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87th FIS

"Red Bulls"
K.I. Sawer AFB, MI

FIS Unit QuikLink F-106 On-Display @

Aircraft Assignment

87th FIS Links

Reunion '02 Mcmanus
Baravetto's 87th Page
87th Load Toads
Sawyer Six Project

37 F-106s were assigned the 87th FIS at two different locations: Duluth IAP MN from 30 Sept 68 to 01 May 71, and K.I. Sawyer AFB MI from 01 May 71 till 01 Oct 85.

The 87th FIS was activated in November 1952 at Sioux City Airport. It replaced the Indiana ANG's 163rd FIS with F-51D aircraft. In the fall of 1953 it transitioned into F-86Ds and in December 1954 the unit transferred to USAFE. The squadron was transferred back to ADC at Lockbourne AFB in April 1956, again with F-86Ds and subsequently F-86Ls a year later in 1957. The squadron transitioned into F-102As in late 1958 and in June 1960 the F-102s were exchanged for F-101Bs. In July 1968 the 87th was deactivated at Lockbourne, however, in September 1968 the 11th FIS at Duluth AP with F-106As was deactivated and re-designated the 87th FIS. In May 1971 the 87th FIS moved from Duluth AP to K.I. Sawyer AFB, MI where it remained until deactivation in 1985.

Bear Encounters

Nellis AFB TDY Gallant Eage 1980

87th FIS Hush House, 59-0066, Aug 1985, submitted by Thomas "Sammy" Hager, Jun 2003
Go to the J75 Engine Page

Last Home of the 87th Fighter Interceptor Squadron
BRIEF HISTORY OF K.I. SAWYER AFB

In 1954 the government entered into negotiations with Marquette County for Sawyer's lease. After several months of meetings and negotiations a 99 year lease was signed on January 24, 1955. Construction started almost immediately. Approximately 850 people were employed during the construction and several local contractors were involved.

On January 24, 1956 Lt/Col Robert L. Blocklehurst became the first commander of Kl Sawyer AFB. The runway was completed in 1957 and in 1958 25 F-102 Aircraft were sent TDY from Kinross AFB at Sault St. Marie to operate out of Sawyer for several months, while the runways at Kinchelo were being repaired and extended. The 62nd F1S from O'Hare airport Chicago was transferred to Sawyer and became an operational F-101 "Voodoo" squadron in 1959 after the runways at Sawyer were extended to 12,300 feet.

The Strategic Air Command became operational as a tenant unit with the assignment of a KC-135 Air Refueling Squadron first the 923 ARS and soon replaced by the 46th Air Refueling Squadron. The first B-52H arrived at Sawyer in August 1961 along with the 410 Bomb Wing. The Sault St. Marie Air Defense Sector (SAGE) continued in operation until September 1963 and in January 1964 control of the base was passed from the Air Defense Command to the Strategic Air Command leaving the 410 Bomb Wing as the host unit to date.

The F-101 equipped 62 Fighter Interceptor Squadron remained at Sawyer as a tenant unit until April 1971 when it was deactivated and replaced by the 87th Fighter Interceptor Squadron and its F-106 Delta Dart Aircraft were transferred from Duluth Municipal Airport Minnesota. The 87th F1S was deactivated and the F-106 aircraft left in 1985.

Other aircraft assigned to Sawyer over the years included H-43B and HH-1H rescue helicopters leaving in 1977. FB-111 aircraft assigned to Pease AFB New Hampshire were on satellite alert at Sawyer in 1974 and 1975. The last aircraft assigned to Sawyer were six T-37 jet trainers of the 71 FTW assigned to "Accelerated Copilot Enrichment Program" in 1977 and are presently assigned to the "Companion Trainer Program" under the 410 BW and the Air Combat Command.

Commander's aircraft (Toro 1)57-0231 sitting display at the 1979 K.I. Sawyer Air Show. 57-0231 crashed 2 years later in 1981.

87th FIS Commander, Col Harris, during William Tell 76. Submitted by his grandson Brendan Harris. Colonel Richard G. Harris: Commander, 87th FIS, 1976-78. This was his last command of a fighter squadron. After this he went to the Pentagon, in charge of security for all ANG Bases in the US.

Firing mission at Tyndall. 87th Instrument troops and the pilot, Captain Fred Simpson. The MSgt in the back is Bob LaMarche the Avionics' NCOIC. The civilian in the fore ground, is a Hughes tech rep, the infamous B.C. Quick, and the Instrument Troop is SSgt Lonnie Hurley who was the NCOIC Instrument Systems. (Thanks to Elmer Klein for giving me the names of these guys. Elmer was in the 87th from '73-'79 and worked for SSgt Hurley.)