| K.I. Sawyer AFB |
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- A BRIEF HISTORY OF Kl SAWYER AFB
- In 1954 the government entered into
negotiations with Marquette County
for Sawyer's lease. After several months of
meetings and negotiations a
99 year lease was signed on January 24, 1955.
Construction started
almost immediately.
Approximately 850 people were employed during the construction and several local contractors were involved.
On January 24, 1956 Lt/Col Robert L. Blocklehurst became the first commander of Kl Sawyer AFB. The runway was completed in 1957 and in 1958 25 F-102 Aircraft were sent TDY from Kinross AFB at Sault St. Marie to operate out of Sawyer for several months, while the runways at Kinchelo were being repaired and extended.
The 62nd F1S from O'Hare airport Chicago was transferred to Sawyer and became an operational F-101 "Voodoo" squadron in 1959 after the runways at Sawyer were extended to 12,300 feet.
The Strategic Air Command became operational as a tenant unit with the assignment of a KC-135 Air Refueling Squadron first the 923 ARS and soon replaced by the 46th Air Refueling Squadron. The first B-52H arrived at Sawyer in August 1961 along with the 410 Bomb Wing.
The Sault St. Marie Air Defense Sector (SAGE) continued in operation until September 1963 and in January 1964 control of the base was passed from the Air Defense Command to the Strategic Air Command leaving the 410 Bomb Wing as the host unit to date.
The F-101 equipped 62 Fighter Interceptor Squadron remained at Sawyer as a tenant unit until April 1971 when it was deactivated and replaced by the 87th Fighter Interceptor Squadron and its F-106 Delta Dart Aircraft were transferred from Duluth Municipal Airport Minnesota. The 87th F1S was deactivated and the F-106 aircraft left in 1985.
Other aircraft assigned to Sawyer over the years included H-43B and HH-1H rescue helicopters leaving in 1977. FB-111 aircraft assigned to Pease AFB New Hampshire were on satellite alert at Sawyer in 1974 and 1975. The last aircraft assigned to Sawyer were six T-37 jet trainers of the 71 FTW assigned to "Accelerated Copilot Enrichment Program" in 1977 and are presently assigned to the "Companion Trainer Program" under the 410 BW and the Air Combat Command.
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Reviews / Comments by our visitors
| Rich Nankervis Sterling Heights, Michigan |  Assigned to 410 OMS from 9/66 to 3/70 as a B-52 crew chief. Winters were tough but still loved every minute while stationed there. Alert duty was the bomb. I havent been back to Sawyer since 1972, but plan a trip there soon just to see all the sad changes. Great times with great people. Thanks K.I.S. for the memories. 05/08/2013 @ 05:11 [ref: 55472] |
| larry van karsen maumee, Ohio | stationed at k.i sawyer from 1966-70. B52 and KC135 sheet metal shop and corrosion shop, night shift ...cold nights ,all in all it was the best place to be.every body worked side by side to make the mission. class A people . miss all the fun times there in the U.P. 03/19/2013 @ 03:08 [ref: 55441] |
| Walter Baker Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania |  I transferred to Sawyer in March of 60 to the Missile Branch of the SAGE and worked with Major Guftafson and Captain Engle. I lived off base in New Swanzy and opened a Radio & TV sales and service business across from the IGA store We sponsored the late movie on WLUC TV. The one and only TV station then to watch. I remember one winter when we had a long stretch of -35 weather and how when it reached -17 it actually felt warmer. I wish I could remember more names of the people that I worked with but time has taken its toll on that. Any one that wishes to contact me is invited. 03/08/2013 @ 10:23 [ref: 55435] |
| Charles Peterson Mesa, Arizona | Lived at KI from 1964 thru 1977, My Dad Pete Peteron worked at the SAGE building and wrote the base cartoon \" Max OJT\" it was kinda like a Sad Sack cartoon . He Retired in 71 and worked civil service in the motor pool til 77. Dad was the Bset kinda guy , I lost him in 2005. He was also an avid hunter, fisherman and a Great Golfer. I grew up there and LOVED it. I miss it alot. Will move back there soon.... 02/13/2013 @ 09:20 [ref: 55419] |
| Don Fisher Baytown,, Texas | In early 1958 I was one of the Air Policemen that went TDY from Kinross AFB to KI Sawyer AFB.I really enjoyed the TDY duty at KI, and the beautiful county around the base.I was then sent to Elmendorf AFB,Anchorage, Alaska and assigned to the 5040th Air Police Squadron. 01/02/2013 @ 16:41 [ref: 55394] |
| Bob Kassmann Buffalo, New York | I was stationed at KI from 4/61 to 9/64 as an MG13 AWCS tech with the 62nd FIS. Many fond memories of KI (regardless of the harsh, long winters) and the people I worked with and met there. Have been back to the UP several times and did return to visit the base several years ago. 10/08/2012 @ 18:38 [ref: 55331] |
| Jennifer , Wisconsin | I was born at the base hospital in 1963. Is the hospital still there? 09/13/2012 @ 19:15 [ref: 55289] |
| Bill Woods Lordstown, Ohio | I was stationed at swayer left 1978, I was wondering if anyone was there and has any info on the plane that crashed April 1977, please e-mail me. 07/25/2011 @ 23:15 [ref: 20252] |
| lester cody cornell, Michigan | I was station ki sawyer from 68to71 first asst/c 59-1517 c/c r powell.c/c 60-1313. 05/21/2011 @ 06:40 [ref: 16249] |
| Alan Droege Indianapolis, Indiana | I was a x-ray technolgist (90350) at the base hospital -1964-65. 806th Medical Grp. There was usually only three or four of us staffing xray 24/7. Worked our tails off!!! Lots of good memories. Bad ones fade. Anybody there at that time e-mail me. 01/02/2011 @ 12:14 [ref: 12090] |
Last updated: 02/14/00.
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