Minot Air Force Station (ADC ID: P-28 NORAD ID: Z-28) [Permanent Installation Number (PIN): 1445; Installation Location Code (ILC): QJVM]) is a closed United States Air Force General Surveillance Radar station. It is located 16.2 miles (26.1 km) south of Minot, North Dakota; on the west side of US Highway 83. It was closed in 1979. A portion of the property was reopened in 1984 as the Minot Communications Site and served until 1997.
Minot Air Force Station was part of the last batch of twenty-three radar stations constructed as part of the Air Defense Command permanent network. It was activated on 20 May 1951 at Max, ND, and declared completely operational in 1952.
The 786th Aircraft Control and Warning Squadron began operations with AN/FPS-3 and AN/FPS-5 radars in April 1952, and initially the station functioned as a Ground-Control Intercept (GCI) and warning station. As a GCI station, the squadron's role was to guide interceptor aircraft toward unidentified intruders picked up on the unit's radar scopes.
It was named Minot Air Force Station on 1 December 1953. During 1957 an AN/GPS-3 search radar saw brief use. In 1958 the original radars were replaced by AN/FPS-20 search and AN/FPS-6 height-finder sets. A second height-finder set, AN/FPS-6B, was installed during the following year.
During 1961 Minot AFS joined the Semi Automatic Ground Environment (SAGE) system, initially feeding data to DC-20 at Malmstrom AFB, Montana. After joining, the squadron was redesignated as the 786th Radar Squadron (SAGE) on 15 July 1961. The radar squadron provided information 24/7 the SAGE Direction Center where it was analyzed to determine range, direction altitude speed and whether or not aircraft were friendly or hostile.
By the end of 1961 the search set had been upgraded and redesignated as an AN/FPS-66. On 31 July 1963, the site was redesignated as NORAD ID Z-28.
An AN/FPS-26A height-finder radar was installed in 1964, and the AN/FPS-6 was retired. The AN/FPS-6B was upgraded to an AN/FPS-90 also that year. In 1964 the site received an AN/FPS-27 search radar which became fully operational in early 1965. The AN/FPS-66 was removed later in 1965. In 1968 the AN/FPS-90 was retired.
In addition to the main facility, Minot operated three unmanned AN/FPS-14 (P-28A) and AN/FPS-18 (P-28B/C) Gap Filler sites:
The Alexander site was reassigned to Minot after Dickinson AFS (Z-177) closed in 1965. The site is now home to the Watford City Joint Surveillance System (JSS) (ARSR-4) LRR site (Z-300/J-76).
Over the years, the equipment at the station was upgraded or modified to improve the efficiency and accuracy of the information gathered by the radars. In early 1979 the Air Force announced that the station would be closing due to what was called "redundancies with more strategically located radars".[This quote needs a citation] On 29 September 1979 the 786th Radar Squadron was inactivated and the station was closed.
In 1984, a portion of the station was reopened by the USAF as the Minot Communication Site. It was closed again in 1997 and struck from the USAF property register and liquidated c.. 1998. Minot AFS has been sold to civilian interests, and has been reused as a housing subdivision colloquially known as the Radar Base.
The radome "balloons", made up of several layers of latex rubber-coated nylon, are held up by one-tenth pound of air pressure per square inch. In the event of wind (a common occurrence in North Dakota), the pressure within the "balloon" is automatically adjusted by blowers.
Heating plant
Steam heat is provided for the entire station by two coal-fired boilers. There is a 70,000-gallon water reservoir fed by two 540-foot-deep (160 m) wells. The heating plant used approximately 1,000 tons of coal annually.
Hose houses
Hose houses are insulated huts for fire hydrants. Six are located at strategic locations around the station.
Air Installations Building
This is the building that most of the 17 civilian contractors work out of.
Water distribution plant
Water purification plant
20,000 gallons of high-alkaline water get processed into potable water daily by using 94%-concentrate sulfuric acid plus other filtering and purifying chemicals.
Living quarters
(2) Barracks
(25) Houses
Motor Pool
The pumps are fed by a 4,000-gallon underground gasoline storage tank, and the station uses in excess of 1,000 gallons monthly. Only minor repairs and preventative maintenance are performed here, the rest being contracted to local businesses.
Operations Building
The "Mission Central" of the base where most of the operations of the base are performed.
Chapel
Dining hall
Dispensary
Although mostly a first aid station, there is a fully qualified medic on duty here 24 hours a day.
Air Force units and assignmentsedit
Emblem of the 786th Radar Squadron On a medium blue shield edged black, a black silhouetted map of the United States, bordered white, surmounted in the chief area of the shield by a black silhouetted radome edged white; an arrow piercing the radome, a radar scope on lower part of radome and two silhouetted aircraft in northwest and southeast corners respectively of the map, all white, details black.The emblem is symbolic of the Aircraft Control and Warning Mission in that electronic detection is indicated by the lightning bolt through the radome; surveillance and control is represented by the radar scope and aircraft and the map of the United States represents the Squadron's constant vigilance in safe-guarding our nation. emblem approved for use: 16 November 1956.
Unitsedit
Constituted as the 786th Aircraft Control and Warning Squadron
Activated on 20 May 1951
Redesignated as 786th Radar Squadron (SAGE) on 15 July 1961
Redesignated as 786th Radar Squadron on 1 February 1974
Cornett, Lloyd H. and Johnson, Mildred W., A Handbook of Aerospace Defense Organization 1946 - 1980, Office of History, Aerospace Defense Center, Peterson AFB, CO (1980).
Winkler, David F.; Webster, Julie L (1887). Searching the skies : the legacy of the United States Cold War defense radar program. Champaign, IL: US Army Construction Engineering Research Laboratories. LCCN 97020912.[dead link]
Information for Minot AFS, ND
External linksedit
786th AC&W Squadron at Minot Air Force Station
US Air Defense Radar museum
April 12, 2024
minot, force, station, this, article, needs, additional, citations, verification, please, help, improve, this, article, adding, citations, reliable, sources, unsourced, material, challenged, removed, find, sources, news, newspapers, books, scholar, jstor, dece. This article needs additional citations for verification Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources Unsourced material may be challenged and removed Find sources Minot Air Force Station news newspapers books scholar JSTOR December 2012 Learn how and when to remove this template message Minot Air Force Station ADC ID P 28 NORAD ID Z 28 Permanent Installation Number PIN 1445 Installation Location Code ILC QJVM is a closed United States Air Force General Surveillance Radar station It is located 16 2 miles 26 1 km south of Minot North Dakota on the west side of US Highway 83 It was closed in 1979 A portion of the property was reopened in 1984 as the Minot Communications Site and served until 1997 Minot Air Force StationPart of Air Defense Command ADC Gasman Township Ward County south of Minot North DakotaMinot AFSLocation of Minot AFS North DakotaCoordinates48 00 13 N 101 17 40 W 48 00361 N 101 29444 W 48 00361 101 29444 Minot AFS P 28 TypeAir Force stationCodeQJVM ILC Site informationOwnercivilianControlled by United States Air ForceSite historyIn useMay 1951 September 1979 1984 1997Garrison informationGarrison786th Radar SquadronMap all coordinates using OpenStreetMap Download coordinates as KML GPX all coordinates GPX primary coordinates GPX secondary coordinates Minot Air Force Station was the first major Air Force installation in North Dakota even predating the two large bases Minot Air Force Base and Grand Forks Air Force Base Contents 1 History 2 Buildings and facilities 3 Air Force units and assignments 3 1 Units 3 2 Assignments 3 3 Commanders 4 See also 5 References 6 External linksHistory editMinot Air Force Station was part of the last batch of twenty three radar stations constructed as part of the Air Defense Command permanent network It was activated on 20 May 1951 at Max ND and declared completely operational in 1952 The 786th Aircraft Control and Warning Squadron began operations with AN FPS 3 and AN FPS 5 radars in April 1952 and initially the station functioned as a Ground Control Intercept GCI and warning station As a GCI station the squadron s role was to guide interceptor aircraft toward unidentified intruders picked up on the unit s radar scopes It was named Minot Air Force Station on 1 December 1953 During 1957 an AN GPS 3 search radar saw brief use In 1958 the original radars were replaced by AN FPS 20 search and AN FPS 6 height finder sets A second height finder set AN FPS 6B was installed during the following year During 1961 Minot AFS joined the Semi Automatic Ground Environment SAGE system initially feeding data to DC 20 at Malmstrom AFB Montana After joining the squadron was redesignated as the 786th Radar Squadron SAGE on 15 July 1961 The radar squadron provided information 24 7 the SAGE Direction Center where it was analyzed to determine range direction altitude speed and whether or not aircraft were friendly or hostile By the end of 1961 the search set had been upgraded and redesignated as an AN FPS 66 On 31 July 1963 the site was redesignated as NORAD ID Z 28 An AN FPS 26A height finder radar was installed in 1964 and the AN FPS 6 was retired The AN FPS 6B was upgraded to an AN FPS 90 also that year In 1964 the site received an AN FPS 27 search radar which became fully operational in early 1965 The AN FPS 66 was removed later in 1965 In 1968 the AN FPS 90 was retired In addition to the main facility Minot operated three unmanned AN FPS 14 P 28A and AN FPS 18 P 28B C Gap Filler sites Niobe ND P 28A 48 38 33 N 102 18 15 W 48 64250 N 102 30417 W 48 64250 102 30417 P 28A Regan ND P 28D 47 06 03 N 100 32 16 W 47 10083 N 100 53778 W 47 10083 100 53778 P 28D Alexander ND P 28E 47 40 42 N 103 32 50 W 47 67833 N 103 54722 W 47 67833 103 54722 P 28E The Alexander site was reassigned to Minot after Dickinson AFS Z 177 closed in 1965 The site is now home to the Watford City Joint Surveillance System JSS ARSR 4 LRR site Z 300 J 76 Over the years the equipment at the station was upgraded or modified to improve the efficiency and accuracy of the information gathered by the radars In early 1979 the Air Force announced that the station would be closing due to what was called redundancies with more strategically located radars This quote needs a citation On 29 September 1979 the 786th Radar Squadron was inactivated and the station was closed In 1984 a portion of the station was reopened by the USAF as the Minot Communication Site It was closed again in 1997 and struck from the USAF property register and liquidated c 1998 Minot AFS has been sold to civilian interests and has been reused as a housing subdivision colloquially known as the Radar Base Buildings and facilities editBuildings on the station include 1 Gate The controlled entry point to the station Recreation hall Transmitter building Used for radio contact with airborne aircraft and other ground stations Search radar tower Height finder radar tower 2 Radomes The radome balloons made up of several layers of latex rubber coated nylon are held up by one tenth pound of air pressure per square inch In the event of wind a common occurrence in North Dakota the pressure within the balloon is automatically adjusted by blowers Heating plant Steam heat is provided for the entire station by two coal fired boilers There is a 70 000 gallon water reservoir fed by two 540 foot deep 160 m wells The heating plant used approximately 1 000 tons of coal annually Hose houses Hose houses are insulated huts for fire hydrants Six are located at strategic locations around the station Air Installations Building This is the building that most of the 17 civilian contractors work out of Water distribution plant Water purification plant 20 000 gallons of high alkaline water get processed into potable water daily by using 94 concentrate sulfuric acid plus other filtering and purifying chemicals Living quarters 2 Barracks 25 Houses Motor Pool The pumps are fed by a 4 000 gallon underground gasoline storage tank and the station uses in excess of 1 000 gallons monthly Only minor repairs and preventative maintenance are performed here the rest being contracted to local businesses Operations Building The Mission Central of the base where most of the operations of the base are performed Chapel Dining hall Dispensary Although mostly a first aid station there is a fully qualified medic on duty here 24 hours a day Air Force units and assignments edit nbsp Emblem of the 786th Radar Squadron On a medium blue shield edged black a black silhouetted map of the United States bordered white surmounted in the chief area of the shield by a black silhouetted radome edged white an arrow piercing the radome a radar scope on lower part of radome and two silhouetted aircraft in northwest and southeast corners respectively of the map all white details black The emblem is symbolic of the Aircraft Control and Warning Mission in that electronic detection is indicated by the lightning bolt through the radome surveillance and control is represented by the radar scope and aircraft and the map of the United States represents the Squadron s constant vigilance in safe guarding our nation emblem approved for use 16 November 1956 Units edit Constituted as the 786th Aircraft Control and Warning SquadronActivated on 20 May 1951 Redesignated as 786th Radar Squadron SAGE on 15 July 1961 Redesignated as 786th Radar Squadron on 1 February 1974 Inactivated 29 September 1979Assignments edit 543d Aircraft Control and Warning Group 20 May 1951 31st Air Division 6 February 1952 29th Air Division 16 February 1953 Minot Air Defense Sector Manual 1 January 1961 Great Falls Air Defense Sector 25 June 1963 28th Air Division 1 April 1966 24th Air Division 19 November 1969 29 September 1979Commanders edit Major Robert Friend 20 May 1951 26 December 1951 Major James Larson 26 December 1951 unknown Major Leroy Holen unknown 14 March 1952 Major Edward Stauffer 14 March 1952 16 April 1955 Major Halvden W Thompson 16 April 1955 8 June 1955 Major Leonard J Schaitel 8 June 1955 26 July 1957 Major George A Middleton 26 July 1957 1960 Major I D Israel Siegel c 1960 Major A J Rantal c 1960 Major Jacob F Stevens c 1963 Major Fred E Small c 1964 1966 Major Neal C Brigham c 1966 Major Raymond L Graham c 1967 2 January 1971 Major Gordon S Bounds c 1971 1972 Captain H L Dent c 1972 20 July 1974 Major Joseph R Cox c 1974 1976 Major Bruce Smith c 1978 Captain Ronald K Trithart c 1979 See also editList of USAF Aerospace Defense Command General Surveillance Radar Stations List of United States Air Force aircraft control and warning squadronsReferences edit nbsp This article incorporates public domain material from the Air Force Historical Research Agency Squadron Activities Armed Forces Day Document Minot Air Force Station 786th Aircraft Control and Warning Squadron 17 May 1958 Cornett Lloyd H and Johnson Mildred W A Handbook of Aerospace Defense Organization 1946 1980 Office of History Aerospace Defense Center Peterson AFB CO 1980 Winkler David F Webster Julie L 1887 Searching the skies the legacy of the United States Cold War defense radar program Champaign IL US Army Construction Engineering Research Laboratories LCCN 97020912 dead link Information for Minot AFS NDExternal links edit786th AC amp W Squadron at Minot Air Force Station US Air Defense Radar museum Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Minot Air Force Station amp oldid 1210004882, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
