My late husband was stationed @ki from 1987 to 1995. He was one of the last to leave. He said it was one of the best bases he'd ever been to. Sadly we lost Mark in 2020.

I have memories from when I was a kid. My dad was stationed there. That is the base he retired at. I can remember we lived at 410 Stratofort. It wasn't a house. It was like a townhouse. We lived in the end unit. My father got an assignment to do a tour in 'Nam. I remember coming home from school. The front door was locked. I thought it unusual so I went around to the back door. To my amazement my father was there to surprise us all that he was back from 'Nam! Great memories. I was only in 2nd grade

K. I. was my first assignment. I was a KC-135 pilot stationed there from 1988 until 1990. I love the outdoors so that part was nice, but not a great spot for a single guy in his early 20’s. I knew the crew that died in the crash at Dyess. I spoke with them while they were flight planning the day before they left. They were going to Dyess (in Texas) and then to Hickam (Hawaii) then on to Guam. I remember telling Captain “ Dusty” Llewellyn that it was a shame that I didn’t have any leave available or I’d catch a ride with them to Hawaii and they could pick me up on the way back. They were a good crew, well liked and genuinely missed.

My husband was stationed there 1967 to 1970, in the 69th Munitions Maintenance Squadron. He is now 76 years old.

I was stationed at KI Sawyer from April 84 to Jan 88. I worked as a crew chief on the B52, 61-008 was my aircraft. I also pulled a lot of alert duty there as well. Hard work and long winters, but many good memories. Proud to have served under the Strategic Air Command.

I was stationed there from 1978-1982. The dorm you went into was mine. It was the Cop Dorm for the 410th Security Police Squadron. I lived on the 3rd floor with "D" Flight. The door next to it was the WAF dorm. The building between dorms was a little restaurant/bar called the Jet Stream. The next dorm was for the CE Squadron.

Interesting, I was an Airman at K.I. 1962- 1963. I was an AC&W air surveillance opereator in the SAGE DIRECTION CENTER there until the unit was closed in Oct 1963. First active duty base after radar tech school at Keesler, Mississippi. Then on to other assignments for 20 years and 23 days total service. Really did not recognize anything but the drive from Marquette, through the boonies. Thanks for posting this video. Cheers -- Dan.

This was my first base, fresh out of Tech School. Was based here from 1993 - 1995 (I retired in 2013) with the 410 CPTS. It was a great base to be introduced to the USAF and I enjoyed my time there and I have fond memories of Gwinn and Marquette and the entire UP in particular! Thanks for this walkthrough, although most is unfamiliar with the decay, it was nice to walk through one of the dorms, although not mine (I stayed in some of the dorms further down, closer to where the new gym was built) this was still a blast from the past!

I wasn't stationed there but i was taken aback by the abandonment of the the base.. I was stationed at Castle AFB in Atwater California from 1973 to 1975 and the base has since been also closed.. I went there to visit once and it was turned into an air museum. I often wondered what ever happened to my dormitory and my airpalne. It was a B-52F tail number 0052..Looking at your ol' AFB I can imagen what you must be feeling.I feel like it's a great loss as i can almost see the Airmen and other people still walking around like it was back in the old days...Those were the days and they will be part of my life until the day that I die...Thanks for the memories...

My old 87th FIS "Red Bulls" F-106 Delta Dart unit. Left in 1981. Nice memories following you around in this video, a lot of recognizable things, a lot!

Thanks for the tour! I was never at Sawyer but was stationed at LowryAFB in 1975 learning electronics and F-111 avionics. It was a great base with visits to Denver often, many memories of the neighbors in the dorm and classmates. After Lowry I was stationed at Luke AFB under TAC learning F-15 avionics maintenance OJT, a great system. After 3 years I transferred to the F-16 avionics program at General Dynamics in Fort Worth. We stayed at Carswell AFB during training. The next 3 years was spent at Hill AFB keeping the F-16s flying. We practiced deployment of the avionics shop to the remote site at Wendover. Many fantastic memories with the job, fellow airmen and General Dynamics technicians. USAF '75-'81.

I was there in the spring of 1944 for navigator training on the B-29 Superfortress. I actually stayed in the barracks that you walked through. Thanks for the memories!!

I was stationed at K. I. Sawyer from 1972-1975. The first large building you went into was the Base Exchange (BX) and the second one was the Commissary. I was the lead on the inhouse design team as the electrical engineer that added on to the Commissary and moved the entrance to the exchange parking lot side. Can't forget the wonderful winters with the snow.

Seeing closed military bases breaks my heart. That was a part of history that should still be active. Sad 😞

Very interesting! Thanks! I also enlisted in the Air Force in 1976 and retired in 2001. One of the many places where I served was the 379th Bomb Wing south of there in the LP at Wurtsmith AFB, MI. Beautiful place that was also closed due to BRAC. I was also at Lowry AFB attending Weapons Training Tech School, so I followed you around. Again, thanks for the video. Brings back a lot of memories, especially seeing my old friend, the BUFF!!

I was born in Marquette in 1966 and my daddy was an aircraft mechanic at K.I. Sawyer. Watching this video just brought back such a flood of memories and tears. We lived in Negaunee, had family in Iron Mountain, Marquette, Ishpeming, Kingsford...Good God I needed to see this. Thank you.

K.I. Was my first assignment. Spent 81-85 in the 410th Avionics Maintenance Squadron. It was my favorite assignment of my 26 yr career. Plan to visit at some point.

I was born there in 1963. My dad served at the base until 65. My Grandfather was a master sergeant on the flight line from 61 to 67 Also have an uncle that served there as well.

I was station at Norton AFB ( 1980 to 1988 ) and McClellan AFB (1988 to 1994 ) both in California. Both are closed now. At Norton, All the dorms are now gone but a few buildings were left standing. McClellan AFB, Just about all the buildings are still there. I went TDY to some of the bases in the western US that are now closed . Hurt seeing bases like that one closed. Like your video. Airman For Life.

I'm retired US Air Force (1982 - 2002)....This was very awesome to see. The dorms brought back memories of being a young Airman back in the 80s. Thanks for sharing.

Thank you for the thorough tour and thank you for your service to the USAF. A similar situation occurred here in Columbus back in the late 1970s/early 1980s when Lockbourne AFB/Rickenbacker AFB (LCK) was decommed and went to a National Guard base and then a port authority was established. Allegiant now flies passengers out of there and the shipping business is now booming with several large distribution centers cropping up out of the farmlands northeast of downtown Columbus. And Intel is coming to town in the Johnstown area. The old “Ricken-chicken” is booming again!!

I think it`s cool that there isn`t any vandalism.Shows that people in the UP have better things to do with their time.

Ì was stationed at K. I. Sawyer from June 1967 to March 1968. We had the B52H models which I worked on. My field was electronic counter measures. My dorm was directly across from the chow hall. It snowed over 300" that year.

Thank you for the look back into history.

I was not USAF but was active Army stationed in the area from 1977 until the Base closed. Lived within half an hour of the base from 1967 to present. Now retired military and received all services including medical, dental, veterinary services, barber shop, laundry, snack bar, auto repair shop, parts and tire store, base theater, hobby shop, events center thrift store, child care, EM, NCO,& O clubs, Gym and fitness center including pool, golf course, baseball fields and uniform cleaning services, as well as commissary and base exchange, plus some things I may have forgotten. I pretty much remember what and where most of the buildings were and are. My daughter also married a young airman stationed there shortly before the base closed. I have many past and present friends who were stationed there that I socialized with off duty time, and some who live in the area yet today. After retirement I worked as a contractor for the realignment and reutilization management organization on several projects. I would be glad to share some of the many stories and memories I have should you wish to contact me.

As a Air Force veteran I find it sad but fitting that at the end of the cold war we were able to shut down so many supplus bases. At one time these SAC bases where at the forefront of our nuclear deterrent. You can almost still feel the activity of the base in its heyday. So glad we never had to carry out those strike missions. I just hope that we never have to engage in the same level of heightened vigilance. Things were scary back then. Watching the news now it seems like we are in for another round of it.

I was stationed there from Sept of 68 till I separated from active duty Feb 69. I served with the 62nd Fighter Interceptor Squadron which had F-101s. I was previously stationed at Charleston Air Force Base with the 444th FIS until it was deactivated. My rank was Sergeant in the auto pilot shop.

I was in the Air Force for 8 years, and with the exception of Lockland, Keesler, and NORAD operations center, every base, site, station, and Operations Location I was ever stationed at has ceased to exist. It's understandable that so many places in South East Asia are no more (Korat AFB, Clark, P.I., Nakhon Phanom [NKP], Monkey Mountain), but so many former stateside homes are nothing more than a bare spot on some mountain top. A few years ago I flew into the old George Air Force Base, north of San Bernardino, for refueling as part of a Los Angeles Sheriff's Department Search & Rescue mission, and it was like walking around a post-apocalyptic military complex, waiting for zombies to come slothing out of the buildings. Both interesting and extremely sad.

I was stationed at K.I. Sawyer after my tour in South East Asia from 73 to 75 with the 410 MMS weapons load Crew Chief. Enjoyed the area and the Base but sad to see what happened. Hope it can be brought back to life. Thanks for the tour.

I was stationed there from 73 to 75. I humped slot of B-52s KC135 and FB111's.If you were a security policeman back then you'll know what I mean by humping 😁. In winter the Hawk (wind) never seemed to cease. Brrrrr! So sad to see K.I. in its present condition, A far cry from when it was active. Thanks for the memories

I was stationed at Kinross AFB from Nov 1957 to Apr 1959 and was TDY at KI Sawyer for 2 months the summer 0f 1958 while the runway at Kinross was being rebuilt for SAC. The dormitories (we still called them barracks) were head and shoulders above Kinross as there were 2 man rooms with a real bed versus the old cots at Kinross and a shower and stool between 2 rooms versus a community shower and a row of commodes at Kinross. And, the chow hall and chow was like nothing we ever had at Kinross. I remember the mess sergeant walking around the mess hall asking the troops "how is the chow? Anything we can do to make it better?" This never happened at Kinross. April of 1959 I got orders to report to Alaska for duty on a remote AC&W site. Ended up at Northeast Cape on St. Lawrence Island in the middle of the Bering Sea for 10 months. All in all my one hitch in the Air Force was the best move I made as a young fellow. Thanks for the video.

Thanks for serving in the Air Force

Seeing these old bases just fall into decay is - like you said - bittersweet. We moved to Frankfurt am Main in 1995 and saw the old US Army barracks. The place was a ghost town. All of Germany was filled with empty bases however there were still several bases fully running. But the bases we were at as kids were awesome. We loved it and it’s weird that you can’t go back to visit. Even if you could there’d be all new faces there.

This was interesting to watch I was born on SAC base. My dad was stationed at Loring AFB in Maine. He was the NCOIC in the command post in the early 60s. One of my earliest memories was the activities during the Cuban Missile Crisis. Nuke loaded B-52's taking off and landing around the clock and they were loud! Unfortunately, Loring has been shut down for a long time.

Sad to see.I've got 27 years Air Force service .Been to many closed bases.Too many.Brings a lump in my throat

Thank you for your service!

I am 90yrs - 1952 did Keesler AFB Radio Operator School (Morse Code)10 months -Did Korea 1953 1954 - Then 778 AC&W Havre Montana The DEW Line - Got married to my Fantastic Wife there - Did 2 yrs Army Reserve - Then 14 yrs NY Air National Guard - Got 20 Year Retirement - I go for the "Haunted " description - It had that "feeling" - Sorry for the Idiots with their Dumb remarks - I thank You for the Excellent Video - Hope All Is Well With You - - -

Thank-you for your service. I was not at K.I. but my time in the Air Force is almost identical to yours. I graduated from basic training (Lackland) January 1976. I went to tech school at Chanute until August 1976. My first (and only) permanent duty station was another SAC base called Loring in Maine. Of course, Loring was closed at the same time K.I. was. I was a "Flight Simulator Specialist" on a KC-135 mobile flight simulator. I completed my enlistment in 1980.

This is a blast from the past! I was in the AF for 20 years at too many bases to count. I used to go hunting around Rapid River annually and would always stop by old K.I. Thanks for this video brother. Joe

Thank you for your service from another SAC veteran. I was at Malmstrom AFB from 1968-1972 as a Civil Engineer. I have a very good friend who served at K. I. Sawyer as a missile guidance system technician. It’s a wonder someone hasn’t suggested using these old bases for homeless housing. Those old dormitories were really sturdy. We had enlisted housing just like that at Malmstrom. I thoroughly enjoyed the tour. Thanks for a stroll down memory lane.

I was a SAC trained “killer,” who spent time at Keesler and then was assigned to SAC headquarters in Omaha, NB. Worked in computer maintenance in the underground command center from 1965 thru 1969. Thanks for the tour. I agree it is sad to see the old bases decaying.

Sawyer was one base I didn't want to get stationed at after 2 yrs in Iceland and 2 yrs at Plattsburgh NY. I worked on fighter air-to-air and air-to-ground missiles from 76 (4 yrs at Nellis before 2 yrs in Iceland) to retraining in 83 after I came back from Iceland as they were merging my missile AFSC into ammo so I retrained into the AGM-69A SRAM and AGM-86B ALCM and I worked in the weapons storage area at Plattsburgh with occasional work on the aircraft on the ramp. Applied for instructor duty back at Chanute where I retrained at and mid 1985 I went back there as an instructor in electronics and air launched missile maintenance where we taught the systems in the B-52, FB-111A and B-1B along with the AGM-69A SRAM, AGM-86B ALCM and the AGM-129 ACM. We were getting orders back to the field when Chanute was slated for closure in the fall of 93 and I got Barksdale in Louisiana but swapped orders for McConnell in Wichita KS with SRAM and B-1B. Was given the option of a 1 year early retirement with full credit of 20 except one year shy on pay and I retired in mid 1995. BTW I was in the 3711 BMTS at Lackland from mid June 76 to end of July then went off to Lowry for my AIM/AGM missile school until end of Jan 77 when I went to Nellis. I had been up to Marquette as a kid in the late 1960s as I had two great aunts and uncles that lived up there and I do have to admit that summers were beautiful there.

I was there from 85 to January of 89. I loved it there. I went back 2 years ago and was amazed at the state of the base. We used to have softball practice near that static B-52. I also recognized several of the names on that plaque about the guys who were killed in that KC-135 crash in 89. That was a fun place to be for 4 years. I know some guys hated it, but I wasn't one of them.

Michigan U.P. was once a favorite destination for military retirees for proximity to base services and great place to live.

Amazing that the doors are unlocked without guards. A tribute to the midwest. If this were in San Francisco or Seattle or Portland Oregon, it would be inhabited by drug addicts and criminals with broken windows graffiti and unspeakable drug debris

My family moved to KI in 1975, same week the Edmund Fitzgerald went down. We were transferred from Pease AFB. I was 4 years old, and attended KIS elementary through 6th grade. It was a magical place to be a kid.

Sir, I love the whole concept of your channel, it’s description, and execution! Exquisite, brother! I couldn’t help but subscribe. Best wishes!

I was stationed there from October 1967 to February 1969. I loved my time there and met my wife in Marquette. We just went past 54 years married. The barracks you were in was mine while I was there. Most of the occupants were Air police. Weapons loaders, we loaded the nukes on the B-52's, occupied the back half of the bottom floor. Not a great situation. We never had to stand inspections. The cops in the rest of the building had to wax and buff our hallways too. I have been in the building several times in the last few years. The building behind the vet clinic was the mess hall. I'm watching this video while we are visiting Marquette. When here we stay with my sister in law. Cool video. Thanks.

I served in the 56th Fighter Group, 62 Fighter Sq at K.I. Sawyer for 2 years.

I have family in Marquette. My father was at KI Sawyer in the 60s. I tried getting assigned there but was sent to Maine instead. Why its called a Dream Sheet lol

The F-102 Delta Dagger and F-106 Delta Dart have lineage and appear very similar. It made me chuckle to listen to you ID-ing the plane as the F-104 Starfighter bears no resemblance. K.I. Sawyer is from my childhood. It pains me that the base is closed. I will have to visit the museum on one of my future trips back to Michigan. Thanks for posting. :-)

I was there 1983 1984 it was my first duty as a young man. I remember when the static B52 was flown in to the base. As many vets I met many people that I will never forget. And I did stay in the Barracks you showed a lot of good memories thanks

I’m an 8 year Air Force vet. 1990-1998. All the bases I was at the dorms I lived in were razed and brand new ones were built. This is interesting, I never been to KI sawyer but I knew people who were there. The dorm you showed was exactly like my first dorm at Malmstrom AFB, same exact layout! The first room you went in and said it was maybe a room was more than likely the dorm chiefs office, usually a Staff seargent. And there was always a public bathroom nearby that was probably the second room you showed. All of the dorms of the Cold War were the same. Built the same, smelled the same, shaped the same. Yes it’s sad to see the bases going to seed. You can blame Bill Clinton for that base closure committee he created. Not to get political but that guy ruined the military, in my opinion. Hasn’t been the same since. Anyway thanks for filming and sharing this. I would love to urban explore an old base somewhere, sometime before they tear it down and erase it……………….from existence

Just discovered your channel! Will enjoy more of this from you. Never been to K.I. Sawyer, but I knew lots of folks who had been stationed there. The state of preservation there seems very good compared to other facilities closed by BRAC and the end of the Cold War. Aloha from a fellow AF vet.

I was stationed at Loring AF Base Maine for 18 months in 1959 to 1960. That base was shut down in 1977. That base was a SAC base.

Loved this video and tour, thank you. Being an Air Force kid, this brought back many fond memories. Growing up & spending my childhood on bases similar to this, was a different childhood upbringing that civilian families probably couldn't relate to. These bases were tiny self contained, self sustaining communities, often adjacent to, or not far from local towns. On bases overseas, it was like being on an island, but an island that had almost every need the Air Force could provide. They did their best to accommodate the enlisted, officer's and their families. It was tough moving all the time, new schools, making new friendships and the Mom's! Military mothers deserve a huge amount of recognition! Heroes behind the Heroes! At 20, I joined the Navy, and I will say, the barracks we had (in the early 80s) were prison like compared to what you showed here. Its a shame the country can't find a useful purpose for these old bases. Anyway, thanks again, really enjoyed it.

I was stationed there in 1975 to 1980. Lost one B-52 and one KC-135 wile I was there. I worked on the Defensive Fire Control System (with M-61 Cannon) on the B-52.

I live 15 miles from the former Chanute AFB. So sad to see the gigantic hangers built for the B36 failing into disrepair. Runway abandoned.

The unlocked doors seemed really creepy. You are braver than me.

I was a Chief Master Sgt and went TDY to the base in 1994. When checking into billeting on base we were told we were the last TDY visitors and that we could have whatever room we wanted on base! Next day we retired several unit NCOs which was covered by the local news affiliate. Good days. Nice base.

Nice video! I was stationed at K.I. Sawyer from 1986-1994. Great memories and many good friendships! I recognized all the locations you showed. I used to work in the Weapons Storage Area. I believe a sawmill took over the facilities there. They also store road salt in the storage igloos now. We used them for much more lethal stuff!

I was stationed at KI in the 410 MMS. From '82-'85. There's not much to do as a young 20 year old.

Thanks for the visit..... As a kid out of HS, I was in the security police career field (ramp rat ) in SAC at Dyess from 1968 to 71. Bases like Sawyer & Minot didn't sound like good places for us rats in the winter. In 70 our wing went TDY to Guam. We watched the real heroes in "BUFs" take off in the AM & return in the PM from conventional missions. Spent the last 14 interesting months at Incirlik CDI, Turkey....I don't regret any part of those 4 years .

Looks strange to me seeing Strategic Air Command emblems on fighter jets. When I was in the Air Force in the 1960s, all the fighters were assigned to Tactical Air Command (TAC) bases. SAC bases had bombers like B52 and B47, refulers and missiles.

I was in the military and now work on a military base as a Navy DoD Civilian. The base has been around since the 1940s. Great to wander the buildings - especially at night.

I was in the USAF from 1982-1986, stationed at the long closed George AFB, Adelanto, California, thank you for your long service.

Air Force Combat Veteran here. I've always found these Bases fascinating. The Men and Women that made America so strong in the 50's,60's,70's, 80's and 90's are now gone......their sacrifice will never be. #GOAIRFORCE

Some serious nostalgia there! I was in 82-86 at Charleston, Incirlik and Norton. I see those barracks and remember all the people and memories from my time, and wonder about those who lived in them at KI Sawyer, hope they have all the great memories I do.

In general, many of the SAC bases were/are not currently located near large population centers. Inbound weapon flight time factored in the event of an unimaginable Armageddon. Unfortunately, many were in cold climates. McConnell AFB in Florida is now the Orlando International Airport before Mickey Mouse invaded, and Homestead AFB in south FL now a racetrack. Minot veteran 76-79.

Just like most other closed down military installations, they are too far away from the cities to be useful. Lots of good infrastructure, but nobody wants to make the drive. I only know of a few bases that have been rehabilitated and being used to almost complete capacity. I won't go into why I think the bases were closed. Thank you for your service.

Interesting view of ki! I was stationed there from early 1970 to 72 when I went to Vietnam! Returned in 72 & got discharged in sep of 73. I got let go early because of some problems with my supervisors! I’m from Hancock mi, so I went home most weekends. Enjoyed my time there but Vietnam was way better, no snow! I was in security police so I spent a lot of time outside! Great video!

Wow! Thanks for that amazing walk down memory lane. It's been eighteen years since I retired from the Air Force and I certainly remember life in the barracks/dorms. That little room you saw when you first entered the dormitory could have been the dorm manager's office. I lived in the dorms in the Philippines and at Nellis in Las Vegas. My MAJCOMS were PACAF and Tactical Air Command (TAC), and I worked as an aircraft armament systems mechanic on F-4's, F-5's, F-15's, F-16's, and A-10s. I went to tech school at Lowry AFB CO in 1981 and retired in Grand Forks, ND in 2001. Retrained into food service for the last five years of my career and worked in the dining hall. It was an honor to serve and I wouldn't trade my experiences for anything. I'm a huge fan of the paranormal and I found myself watching carefully for orbs and other anomalies in your video. HAHA! I agree with you that our once proud installations are now falling into disrepair. A sad end to a proud heritage. Thank you for your service!

I 'm from Albany and remember when Turner Air Force Based closed ( and turned over to the Navy for abit.) I still remember the sound of those B-52s going over our house when they were landing. It was thunderous.

Richard Smith was one of my roommates in the 410th OMS dorm. I was stationed at K.I. from September 1985 until May 1989. I was a crew chief in Bomber Branch.

These barracks were the old cinderblock barracks that were renovated in 1980s. and did away with the old communal showermand bath.. I was stationed at Travis AFB that were being renovated in this very design . I was a Staff Sgt and got a room to my self. Bath and shower connected every two rooms and did away with the old communal shower and bath..

The Fb111 "Rough Night" was from Plattsburgh AFB in NY where I was stationed from 85 to 89 Enjoyed my time there

I was stationed there from 86-87. I was as an air traffic controller in the rapcon 2001st comm squadron. I remember it like it was yesterday. That one building was the post office. The small room just inside the dorm was the dorm managers office. Lots of snow. I got there in April with just most of the snow gone but woke up the morning of May 1st with 6 inches of new snow. Many people road their snowmobiles to work in the winter. Great memories! Thanks for the video!

My wife has an aunt that lives in Marquette. Loves it except for the winters. We should have put that base into caretaker status rather than giving it over to the civilians. I have a feeling with everything that's going on nowadays, we're going to need it again.

I was stationed at Grissom AFB from 1972 through 1975. I lived in a two-story barracks with similar room design, but much older construction. Your base tour brings back so many memories. Thank you

If you think this base looks bad, visit the old Chanute AFB, IL

Thank you for this video! I was stationed there from '83-'87. The dorm you went in looked like the one I lived in before I got married and moved to base housing. It was very eerie watching this video, but also entertaining. I've got to get back there sometime to experience it for myself.

I was stationed at KI Sawyer from 77 until 81. Worked as a crash and structural firefighter. Spent the first two years living in the CE dorm, across from the MWR building. Your video certainly brings back some great memories.

Thank you for your service. My dad was stationed at K.I. from 76-95, and we were one of the last families to leave after my dad helped close it down. You were looking in the BX (the Walmart of the Air Force) which was repurposed and then the Commissary (the grocery store of the Air Force) which was the big open area. Behind the BX and Commissary was an outlet mall with various other stores which changed over the years. There was once a toy store and a chow hall before renovations connected these stores together with a long hallway. Next to the BX was a bank and across the lot near the planes on display was a credit union. So much had changed over the 20 years we lived there, and it is so sad to see that Marquette County neglected to take care of the place.

I was stationed there from September 1985 until September 1988. I took my family there in 2005 and we stayed a few days. It was bittersweet realizing the different lives my kids would of had had I been able to stay in longer. The base was in decline even then. The E commerce was the BX the commissary would of been on the same parking lot. The second building you went into was the commissary. I had a trailer in one of the base trailer parks.

The Air Force dorms or barracks were much better than the Army barracks than I have been to state side. Ft. Carson we had 4 man rooms with one toilet and shower built in the early 1970s known as the Banana Belt. Ft, Bragg NC was built differently but were the same 4 man rooms. Germany at Mainz were old German NAZI barracks converted into 4 man rooms but we had a central communal shower. Ft. Kobbe Panama next to Howard AFB were built in the 1920s Spanish Art Deco barracks done with 4 man rooms and communal showers, originally they were open bay platoon floor. I have been to Lowry AFB when it was still active in 1988 when my high school buddy was going through Air Force supply school to visit him. I was amazed on how the Air Force lived much better than the Army especially for me living in infantry barracks.

Yeah I was a 276x0 scope dope :) ,my last duty station was at Tinker flying in AWACs .in 84 we had a TDY deployment to Iceland, on the way we made a stop at K.I.,do not remember why may have been for fuel .Did not get to see the base as we were not there very long just the base snack bar

Starting at about 12:10 in this video: The *_"Quail"_* was designed to be carried by and launched from a B-52, to act as a decoy to confuse enemy radar about the actual location of the B-52. I do not know if any were ever launched operationally {such as in Vietnam}.

Absolutely hated it but was severely limited to where I could be stationed because of my job (B52 crew chief). Got there in 1987 and worked in Bomber Phase dock the flight line. In 1992 I finally got out of that dump and never looked back

Sad, but you should see what they did to the old Roswell AFB. Some folks bought the old base housing for retirement homes. Slum lords got the rest. You can imagine what it is like now. At least you guys have the old air park.

First off thank you for your service. second my dad lived on K.I. Sawyer afb for awhile back around 2006 thus I spent 2 or 3 summers up there it was a beautiful place back then. Ps when he lived there he lived in the town house on commando street and just so you know no he is just a civilian no military ties

Hi I was in the USAF from 1966-72 I spent most of my time in South East Asia. Being stationed at Naha AFB Okinawa I was a C-130 Crew Chief flying all over the war torn VietNam Loved the USAF and planed to make a career but my Dad a Col in the USA passed and I went home to be with my Mom It would of been better if I had stayed in as I made my Moms life miserable The buildings I stayed in Okinawa were old WW II and old I also was at Dover AFB where They were also old multi person rooms..Tks for the memeries Ron

You are correct.... The B-52 wing when loaded with fuel will put those wheels on the ground. I was stationed at Fairchild AFB, Spokane, Wn,,, 69 to 70 and was a security policeman. My job was to keep the nuclear loaded bombers and crews safe and sound. One cool thing when the plane took off was that the wings would deflect up about 20 feet before the main gear left the ground. videos I have seen don't really show that. Back in my day, the "crab landing gear system was considered either secret or top secret... can't remember which for sure. Enjoyed the video.... Like taking a trip down memory lane. Thanks... Russ

Just think of all the homeless vet that could live there

My bro-in-law will be doing a large asbestos abatement job soon at KI Sawyer. 14 buildings in all I believe. I was lucky enough to travel with him from the middle of the lower peninsula (our home area) to Gwinn to bid the job a couple months back. What an awesome visit. Quite a campus and a great staff still working there. I'm sure Sawyer AFB can tell many stories.

Interesting view. Never was stationed there but I did return to my first duty station after it was deactivated, Lowry AFB in Denver. I was in Civil Engineers and the closest I ever got to an Air Force plane was when I worked on the plumbing in a hanger! I went in Sept 1976 till 1980.

I've never been there and yet it all looks so familiar. Great tour.

Mom n Dad used to take us kids to the U.P. In the 60’s. A lot has changed as I see, hope to do some looking around when wife & I go to “Skandia” for a wedding in mid Sept. our family lived “down state” near Oh line and spent many vacations in the U.P. Many thanks for the photos 😃

Thanks for the tour. I appreciated the Wikipedia link, too. "Restructuring" was more like "deconstructing." It was cheaper to abandon the bases. Now there is a housing shortage in many of the base areas--such as El Toro in Orange County, California. Military bases are contaminated sites and there wasn't money enough to rebuild them. In the Eighties I was in Frankfurt, Germany and I returned more than a decade later to see what had happened to my old barracks--the Germans had turned it into low-cost worker housing. Sanctuary state California could have done the same with El Toro, but instead has decided to rent hotel rooms. Those decaying buildings may be too dilapidated to house humans but it might be worthy of providing jobs AND housing (and training workers) if those places were renovated. Or not. The American military bases are treated worse than the First World War installations (I lived in some of those Great War "temporary buildings" during the first decade of the 21st Century while on temporary duty with the National Guard--and I appreciated having shelter!). Note that I've lived aboard a ship for eight months and I also lived in the field under canvas for more than a year. Luxury is buying food and sleeping indoors!

KI Sawyer was a Major installation with a permanent population of 13000. Sac,Tac and air refueling all Operated there. Off the record there Were also ICBM silos on the base. My family lived on base from 1964 Through 1967. My father refired From the Air Force after 33 years Of service including 3 years during WW2. We retired in Marquette where I graduated from NMU and my parents passed away. There is no Other place like Michigan's UP. The People who populate the UP are the Best. Great Video 😊

When I was completing my overseas tour in 1993, I had orders to K.I., they then amended my orders to Beale AFB because K.I. was due to close.