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The saga of the BUFF continues; one notable wing at which the B-52 was deployed is the 5th Bomb Wing (5 BW), Minot Air Force Base (MAFB), North Dakota.
Minot is one of a very few remaining active BUFF wings in the US Air Force today. Hearkening back to the 1950s, Minot businesses donated $50,000 to buy some of the land for the air base. In 1955, construction began. The base’s first unit was the 32d Fighter Group, activated on Feb. 8, 1957. Initially an F-106 fighter and KC-135A tanker base, MAFB was organized under the 4136th Strategic Wing, headquartered under Air Defense Command and even hosted U-2 reconnaissance aircraft for a short time. In 1975, the 57th Air Division (57 AD) was added to MAFB as a supervisory unit overseeing air operations.
A Minot BUFF set a world record in 1962 for unrefueled, straight line flight. Under Operation PERSIAN RUG on 10-11 January 1962, Minot-assigned B-52H tail number 60-0040 flew unrefueled for 12,532.28 miles from Kadena, Okinawa to Torrejon, Spain; a record that stood wholly unbroken for nearly a quarter century. No other military aircraft flight has broken this record, although civilian aircraft have. Strategic Air Command (SAC) wished to show the world the new BUFF had intercontinental reach, and demonstrated it clearly.
Part of what makes MAFB so unique today was supporting two legs of the nuclear “triad” (a fact about which that MAFB officials boast today). A triad is a nuclear deterrence strategy in which bombers, land-based missiles and submarine-based missiles provide comprehensive strategic deterrence for America, her allies and partners. The second leg of the triad at MAFB was 150 Minuteman I (and later Minuteman III) intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBM). The ICBMs were organized under the 455th Strategic Missile Wing (455 SMW) after 1962. Also in 1962, Air Defense Command relinquished control of MAFB and other wings to SAC. In 1963, the 4136th was redesignated the 450th Bombardment Wing, Heavy which became the 5th Bombardment Wing in 1968. Also in 1968, 455 SMW became the 91st Strategic Missile Wing; before 1993 it was redesignated as the 91st Missile Wing, in 1997 as 91st Space Wing, and in 2008 reverting back to today’s 91st Missile Wing. In the mid-1960s during the Vietnam War, Minot tanker aircraft and crews and bomber crews (but no bomber aircraft) participated in Operation ARC LIGHT and other bombing campaigns.
The 57 AD was SAC’s first division to develop a forward deployment concept in which aircraft and personnel would be deployed across the globe to protect American interests. In 1980, the 57 AD launched this “Strategic Projection Force” in response to the Iran hostage crisis. At the closing of the Cold War, Operation DESERT STORM tasked Minot B-52s heavily. In fact, the conclusion of the Gulf War brought more changes to Minot. In the 1980s, MAFB exchanged F-106s for F-15 fighters and they flew until 1988. In the late 1980's the 57 AD became the host unit, providing logistical, security, administrative and other support services for the base; in 1991 it was inactivated, and host unit responsibilities went to what was redesignated as today’s 5th Bomb Wing. In 1992, SAC was inactivated and bomber operations fell under Air Combat Command while Minuteman missile operations went to Air Force Space Command. Bombers were released from strategic ground alert 18 September 1991 at the direction of President Bush. The KC-135 tankers left Minot for good in 1994. In late 2009 and early 2010, both legs of the triad were reunited under Air Force Global Strike Command, where they are currently organized.
Minot’s BUFF history begins with its first B-52H aircraft named the "Peace Persuader” in July 1961. Minot has only ever flown the H-model, and continues to provide global combat firepower with them. By the end of 1961, the Hound Dog (AGM-28) joined its arsenal of strategic weaponry. In 1973, the Short-Range Attack Missile (AGM-69) was added to the growing capabilities the versatile bomber could support. In 1989, the Air Launched Cruise Missile (AGM-86/B) further bolstered the offensive complement of the BUFF. In 1993, the Advanced Cruise Missile (AGM-129) joined the impressive arsenal.
The conventional weapons payload is equally impressive, comprising of a variety of weapons and configurations. It can employ up to eight AGM-84 Harpoon missiles, four AGM-142 Raptor missiles, 51 500lb bombs, 30 1,000lb bombs, 32 Small Diameter Bombs (SDB), 20 AGM-86C Conventional Air-Launched Cruise Missiles (CALCM), 12 joint stand-off weapons (JSOW), 12 Joint Direct-Attack Munitions (JDAM), 51 500lb, 30 1,000lb and 20 2,000lb navy mines and 16 Wind-Corrected Munitions Dispenser (WCMD). The B-52 can also carry the Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff Missile (JASSM), as well as an extended-range version of the JASSM. The bomb bay can now increase its payload of smart weapons, thanks to a rotary launcher. The BUFF is so versatile that it can employ the largest variety of conventional and strategic weapons of any aircraft in the US inventory.
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To find this cache, calculate the coordinates from the information in this listing.
N 48° AB.CDE W 101° FG.HIJ
A= Year construction began at Minot AFB, XXXN, A=(N-4)
B= Year 32d Fighter Group activated, XXXN, B=(N+2)
C= Type of fighter aircraft initially flown at MAFB, F-XXN, C=(N-0)
D= Miles completed in world unrefueled flight record, XX,XXN.XX miles, D=(N/2)
E= Year Air Defense Command transferred control of MAFB to SAC, XXXN, E=(Nx2)
F= Year 4136th Strategic Wing was redesignated as 450th Bombardment Wing, Heavy, XXXN, F=(N-2)
G= Year 450th Bombardment Wing, Heavy became 5th Bombardment Wing, XXXN, G=(N-1)
H= Year the “Peace Persuader” arrived at Minot? XXXN H=(N+8)
I= Year Minot launched Strategic Projection Force, XXNX, I=(N+2)
J= Year SAC was inactivated and Air Combat Command assumed B-52 operations, XXXN, J=(Nx3)
http://www.strategic-air-command.com/wings/0005bw.htm
http://www.strategic-air-command.com/wings/0450bw.htm
https://www.minot.af.mil/About-Us/Fact-Sheets/Display/Article/264218/5th-bomb-wing-minot-air-force-base/
https://www.minot.af.mil/About-Us/Fact-Sheets/Display/Article/264267/91st-missile-wing-minot-air-force-base/
https://www.minot.af.mil/About-Us/History/
http://www.strategic-air-command.com/bases/Minot_AFB.htm
https://www.airforce-technology.com/projects/b52/
https://stratofortress.org/current-operations/
http://www.strategic-air-command.com/command/air_divisions/0057th_air_division.htm
Dorr, R. & Peacock, L. (1995). Boeing’s Cold War Warrior: B-52 Stratofortress. London, UK; Osprey Aerospace.