Information for Minot AFS, ND

Latitude: 48-00-13 N, Longitude: 101-17-40 W

Perm ID	Sage ID	Unit	Location	Early Equip.	Final Equip.	Oper. Date	Inact. Date	Notes
P-28	Z-28	786	Minot AFS, ND	FPS-3/-20/-66; FPS-4; GPS-3; FPS-6; FPS-6B (FPS-90)	FPS-27; FPS-26A	Apr-52	01-Jul-79	GATR (R-19) was located at Minot AFB (SAGE direction center, DC-19). Minot AFS was earlier known as Velva AFS.
P-28A	Z-28A		Niobe, ND	FPS-14		Oct-57	Jun-68	Gap-Filler Annex. The site is located on what is called Little Butte, elevation 2482 ft ASL. Building is still extant.
P-28B			Newton, ND **					** Gap-Filler Annex. In original ADC plans, but never was built.
P-28C			Washburn, ND **					** Gap-Filler Annex. In early ADC plans, but never was built.
P-28D	Z-28D		Regan, ND	FPS-18		Jun-59	Jun-68	Gap-Filler Annex. Building is still extant.
TM-177B / P-28E	Z-177B / Z-28E		Alexander, ND	FPS-18		Dec-60	Dec-67	Gap-Filler Annex. Per the USACE FUDS report, this GFA was reassigned to Minot AFS (Z-28) after Dickinson AFS (Z-177) closed in 1965. The GF site is now home to the Watford City JSS (ARSR-4) LRR site (Z-300/J-76).

Perm ID

Sage ID

JSS ID

Unit

Location

Early
Equip.

Final
Equip.

Oper.
Date

Inact.
Date

Notes

P-28

Z-28

786

Minot AFS, ND

FPS-3/-20/-66; FPS-4; GPS-3; FPS-6; FPS-6B (FPS-90)

FPS-27; FPS-26A

Apr-52

01-Jul-79

GATR (R-19) was located at Minot AFB (SAGE direction center, DC-19). Minot AFS was earlier known as Velva AFS.

P-28A

Z-28A

Niobe, ND

FPS-14

Oct-57

Jun-68

Gap-Filler Annex. The site is located on what is called Little Butte, elevation 2482 ft ASL. Building is still extant.

P-28B

Newton, ND **

** Gap-Filler Annex. In original ADC plans, but never was built.

P-28C

Washburn, ND **

** Gap-Filler Annex. In early ADC plans, but never was built.

P-28D

Z-28D

Regan, ND

FPS-18

Jun-59

Jun-68

Gap-Filler Annex. Building is still extant.

TM-177B / P-28E

Z-177B / Z-28E

Alexander, ND

FPS-18

Dec-60

Dec-67

Gap-Filler Annex. Per the USACE FUDS report, this GFA was reassigned to Minot AFS (Z-28) after Dickinson AFS (Z-177) closed in 1965. The GF site is now home to the Watford City JSS (ARSR-4) LRR site (Z-300/J-76).

History of Minot AFS, ND

The 786th AC&W Squadron began operations using AN/FPS-3 and AN/FPS-5 radars in April 1952. 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. SAGE operations began in 1961. By the end of 1961 the search set had been upgraded and redesignated as an AN/FPS-66. 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. The 786th Radar Squadron (SAGE) ceased operations 1 July 1979.

References: "Searching the Skies"; misc. ADCOM documents; eyewitness accounts.

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