Minot Air Force Base

Minot Air Force Base is a United States Air Force installation located in Ward County, North Dakota, thirteen miles north of Minot. Construction began in May 1956, and the base officially opened on January 10, 1957. Originally established as an Air Defense Command facility, it transitioned to a Strategic Air Command installation in 1962. The base initially supported the 32d Fighter Group and later hosted the 5th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron, which operated F-106 Delta Dart and F-15A Eagle aircraft. In the early 1960s, the mission expanded to include nuclear-armed intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs) and manned bombers.

The base is operated by Air Force Global Strike Command. The 5th Bomb Wing serves as the host unit and operates squadrons of B-52H Stratofortress bombers, specifically the 23d Bomb Squadron and the 69th Bomb Squadron. The 91st Missile Wing is also stationed at the base and is responsible for the maintenance and operation of LGM-30G Minuteman III ICBMs located in missile fields to the north, west, and south of the installation.

Infrastructure includes facilities for the 5th Maintenance Group, which provides maintenance for B-52H aircraft, Minuteman III missiles, and UH-1N helicopters. The 91st Operations Group maintains a squadron of UH-1N Twin Huey helicopters used for missile and launch control site support. Security and defense of assets are managed by the 91st Security Forces Group and the 219th Security Forces Squadron of the North Dakota Air National Guard. Additional units include the 54th Helicopter Squadron, a geographically separate unit of the 582nd Helicopter Group. Base facilities include the PRIDE Building, which formerly housed a Semi Automatic Ground Environment data center. Minot Air Force Base is one of two installations currently hosting B-52H bombers.