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The year
was 1956. . Four airmen from the Minneapolis Air Base had visited
Grand Rapids, MN to meet with a committee of local residents to
discuss housing facilities for the nearly 100 airmen scheduled to
arrive in a short time. August arrived and so did scores of radar
operators and repairmen, most of which were fresh out of technical
training school in Keesler AFB, MS. The mess hall has just been
completed in time for their arrival. The new troops soon busied
themselves preparing for the day when the new radar site would go
operational. They built a plotting board - designed by John
Carlson, attended classes, and performed other work details around
the new base. For those who could not make themselves scarce,
there were plenty of details, such as, raking leaves, scrubbing
barracks and latrines, and digging in for the rigors of a long
Northern Minnesota winter.
1957... Airmen in parkas could be seen scarring through snow from
the mess hall to the operations building, which became fully
operational in February. The first frostbite victims were treated
by Doc Thompson, including one embarrassed A/3 whose pilfering
finger was stuck for five hours in a drink machine in the break
room. At any one time it seemed more airmen could be found off
base than on base. Local haunts, such as the Rapids Cafe, The
Oasis, and the Sunset were favorite hangouts to meet girls, get
refreshments, tell war stories, and otherwise escape work details.
It was this fall that General Matheny inspected the 707th to find
only 25 troops standing for his inspection. The others were
bedridden with the Asian Flu in the makeshift sickbay in barracks
206.
1958.. Many changes came to the 707th. New shipments of airmen,
many of them from overseas stations, replaced many of the
pioneers, who were transferring or being discharged. Capt. Evans
commanded, and his new First Sergeant Hargreaves, would soon
announce the "ending of the honey-moon". The Rapids Cafe
closed and the Mileage Cafe became the favorite coffee shop, where
you could find a group of airmen hanging out until the wee hours
of most mornings. In an effort to keep more airmen on base, the
newly decorated Enlisted Club was ceremoniously opened, luring
airmen with free beer, bingo, poker and blackjack. Perhaps the
most memorable events were the State Centennial celebrations
culminating that summer, with beard growing contests, a kangaroo
court and a grand parade.
1959. The AC&W System was changing, and work was now underway
to install the new SAGE system. Marriages between airmen and local
girls seemed to be a weekly event now and reason enough for
merriment at Forest Lake Lodge. Physical fitness diets were
enforced, and intramural flag football and baseball brought keen
competition between crews. Airmen bowled at Rapids Lanes, below
the Bus Depot, and offered though competition to local basketball
and baseball teams. The Recreation Building was completed and
airmen exercised to prepare for required physical fitness test.
1960..
Another year of change as the many old troops were discharged
having spent virtually their entire enlistment at the 707th. Early
outs were often mentioned. Many went TDY to Duluth and to other
SAGE training centers.
1961.. The Cuban missile crisis extended a few airmen past their
discharged date, but most were enjoying the beautiful summer with
beach parties at Pokegama Lake.
1962 - 1963. . Airmen and their female guests twisted at the
revised and newly decorated Enlisted Club amidst rumors that the
707th would be no more. Finally, in May 1963, the 707th officially
closed down, two months after Congressman Blatnik vehemently
denied all rumors of such. Twelve to fifteen airmen and a few
civilians lingered to care for the deserted radar site. A few
years later the Grand Rapids School District purchased the site
and buildings.
1970 .. The site of the 707th AC&W Sqd is being used for
special education and for a teen center. The barracks painted in
garish colors now stand across from the high school and are used
for study halls. With the sale of the off-base housing unit in the
spring of 1970, there is nothing left of the 707th but memories.
This short
history was written by Jim Nardone in 1970 and edited only
slightly by E. Walker.
Members of the 707th, this is your Web Site,
PLEASE, Support it.
Send comments, pictures, and any other input to: ffisher@cinci.rr.com
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