During 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. The Defense Department chose Grand Forks as the site for
the new installation in 1954. The citizens of Grand Forks donated money toward the purchase of
5,400-acres of land 15 miles west of the city. Contractors began construction of the base with grubbing
operations for the 12,350-foot runway on 5 February 1956. 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.
On 8 February 1957, the ADC activated the 478th Fighter Group (FG) at Grand Forks. This unit
would serve as the host unit for a fighter-interceptor squadron, an air defense sector operation, and
SAC units. In December 1957, the US Air Force activated the Grand Forks Air Defense Sector of the
North American Air Defense Command (NORAD). The sector became operational with the semiautomatic
ground environment (SAGE) system on 15 December 1959. The Grand Forks Air Defense
Sector covered the air space of three US states and one Canadian province.
In the meantime, SAC activated the 4133d Strategic Wing (Provisional) as a tenant unit at Grand
Forks AFB on 1 September 1958. The command expected to equip the unit with bombers and tankers
within a few years.
In 1960, the Air Force stationed the first flying units at Grand Forks AFB. Strategic Air Command
organized the 905th Air Refueling Squadron (ARS) (Heavy) at Grand Forks on 1 February 1960. The
905 ARS acquired its first KC-135A Stratotanker on 6 May 1960. 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. On 28 December 1960, ADC activated the 478th Fighter Wing (FW)
(Air Defense) at Grand Forks, replacing the 478th Fighter Group. Besides operating the base, the 478
FW controlled the F-101 operations of the 18 FIS.
On 1 January 1962, SAC transferred the 30th Bombardment Squadron (BMS) (Heavy) from
Homestead AFB, Florida, to Grand Forks, assigning it to the 4133d Strategic Wing. The 30 BMS
acquired its first B-52H Stratofortress on 29 April 1962.
On 1 February 1963, SAC organized the 319th Bombardment Wing (BMW) (Heavy) at Grand
Forks AFB. The 319 BMW replaced the inactivated 4133d Strategic Wing. Strategic Air Command
assigned the 905 ARS and newly organized 46th Bombardment Squadron (Heavy), equipped with B-52H bombers, to the 319 BMW. The 30th Bomb Squadron was inactivated that same day and ADC
turned command and control of Grand Forks AFB over to SAC. The Air Force also inactivated the
Grand Forks Air Defense Sector and 478th Fighter Wing in 1963. Even so, the 18 FIS continued to
operate from Grand Forks AFB. For a short time (1 July 1963 to 21 October 1964), the 319
BMW took over responsibilities as host unit at Grand Forks.
Numerous organizational changes occurred at Grand Forks in 1964. Strategic Air
Command activated the 804th Combat Support Group to assume duties as the host unit on 19 August, besides
stationing the 4th Air Division (later, Strategic Aerospace Division) at Grand Forks on 1 September.
Two months later, on 1 November, the command organized the 321st Strategic Missile Wing
(SMW) while construction began on a Minuteman II missile complex. The 321 SMW became operational with
the Minuteman II in December 1966.
Grand Forks experienced several major changes during 1971 to 1973. The Aerospace Defense
Command inactivated the 18 FIS on 15 April 1971. In its place, the command stationed the 460th
Fighter-Interceptor Squadron at Grand Forks on 30 July 1971. The squadron kept F-106 Delta Darts on
alert at Grand Forks. Meanwhile, SAC transferred the 4th Strategic Aerospace Division to Francis E.
Warren AFB, Wyoming, on 30 June 1971. The command tasked the 321 SMW to assume command
over the 804th Combat Support Group and host unit responsibilities on 1 July 1971. The 804th
Combat Support Group was inactivated on 31 July 1972. During this period construction began for the
321 SMW to upgrade to Minuteman IIIs, a project that was completed on 8 March 1973.
In 1974, the 460 FIS captured first place at the William Tell Air-to-Air Competition in Florida. Shortly afterward, the ADC inactivated the squadron as part of a major restructuring of its air defense
system. The 1980s brought further changes to Grand Forks AFB. In 1983, the 319 BMW swapped its B-52H for B-52G bombers. This modification updated the offensive avionics system on the aircraft. On
4 December 1986 the B-52Gs left Grand Forks. In 1987 Grand Forks AFB converted to the
B-lB Lancer. On 16 June 1988, SAC stationed the 42d Air Division at Grand Forks AFB, making it the host
support unit, instead of the 321 SMW.
In 1991, SAC again made significant organizational changes at Grand Forks. It inactivated the 42d
Air Division on 9 July, appointing the 319 BMW as the host unit. Additionally, the command
redesignated the 319th Bombardment Wing as the 319th Wing and the 321st Strategic Missile
Wing as the 321st Missile Wing on 1 September.
On 1 June 1992, the Air Force inactivated SAC and reassigned Grand Forks
AFB to the newly established Air Combat Command (ACC). The 319th Wing
was redesignated as the 319th Bomb Wing since its KC-135R tankers were
reassigned to the 305th Air Refueling Wing,
belonging to Air Mobility Command (AMC), at Grissom AFB, Indiana. Although part of the 305th, the 905 ARS continued
to operate from Grand Forks AFB. Again, physically remaining at Grand
Forks, the 905 ARS was reassigned to the 43d Air Refueling Wing at
Malmstrom AFB, Montana, on 1 July 1993.
As part of the restructuring process, the Air Force reassigned the 321st
Missile Wing from ACC to Air Force Space Command on 1 July 1993. The
command redesignated the wing as the 321st Missile Group (MG) on 1 July 1994. Meanwhile, on 1October 1993, the Air Force redesignated the 319th Bomb Wing as the 319th
Air Refueling Wing (ARW), and reassigned it to AMC. At the same time, the
905 ARS was reassigned to the 319 ARW and the 46th Bomb Squadron joined
the newly activated 319th Bomb Group, an ACC unit. Completing the
restructuring of Grand Forks AFB, the Air Force assigned the 906th, 911th and 912th Air Refueling
Squadrons to the 319 ARW in 1994.
Ending an era of over 30 years of heavy bomber operations at Grand Forks, the last B-1B Lancer
departed the base on 26 May 1994. Air Combat Command inactivated the 319th Bomb Group on 16
July 1994. Additionally, in 1995, the Air Force announced it would remove the 150 Minuteman III
missiles from the Grand Forks AFB missile field and inactivate the 321 MG.
On 2 July 1998 the 321 MG inactivated. All the Minuteman III missiles were shipped to other
locations and the silos placed in caretaker status. October 6, 1999 the missile silos began to be
imploded as required by the Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (START). On 24 August 2001 the last
missile silo implosion by the US, in accordance with the START treaty, occurred. One silo was sealed
up and placed in caretaker status pending transfer to the State of North Dakota as a historical exhibit.
After all silos but the one were imploded, Grand Forks AFB became a Formerly Declared Facility
under the START treaty in 2002. On 11 September 2001, terrorists bombed the World Trade Center, in New York City, and the
Pentagon, in Washington, D.C. As a result the 319 ARW again stood up a quick reaction alert force in
support of homeland defense, a mission known as Operation NOBLE EAGLE. Later that month the
319 ARW sent aircraft and personnel in support of Operation ENDURING FREEDOM, a mission
aimed at finding and eliminating the terrorist organizations involved in the September 11th attacks.
Support of all these operations remained ongoing in 2002.
Main
phone numbers: commercial (701)747-3000 or
DSN 362-1110
Mailing
address: Grad Forks AFB, ND 58205
Population:
3,041 active duty; 4,296 family members; 599
civilians
Housing: 327
officer family units; 1,680 enlsited family units; 76
unaccompanied personnel units (701)747-3035
Temporary
lodging: 40 temporary lodging
units(701)747-7051
Family
Support Center: (701)747-3241
Schools: Elementary
and middle school on base run by Grand Forks school
system
Child
Care: Center for 136, one-month wait; 62
approved homes (701)747-3041
Health
care: Clinic. Appointments/Tricare
(701)594-3000; benefits (701)747-5221
Grand Forks AFB - North Dakota
has a
large size commissary - (701)747-3090,
a large exchange, and one shoppette (701)594-5542. Recreation at Grand Forks AFB - North Dakota
includes .arts and crafts, bowling, library, auto hobby,
recreation center, theater, golf, gym, tennis, swimming,
outdoor activities, camping, fishing, and stables.
