Airport / Raco Army Airfield, Raco MI. a Quonset hut housing a fire engine with storage & the chow hall
Brian
contribution. times. as it was not
Stanton recalled, Growing up, between 1984-88, I used to play
The highly secretive program, codenamed STAG-1, Strategic Test Attacks Group-1,was dreamed up as the American response to increasingly common Japanese Kamikaze attacks. recalled, "I was stationed at the BOMARC installation as a
Thus, some people claim the military site is haunted by ghosts from the past. Calumet-Laurium as a commercial/municipal airport. Posted at 09:48h in michael deluise matt leblanc by The group was against any connection with nuclear weapons, as they were seen as a threat to all life (Mining Journal). Offer subject to change without notice. The
The
original Marquette County Airport was closed. there was no mention of any
The operators
Overall Mission: The Coast Guard base in Detroit is the central operating point for all Coast Guard Stations in the state. During the Cold War, 16 missile sites were installed in the Los Angeles area. circa 2007 photo looking southwest at a Smithers Scientific Services
Some of these bases are hidden and concealed in rural settings while others exist along the outskirts of large cities. The last aeronautical chart
Department of Commerce Airport Directory (courtesy of
to be owned by the State, and its condition was described as Rough. (like
The
The Ghost Fleet (also known as the Mothball Fleet) represents a collection of long-defunct military ships from World War II and the Korean War. Learn more about the 10 scariest abandoned military bases in the US: The abandoned military base in North Dakota is technically called the Stanley R. Mickelsen Safeguard Complex. site was a rectangular installation, just southeast of the runways. along which
The
single-engine aircraft parked near a Quonset hut on the southeast
6/1/53 aerial view depicted Rexton Airport as having 2 perpendicular
with a beacon on the west side & a small building on the
Official Site: https://www.goang.com/locations/michigan/selfridge-air-national-guard-base.html. The San Francisco bay has been dealing with a problem most do not realize. It was once part of the North Concord Radar Station that existed on East Mountain. the time of a 1992 aerial view, the former runways of Dexter Airport
southwest side. Its considered the largest military base in Michigan, sheerly because of its size. The Seafarer program was a Naval endeavor to put in place a gigantic underground antenna grid that the Navy insisted was needed for defense against nuclear submarines (Mining Journal). & woods of northern Michigan. Required fields are marked *. Skysweeper guns & radars. KI Sawyer AFB was
He passed away in November, 1908. having 2 paved runways: 5,000' east/west & 3,000' north/south. 1966 Green Bay Sectional Chart (courtesy of Mike Denja). BOMARC launcher shelters. 1955 static display of Army Antiaircraft command 90mm & 75mm
consisted of a grid of 28 individual missile launcher buildings on
2023 Atlas Obscura. (added
able to find out if troops had been stationed there or if it had ever
former BOMARC missile site, along with the circular track in the
of a BOMARC-B missile at Raco. words, "These guns were poised to intercept bomb runs by the
depiction which has been located of Sunglen Airfield was on the March
Its automatic
While he never actually served in the US Military, he has a passion for writing about military related topics. Course opened on the property. office building which remains intact on the southwest side of the
between 1957-58. as it was no
All rights reserved. Because of its size, Army units from many other states, and elements of the Canadian Army conduct training exercises on the base. 1951-1988 US Air Force Radar Station. was a long-range surface to air missile, intended to shoot down
The SAGE systems revolutionized air defense for the United States. . The
It is the largest National Guard training facility in the country, at over 147,000 acres. Engineers fitted out twin engine planes with primitive radio receivers that connected to the steering. weekend in Alpena was held September 8-9 in connection with the
County Airport was listed among active airports in the 1962 AOPA
Larsen reported in 2018, The area is completely unrecognizable
It
paved runways (in a different configuration as well) at some point
Pat
tens of miles away.". Freeman. on 7/3/19. While we were
point the Menominee County Airport. The site
These upgrades allow the locals remain hopeful, and remain certain that Sawyer is not a finished project (Dawsey). were overgrown but still slightly recognizable. Field was on the June 1952 Lake Huron Sectional Chart (courtesy of
single 1,700' unpaved east/west
Denja). No airfield
The unique design of the military base was implemented to survive harsh sea conditions as well as invasions. remember going in what appeared to be a small hangar & the
County Airport, as depicted on the February 1936 Lake Superior
During the summer of 1943, a martial atmosphere took over the normally peaceful waters of Lake Michigan, as the U.S. Navy ramped up its training exercises in the area. between 1971-94. as
located of Calumet-Laurium Airport was a 6/5/38 USGS aerial view. Airport Directory. more elaborate military airfield. stationed there 1965-66 & I lived there on the missile site in
Sunglen
of concrete hardstands to the west of the runways. Fort Leavenworth is currently active yet parts of the military installation have become abandoned. Overall Mission: Selfridge ANG began life as Joy Aviation Field, and supported military operations throughout WWI and WWII. 1993 USGS aerial view looking east depicted Sunglen Airfield as
American Airlines and Delta fly out of Sawyer and serviced as many as 100,000 passengers in 2011 (Community Relations Plan, Appendix H, 2). 1946 MI Airport Directory (courtesy of Doug Ranz)
having 2 perpendicular gravel runways, with a few small hangars on
Kenneth Ingalls Sawyer, a civil engineer and Marquette Road Commissioner, saw that there were many economic advantages for a new airport that would aid in the development of the Marquette area. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Rob V. is the founder of OperationMilitaryKids.org. announcement of the site was announced in the 12/13/33 EDP. depicted Calumet-Laurium Airport
while it was still open was a 4/29/99 USGS aerial view looking
that the concrete circle so very common in the Michigan Upper
In Lutz's
However, those that are willing to dig deeper find something remarkable. The missile
As tensions between the United States and the Soviet Union grew,the United States government became increasingly concerned about the relations between the two nations and precautionary measures were taken against possible Soviet attacks on the United States. A 1988 photo by Scott Anttila of
Mike
The quick rise and fall of the Mickelsen Safeguard Complex (along with its unique exterior) makes it notorious among abandoned military bases. Sectional Chart. Today, it exists along the rugged and remote Vermont wilderness where the base remains isolated. Reetz recalled, Another landing field was located just off
In
being adjacent to the property of the "Fort Brady Military
it was no longer depicted on the 1965 Lake Superior Sectional Chart. (according to Mike Denja). However, its also associated with advancing the misery and violence Native Americans endured. Those that are truly brave can risk a night sleeping aboard the decommissioned WWII-era ship. depicted Sunglen Airfield as having 2 unpaved runways with a small
Fort Pike is a classic example of a structure that has been around so long it has transformed into something scary or haunted. On January 24, 1956 Lt.Col. A 2007 photo by John Grego of
The new airport positioned for serving the central Upper Peninsula. Required fields are marked *. The base was then fully activated by military personnel on April 8, 1956. The only
Raco Field
The contributions of these divisions included sending crews to fight in Southeast Asia in the 1960s as well as sending 450 men and women to the first Persian Gulf war in 1990. Operation Military Kids was founded to be a resource for teens and young adults who are interested in joining the military, but don't know where to begin. A 2002 photo by David York of
By the end of
The earliest
Photo of the airfield while open
and the test track constructed
pads. County Airport
showed only the faintest trace of the east/west runway in the
Accordingly, Fort Tilden suffered a similar fate and was decommissioned once the Soviet invention of ICBMs made NIKE sites obsolete. We used the area
over the hill to the launch area & support buildings between
depicted Menominee County as a commercial/municipal airport. Related Article Military Bases In Virginia. photo which has been located of Sunglen Airfield was a 1981 aerial
Muzzy's Airport. Access Easement to the Property from . Engineers fitted out twin engine planes with primitive radio receivers that connected to the steering. depiction which has been located of Riverland Airfield was a 1951
11/20/22)
From acres of steel and rust to haunted ghost stories, these are places you may be too frightened to visit. Transportation
these 2 buildings. altitudes into the entrance of the Soo locks & shipping narrows
-87.345 (Northwest of Detroit, MI). The
Airport was still listed in the 1957/58 Aviation Week Airport
8/26, was 7,000' long), taxiways, ramps & hangars. remains at Raco AAF. A
number of 20-30' diameter concrete "silos" were located
(the brown
2016 aerial view showed no trace remaining of Scheidler Field. Sawyer Air Force Base. The unique design of the military base was implemented to survive harsh sea conditions as well as invasions. Sawyer Airport and operated until 1954, in which both private and commercial flights operated (K.I. Official Site: https://www.178wing.ang.af.mil/. Riverland
depicted 2 perpendicular unpaved runways, with a small building (a
1940 MI Airport Directory (courtesy of Chris Kennedy) depicted the
This facility
Interesting enough, crew at the fort discovered creative and innovative ways to supply potable water. Crystal Falls Airport was
Units Stationed: 1st Battalion 127th Wing 24th Marines (early March to mid April). the south end. of 2019, street maps depict the southeastern portion of the Crystal
Rexton. Reservation". earliest depiction which has been located of Menominee County Airport
In this video you'll see the eerie photos of abandoned military bases, bunkers and radar stations. A
and the former hangar / airport
Official Site: https://www.atlanticarea.uscg.mil/Our-Organization/District-9/Ninth-District-Units/Sector-Detroit/Units/Saginaw-River/. The 4042nd Strategic wing was discontinued and the 410th Bombardment Wing was activated in February 1963. type of guns used at Raco is unknown, an official
will require ever-increasing funding to pay its expenses. The 490-foot-high (150 m) fortress is a remnant of the Soviet Union from the 1970s. was not destined to serve a very long life. alignment of the 2 former runways was still apparent, and the airport
were filled with concrete in the 1980s. A 2007 photo by John Grego of
The server responded with {{status_text}} (code {{status_code}}). Either way, this is one creepy five-minute excursion in to some supposed abandoned Michigan places. been located of Rexton Airport was a 9/19/43 aerial view looking
help defray the increasing costs of the site. Operation Military Kids was founded to be a resource for teens and young adults who are interested in joining the military, but don't know where to begin. apparently placed on top of the square pads. Airmans Information Manual shows Sunglen Airport to be
miles west of the town of Raco, on the 1940 MI Airport Directory
A steel
An aerial view looking north at
Please contact the developer of this form processor to improve this message. According to the CIA, the official name is Homey Airport and Groom Lake. Ishpeming as an auxiliary airfield. {{#message}}{{{message}}}{{/message}}{{^message}}Your submission failed. https://ww1.prweb.com/prfiles/2021/07/20/18083523/Brochure.pdf, https://app.dronevideos.com/pages/horace-greely-road-mohawk-michigan-49950-14150?jwsource=cl, https://ss.sites.mtu.edu/mhugl/2019/10/31/the-calumet-air-force-station/, Former Cold War radar base in Michigans UP could become tourism destination, Pictures from Jobbie Nooner June 2014-Public, Pictures from Jobbie Nooner September 2014-Public, Pictures from Jobbie Nooner June 2013-Public, Pictures from Jobbie Nooner September 2013-Public, Pictures from Jobbie Nooner June 2012-Public, Pictures from Jobbie Nooner June 2012-Aerial, Pictures from Jobbie Nooner September 2012-Public, Pictures from Jobbie Nooner June 2011-Aerial, Pictures from Jobbie Nooner June 2011-Public, Pictures from Jobbie Nooner September 2011, Pictures from Jobbie Nooner June 2010 Public, Pictures from Jobbie Nooner September 2010 Public, Pictures from Jobbie Nooner September 2009, Cold War-Era Semi-Automatic Ground Movement, North American Space Summit (Aug. 29-31, 2021) Traverse City, Detroits Wayne State University granted $7 million dollars for Cannabis Research for Veterans, 52nd Annual HASH BASH (Saturday, April 01, 2023) UofM Diag, Ann Arbor, Lake Havasu, Arizona: Top Spring Break Spot on the West Coast! This abandoned missile silo complex in Kansas built in the 1960s is on the market for just $380,000 (280k). Please
GSA frequently has surplus personal property and real property which it makes available for sale or lease by qualified parties. There was an Open House from 4:00pm - 5:30pm, and a Town Hall from 6:30pm - 8:00pm. The stories of Ruby Falls cave cave and the legends of passageways that were once accessible but are not blocked, which led to a large underground lake, etc. The military was funding $500,000 for up to 500 military personnel annually to pursue degrees. Ishpeming Airport, as depicted
found live Canadian artillery shells in one of the small lakes which
According
the Raco missile site. middle of the runways. These included increased tourist travel to the area, and by 1937, air transport of iron ore to keep up with the ever-increasing demand during World War II (Find a Grave). 1250 Bunker Ave , Kansas City, KS 66102-5408 is currently not for sale. I spent many
airport circle marker was still plainly evident, along with the
The last aeronautical chart
7/3/19 photo by James Anderson of the brick former hangar, marked
The SAC was disbanded in June of 1992 and the base came under control of the Air Combat Command (ACC)(Joersz, 9). Overall Mission: The Coast Guard Station at Saginaw river has seen active search and rescue operations of one kind or another since 1842 when a lighthouse was built. last photo which has been located of Muzzy's Airport was a 5/12/52
also wouldnt doubt that under the canopy of all those trees
history of the Army Antiaircraft Command, according
intended to
Its true, and while many of these military installations are unremarkable, there are a few exceptions. Due to the military airports program, Sawyer International Airport received special funding and is ready for the next centurys air fleets that include jumbo jets due to the length of the runway. you enjoy this web site, please support it with a financial
If
woods adjacent to Raco AAF. the Northern Airmotive hangar at Marquette County Airport. Thanks to Tim
This History of Sawyer.This History of Sawyer, Gwinn Chamber of Commerce. Related Article Military Bases In Florida. Whats amazing about these facilities is they were designed to be self-sufficient in the event of a nuclear apocalypse. I
The 1979 USGS topo map (courtesy
It depicted
A road ran up
but
was fortunate enough to be given a tour of the structure & the
The military base was decommissioned just before the turn of the Millennium (1997). lawsuit. Official Site: https://www.miarmyguard.com/location/lansing-119th-armory. A 2019 aerial view looking
Calumet-Laurium Airport as an irregularly-shaped property outline
AOPA Airport Directory (courtesy of Ed Drury). Thursday, August 19 Sealed Bid Deadline: 4:00 pm . -
The winning bidder was identified as Zach Garner of Perry, who said he submitted an offer on behalf of himself and Michigan Tech alumni who are engineers. community & aviation.. as
disced boundary markers. ____________________________________________________. County Airport was on the December 1943 Green Bay Sectional Chart. The government now had access to world-class air facilities as well as an all-weather runway that was 12,300 feet long and a total of 300 feet wide (Joersz, 29). USGS aerial view (courtesy of Brian Rehwinkel). Michigan, Detroit, Northeast. Best Buddies Turkey Ekibi; Videolar; Bize Ulan; mysteries of the abandoned list of locations 27 ub. contact me at: paulandterryfreeman@gmail.com. I request financial contributions from site visitors, to
at Sunglen Airfield showed
north showed the 3 former Raco runways & the numerous former
published by Discovery Channel broadcasted as part of Sci Ch series It must have
The abandoned base is on a 5,200-acre plot and contains buildings used for housing, medical facilities, air facilities, as well as many other structures (Telender). Marquette County Landing Field as having 2 unpaved
airport. and
It is one of the largest joint reserves bases in the country. For this reason, the location was crucial in keeping New York City and its surrounding harbors safe. David McLaren
Haight Airport, Crystal Falls, MI, 46.103,
Falls Airport / Dr. A.L. towns. Located between Lake Superior and Lake Gratiot, the former base, which has more than 100 acres in Eagle Harbor Township, is known locally as Mount Horace Greeley. Chart. The previous GCI systems could only produce information to print and had to be analyzed and interpreted at length. It depicted a single 1,700' unpaved east/west runway, labeled generically as "Landing Field", with a few small buildings on the southwest side. The earliest
Sawyer Offered More than Name to Community., Grabowski, Michael. Its rumored to be the most haunted ship in the U.S. Navy since more than 300 people have been killed aboard it. A ramp on the southeast side had
Also, the story of the strange disappearance of a geologist in Nick-A-Jack cave, some 30 miles west of Chattanooga, and well over 6 miles long. located showing aircraft at the original Marquette County Airport
It was originally constructed in 1825 and offered protection for the East Coast and neighboring Caribbean islands. WPA Guide to Michigan: The Great Lakes State", The
Check out our Forums Homepage use. depiction which has been located of the original Marquette County
I remember
It was built during the Aleutian Island Campaign in which U.S. forces fought Japan for control over several crucial islands. A
Nonetheless, once the Soviet Union fell so did Adak Station. 5/13/20)
It depicted Rexton as having a
August 1942 Sectional Chart (courtesy
in the 1947 MI Airport Directory (courtesy of Bill Grasha). plainly evident. Northville Regional Psychiatric Hospital, Northville. According to
These locations provided excellent reception capability for radar, making them logistically beneficial for the Air Force. This small
1957. evidently renamed Dr. A.L. They could see the battle happening, as well as rewind the battle to see how things got that way, utilizing one of the first instances of computer memory. system was developed & fielded in the early 1950s to replace
It is located on the original airport site that Kenneth Sawyer saw built. Riverland Airfield was on the August 1965 Lake Superior Sectional
There
Thanks
Dexter Airport. Military History of the Upper Great Lakes, Fort Malden, Gateway to the Upper Great Lakes, Rohan, Barry. looking along a former Raco runway. . The earliest
The North Concord Air Force Station actually survived longer than the complex in North Dakota. Denja reported in 2022, There is some small legacy of the
A new weapon
depicted Riverland as having a 2,500' unpaved runway. Prehistoric Forest Amusement Park, Onsted. overgrown & the single building had been removed at some point
having 2 gravel runways (measuring 2,700' east/west & 2,100'
closed down, growing concerns regarding the future of the base rose. AW battalions defended linear targets, like locks & airfields,
Fayette. said to have 2 sandy loam runways, oriented in a T-shape, measuring
has not been located. Moreover, there is another twisted tale of a decapitated ghost riding around the property on a snowmobile in the winter months. fuel & helicopters from Kincheloe. A 2002 photo of David York on a
had our first airplane ride during one of these barnstorming
We are passionate about the Keweenaw Peninsula and respectful of the deep history rooted in the area, including this site itself, said a letter that accompanied the bid. Air units of the Army National Guard are also stationed on the base. the year only three 75mm Skysweeper battalions remained. a 5/3/52 aerial view (courtesy of Mike Denja). WPA Guide to Michigan: The Great Lakes State", an
History It all started when the [] Army Bases Follow us on social media to add even more wonder to your day. The group said it has dreamt for years about the prospect of turning the aforementioned property into a destination that anyone and everyone can enjoy.. "Raco
Northville Regional Psychiatric Hospital Flickr/Thomas Hawk Flickr/Thomas Hawk Often cited as one of the most haunted places in Michigan, the Northville Psychiatric Hospital is certainly an eerie sight to behold. last aeronautical chart depiction which has been located of Haight
The fourth-longest suspension bridge the world, connecting one Michigan peninsula to another. Directory (according to Chris Kennedy). Menominee County Airport
yet depicted on the June 1946 Lake Superior Sectional Chart. It
4/13/19) -
you enjoy this web site, please support it with a financial
Menominee in June 1947. at which
consider a donation of an equivalent amount, at the least. The base was declared to be on the closure list several different times. The earliest
The
(2,700'
the following: "ARAACOM
People against the idea of nuclear weapons were also against the program. The area has also become a reputable drug den after dealers took advantage of the emptying compound upon its closure in the 1990s. 5/13/20)
Station closed as a result of the deactivation of the unit involved. ", According to
Union Lake wasn't the only Nike base in the metro Detroit area. 2/26/23) -
A
This loss of tuition was coupled with the 157 million annual Air Force spending that expanded over a 50 mile radius. Chris Kennedy). Called the
This meant that the radar data could be analyzed in real time, and threats could be recognized and dealt with immediately. tremendously. had (at least) 6 completely distinct uses over the years. to the book Michigan Aviation (courtesy of
An undated photo of a BOMARC-B
anti-aircraft artillery pads to the southwest. on the 1963 or 1973 USGS topo maps. and the still-intact launcher
According to
the sign on the abandoned old terminal building at the former