SAC

[gwen snyder]

Brink,
Hm-m-m. You amazed me with the comments about the SAC base, now perhaps, I misread your comment, but, I thought you said you were at a SAC base on the shores of Superior in Minnesota, but, I have gone over and over in my mind what SAC base was up in that neck of the woods and I can't figure it. Both my husband and I were AF SAC troops in the Forks (Grand Forks, ND). What base were you at, anyway? And you didn't like moonshine? Man, the first time I had moonshine I swore up and down it was paint thinner in a glass...Whew, horrid. That was the last time I let young country kids choose my drink for me. YUK. lol
GSS

[brink]

Gwen, The base was at Finland Minnesota, North of Duluth, past Two Harbors, the biggest town there was Silver Bay. Was a great area, I don't remember much about the base itself because we didn't live on the base. If you look on the map follow up the coast of Superior on hwy 61 to Illgen City and follow hwy 1, there's Finland.
It was a very small base I think only a couple hundred - I think the moonshine wiped out most of my memory - I remember driving up the "mountain" (that was before I saw real mountains) and the hood of my car flew up and totally blocked my view. I went smelting on the knife river in a pair of waders that was WAY too big and almost got swept out to the lake. I haven't been back there since we moved which was about 26 years ago, I know once there was talk of closing the base but I doubt that they did. I don't have any idea what it was called by the AF but it was right by Finland, up the "mountain". I can have my daughter ask her dad what the name of it is if you don't find it. By the way what does SAC mean? My ex used it to discribe the base but never said what it meant, I assumed it meant that it was small.

[This message has been edited by brink (edited May 13, 2003).]

[This message has been edited by brink (edited May 13, 2003).]

[gwen snyder]

Brink,
Still wondering...but, I have a book on the way that is supposed to clear all of my wondering up, I'll let you know then.
SAC stands for Strategic Air Command, we were the cold war deterent to nuclear war with the Russians, hence the bases all being positioned in relatively extreme north areas, we had the closest flying distance to Russia positioned there (relates to geographic constrints of small circles relatively smaller than great circles on our planet). Anyway, I know I froze my ass off working out on the flight line there (-90 degree temperatures throughout winter). What did your husband do for the SAC base? I will keep you posted for when I find the name of the base.
Bye
GSS

[brink]

It is referred to as a Radar Station, or the Finland Air Force Base. it closed in 1980 or in 1982 depends on which reference you want to believe. I have two that you can check and see if you can get any info from them on is: www.vets-hall.org/history/timeline.asp
look at 1980. The other mentions flying saucers over the radar towers at the base. www.bobpratt.org maybe you can figure it out. I did find another story about hiking in Superior Nat'l forest and he mentions living at the radar station in 1955-1956 when his father was stationed in Finland watching for Russian planes.
Let me know what you find.
Deb

[brink]

Gwen,
Did you ever get the book on the base? I have really had a hard time finding out much about it now that it is closed.

[gwen snyder]

Brink
I have a book coming from Wright-Patterson AFB Oh that is SAC HQ info. I will let you know the minute I get it.

[gwen snyder]

Brink, you know what celebration this year brings. So, they are in backlog. 100 years of flight. Someone should write a song...like the canadian rr trilogy, only about the wright bros and what it all took to get to here.