks Air Force Base | Hillsboro | Larimore | Manvel | Northwood | Reynolds | Thompson
Minnesota: Crookston | Fisher | Oslo
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