View source for K. I. Sawyer Air Force Base

{{for|the current civilian use of this facility and airport information|Marquette Sawyer Regional Airport}}
{{Use American English|date=December 2018}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2022}}
{{Infobox military installation
 | name                 = K. I. Sawyer Air Force Base
 | ensign               = [[File:Shield Strategic Air Command.png|70px]]
 | partof               = Strategic Air Command
 | location             = [[Marquette County, Michigan|Marquette County]],<br>near [[Marquette, Michigan]]
 | image                = Sawyer AFB - MI - 28 Apr 1998.jpg
 | image_size           = 250px
 | caption              = 28 April 1998
 | pushpin_map          = USA#Michigan
 | pushpin_label        = K.I. Sawyer AFB
 | pushpin_mark         = Airplane_silhouette.svg
 | pushpin_mapsize      = 250
 | pushpin_map_caption  = Location in the [[United States]]##Location in [[Michigan]]
 | pushpin_relief       = 1
 | coordinates          = {{Coord|46|21|13|N|87|23|43|W|type:landmark_region:US-MI_dim:5000|display=inline,title}}
 | type                 = Air Force Base
 | code                 = 
 | height               = 
 | ownership            = 
 | controlledby         = [[United States Air Force|U.S. Air Force]]
 | condition            = 
 | built                = 1944
 | builder              = 
 | used                 = 1955–95
 | materials            = 
 | demolished           = 
 | battles              = 
 | events               = [[Cold War]]
 | past_commanders      = 
 | garrison             = [[410th Air Expeditionary Wing|410th Bomb Wing]]
 | occupants            = 
}}
{{Infobox airport
 | name                 = Airfield information
 | FAA                  = 
 | IATA                 = 
 | ICAO                 = 
 | elevation-m          = 
 | elevation-f          = 1221
 | coordinates          = {{Coord|46|21|13|N|087|23|43|W|type:airport_region:US-MI}}
 | website              = 
 | r1-number            = 1/19
 | r1-length-m          = 
 | r1-length-f          = 12,366
 | r1-surface           = [[Asphalt concrete|Asphalt]]/Concrete
}}
{{Infobox settlement
 | official_name            = K.I. Sawyer AFB, Michigan
 | settlement_type          = [[Census-designated place]] (CDP) & [[Unincorporated area|unincorporated community]]
 | nickname                 = 
 | motto                    =

<!-- Images -->
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 | image_flag               = 
 | image_seal               =

<!-- Maps -->
 | pushpin_map              = Michigan#USA
 | pushpin_label_position   = right<!-- the position of the pushpin label: left, right, top, bottom, none -->
 | pushpin_label            = Sawyer AFB
 | pushpin_map_caption      = 
 | pushpin_mapsize          = 
 | image_map                = K.I. Sawyer Air Force Base (Marquette), MI location.png
 | mapsize                  = 250
 | map_caption              = Location within [[Marquette County, Michigan|Marquette County]]

<!-- Location -->
 | subdivision_type         = Country
 | subdivision_name         = United States
 | subdivision_type1        = [[U.S. state|State]]
 | subdivision_name1        = [[Michigan]]
 | subdivision_type2        = [[List of counties in Michigan|County]]
 | subdivision_name2        = [[Marquette County, Michigan|Marquette]]
 | subdivision_type3        = [[Civil township|Townships]]
 | subdivision_name3        = [[Forsyth Township, Michigan|Forsyth]] and [[West Branch Township, Marquette County, Michigan|West Branch]]

<!-- Government -->
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 | government_type          = 
 | leader_title             = 
 | leader_name              = 
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 | leader_name1             = 
 | established_title        = 
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<!-- Area -->
 | unit_pref                = Imperial
 | area_footnotes           = <ref name="CenPopGazetteer2022">{{cite web |title=2022 U.S. Gazetteer Files: Michigan |url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/2022_Gazetteer/2022_gaz_place_26.txt |publisher=United States Census Bureau |accessdate=August 16, 2023}}</ref>
 | area_total_km2           = 4.49
 | area_land_km2            = 4.43
 | area_water_km2           = 0.05
 | area_total_sq_mi         = 1.73
 | area_land_sq_mi          = 1.71
 | area_water_sq_mi         = 0.02

<!-- Population -->
 | population_as_of         = [[2020 United States census|2020]]
 | population_footnotes     = <ref name="Census 2020">{{Cite web| url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?q=&g=1600000US2643558&tid=DECENNIALPL2020.P1| title=P1. Race – K. I. Sawyer CDP, Michigan: 2020 DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171)| publisher=U.S. Census Bureau| access-date=August 16, 2023}}</ref>
 | population_total         = 3064
 | population_est           = 
 | pop_est_as_of            = 
 | pop_est_footnotes        = 
 | population_density_km2   = 691.21
 | population_density_sq_mi = 1789.72

<!-- General information -->
 | timezone                 = [[North American Eastern Time Zone|Eastern (EST)]]
 | utc_offset               = -5
 | timezone_DST             = EDT
 | utc_offset_DST           = -4
 | elevation_footnotes      = 
 | elevation_m              = 
 | elevation_ft             = 1158
 | coordinates              = {{Coord|46|21|13|N|87|23|43|W|type:landmark_region:US-MI_dim:5000|display=inline}}
 | postal_code_type         = [[ZIP Code]]
 | postal_code              = 49841 ([[Gwinn, Michigan|Gwinn]])
 | area_code                = [[Area code 906|906]]
 | blank_name               = [[Geographic Names Information System|GNIS]] feature ID
 | blank_info               = 2393067<ref>{{Cite GNIS|type=retired|2393067|K. I. Sawyer Air Force Base}}</ref>
 | blank1_name              = [[FIPS code]]
 | blank1_info              = 
 | website                  = {{URL|www.sawyerairport.com}}
 | footnotes                = 
}}

'''K. I. Sawyer Air Force Base''' is a decommissioned [[United States Air Force]] (USAF) installation in [[Marquette County, Michigan]], south of the city of [[Marquette, Michigan|Marquette]]. Near the center of Michigan's [[Upper Peninsula of Michigan|Upper Peninsula]], the base operated for nearly forty years and closed in 1995. The county airport, [[Marquette Sawyer Regional Airport]], now occupies a portion of the base and has scheduled airline flights and some general aviation activity.

The area of the former base is now an [[Unincorporated area|unincorporated community]] and [[census-designated place]] (CDP) for statistical purposes. The CDP is known as '''K. I. Sawyer''' and had a population of 3,064 at the [[2020 United States census|2020 census]],<ref name="Census 2020"/> up from 2,624 in [[2010 United States census|2010]]. It is located within [[Forsyth Township, Michigan|Forsyth Township]] and [[West Branch Township, Marquette County, Michigan|West Branch Township]] about {{convert|16|mi|km|1}} south of the city of [[Marquette, Michigan|Marquette]].<ref name=CENS>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/prod/cen2010/cph-2-24.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121019111423/http://www.census.gov/prod/cen2010/cph-2-24.pdf |archive-date=2012-10-19 |url-status=live|title=Michigan: 2010 Population and Housing Unit Counts 2010 Census of Population and Housing | date = September 2012|publisher = [[United States Census Bureau]]| work = [[2010 United States census]]| access-date = 22 July 2020|page=32 Michigan}}</ref>

==History==
The origins of K.&nbsp;I. Sawyer Air Force Base begin in the mid-1930s when Kenneth Ingalls Sawyer (1884–1944), a [[civil engineer]] and Marquette County road commissioner, desired to build an airport which would aid the development of the Marquette area.<ref name=mqmtrem>{{cite journal |url=http://www.comehometosawyerairport.com/PDFs/SawyerBackThen.pdf |journal=Marquette Monthly |title=Remembering Kenneth Ingalls Sawyer |last=Henry |first=Ragene |date=August 1995 |pages=6, 7 |access-date=May 23, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304195707/http://www.comehometosawyerairport.com/PDFs/SawyerBackThen.pdf |archive-date=March 4, 2016 |url-status=dead}}</ref> The one factor which most likely influenced the establishment and final location of the airport was the growing mining industry in the local area. As the demand for iron ore increased, the need for travel increased. By 1937, air service became a necessity, and [[Marquette County Airport|county airport]] was built between Marquette and [[Negaunee, Michigan|Negaunee]].

The population of the area continued to grow, and by 1940, Sawyer realized the new Negaunee airport could not handle the ever-increasing demands. In 1941, the superintendent of the county highway department stepped out of his role and presented a plan for a new airport. The most significant landmarks on his proposed site were a hill of sand and a wealth of [[blueberry]] patches. The board agreed with the idea. Shortly thereafter, the United States was drawn into [[World War II]]. Local concern for the protection of the [[Great Lakes]] inter-lake navigation [[Lock (water transport)|locks]] named [[Soo Locks]] at the trans-border area of [[Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan|Sault Ste. Marie]] prompted area citizens to propose that the [[United States Army Air Forces|U.S. Army Air Forces]] take over the new airfield. At that time, the proposal was shelved.

===K. I. Sawyer Airport===
Sawyer died in 1944, and the following year the airfield, consisting of a single airstrip, was completed and named '''K.&nbsp;I. Sawyer Airport''' in his honor. It was used by private fliers until 1948 when Nationwide Airlines became the first commercial airline to operate flights out of the airport. Nationwide flew shuttles to [[Detroit]] from Marquette, with stops in [[Escanaba, Michigan|Escanaba]], [[Iron Mountain, Michigan|Iron Mountain]], and [[Menominee, Michigan|Menominee]].

In February 1954, the U.S. Air Force announced plans to enlarge its forces, and new bases were needed. The government entered into negotiations with the county for Sawyer's lease, and offered to build a $12 million jet base which could be jointly used by the USAF and Marquette-area citizens. The major stipulation made by the government was no more than 300 landings per month could be made by civilian aircraft. In January 1955, a public meeting was held in the county courthouse to discuss the proposed lease. Many at this meeting voted to adopt a resolution urging the Marquette City Commission to accept the government's offer.

===K. I. Sawyer Air Force Base===
On 24 Jan 1955, the U.S. government signed a [[99-year lease]]. Almost immediately, construction of military support facilities began. About 850 people were employed during the construction of the base and another 262 were actively employed during the winter months. A letter from [[United States Secretary of the Air Force|Secretary of the Air Force]] [[Harold E. Talbott]] to [[United States Senate|U.S. Senator]] [[Homer S. Ferguson]] was printed in ''[[The Mining Journal]]'' and reported more than 900&nbsp;military personnel were to be stationed at K.&nbsp;I. Sawyer Air Force Base with an annual income in excess of $3 million. K.&nbsp;I. Sawyer Airport officially opened as a joint civil-military facility on 8 April 1956, and it was not long before the USAF proposed a $447,000 appropriation for construction of a civil airport in [[Negaunee Township, Michigan|Negaunee Township]], which would allow the Air Force sole use of the base.

USAF facilities constructed included a {{convert|12366|ft|m|adj=mid|-long|-1}}<ref>FAA records http://www.airnav.com/airport/KSAW</ref> and {{convert|300|ft|m|adj=mid|-wide|-1}} runway. Additionally, the region's wide open airspace offers ease of operations for an extremely safe and delay free air traffic setting. The official opening of K.&nbsp;I. Sawyer AFB occurred on 8 May 1959, at which time the airfield became a strictly military operation.

====Air Defense Command====
[[File:Air Defense Command.svg|left|100px]]
[[File:62d Fighter-Interceptor Squadron - Emblem.png|left|100px]]
[[File:87th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron - Patch.png|left|100px]]
[[File:62d FIS F-101 KI Sawyer 1960s.jpg|thumb|[[McDonnell F-101 Voodoo|F-101]] of the 62d Fighter-Interceptor Squadron on Alert during the 1960s]]
[[File:87th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron-TAC-F-106-59-0094.jpg|thumb|[[Convair F-106 Delta Dart|F-106A]] (59–0094) of the 87th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron in flight in the early 1980s. Note the [[Tactical Air Command]] emblem on the tail, replacing the squadron emblem.]]
Upon activation, K.&nbsp;I. Sawyer was placed under the Jurisdiction of [[Aerospace Defense Command|Air Defense Command]] (ADC) on 8 April 1956. The [[473d Fighter Group]] was activated as the host unit, under the ADC [[4706th Air Defense Wing]] at [[O'Hare International Airport]], Illinois.

The initial mission of the base was to act as a fighter-[[Interceptor aircraft|interceptor]] defense against an enemy [[Strategic bomber|bomber]] attack, the [[484th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron]] was activated on 8 June 1956, and authorized [[Northrop F-89 Scorpion|F-89D Scorpion]] interceptors, however the 484th FIS was never equipped or manned as much construction was necessary to bring the airport up to USAF standards for a military airfield. In 1957, civilian commercial operations from the base moved to a new Marquette County Airport erected at the site of the old Negaunee Airport. The first aircraft assigned to K. I. Sawyer were [[Convair F-102 Delta Dagger|F-102 Delta Dagger]]s from the [[438th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron]] at [[Kincheloe Air Force Base|Kincheloe AFB]], which were temporarily stationed at K.&nbsp;I. Sawyer during the summer of 1958.

On 8 November 1958 the [[Sault Sainte Marie Air Defense Sector]] (SsmADS) was established at K.&nbsp;I. Sawyer AFB. The ADC command and control organization's mission was to operate the [[Semi-Automatic Ground Environment]] (SAGE) Data Center (DC-14), which opened in 1959. The SAGE system was a network linking USAF (and later [[FAA]]) General Surveillance Radar stations into a centralized center for air defense, intended to provide early warning and response for a [[Soviet]] nuclear attack. SsmADS also supported the [[Antigo Air Force Station|Antigo AFS]] (P-19) and [[Calumet Air Force Station|Calumet AFS]] (P-16) ADC [[Ground-Controlled Interception]] (GCI) and warning stations

Further expansion of the base occurred in 1959 when the runway was extended to its final length at {{convert|12,366|ft|mi km|2}}. Prior to the expansion, ADC replaced the 473d Fighter Group with the [[56th Fighter Wing]], along with its [[62d Fighter Squadron|62d Fighter-Interceptor Squadron]], to Sawyer as the host unit. The 56th FW received its first aircraft, a [[McDonnell F-101 Voodoo]], in 1959, after the expanded runway was completed. The F-101s provided the SAGE unit with the required intercept and destroy capabilities that gave the base teeth.

In 1961 the 56th Fighter Wing was discontinued and the host unit at Sawyer became the Sault Sainte Marie ADS. In a reorganization in 1964, SAC assumed jurisdiction of the base and ADC phased down its presence to a tenant organization. The 62d FIS came under the command and control of the [[Duluth Air Defense Sector]] and the SsmADS was inactivated. Responsibilities for the SAGE system were switched to the Duluth ADS, (DC-10) or the [[Detroit Air Defense Sector]] (DC-06).

In 1969, Air Defense Command was redesignated as Aerospace Defense Command. In 1971, the 62d Fighter-Interceptor Squadron and its F-101B was replaced with a new squadron and aircraft. The new squadron was the [[87th Flying Training Squadron|87th Fighter Interceptor Squadron]] (87 FIS), the "Red Bulls," which flew the [[Convair F-106 Delta Dart|F-106A Delta Dart]]. The 87th maintained four [[Lockheed T-33]] aircraft to provide target support for the squadron interceptors, simulating Soviet bomber tactics. In addition, they flew [[NORAD]] radar evaluation and logistic support sorties.

ADC was disestablished in 1979 and all ADC aircraft assets were transferred to [[Tactical Air Command]] (TAC) under a sub-organization known as Air Defense – Tactical Air Command (ADTAC). The 87 FIS and their F-106 aircraft remained based and maintaining a 24/7/365 alert status at Sawyer AFB. The 87th was scheduled to convert to the [[McDonnell Douglas F-15 Eagle|F-15 Eagle]] in 1984. However, due to budget cuts the conversion was cancelled and the squadron was scheduled for inactivation on 1 October 1985 as the continental air defense mission in the United States was increasingly transferred to the [[Air National Guard]]. When inactivated, the 87th FIS was the second-to-last F-106 squadron on active duty.

On 4 September 1985, the last three F-106 Delta Darts from the 87th FIS departed K.&nbsp;I. Sawyer for [[309th Aerospace Maintenance and Regeneration Group|AMARC]] at [[Davis–Monthan Air Force Base|Davis-Monthan AFB]] at [[Tucson, Arizona]]. Most of its aircraft were later converted to QF-106 target drones and expended as aerial targets over the [[Gulf of Mexico]] as part of the "Pacer Six Program" during the late 1990s at [[Tyndall Air Force Base|Tyndall AFB]] in western [[Florida]] by the [[82d Aerial Targets Squadron]].

====Strategic Air Command====
[[File:Shield Strategic Air Command.png|left|100px]]
[[File:410th Air Expeditionary Wing.PNG|left|100px]]
The [[Strategic Air Command]] (SAC) became a tenant organization at K.&nbsp;I. Sawyer AFB on 1 August 1958 with the organization of the [[410th Air Expeditionary Wing#Strategic Air Command|4042d Strategic Wing]]. The 4042d SW was a [[Boeing B-52 Stratofortress|B-52H Stratofortress]] dispersal wing, a part of SAC's plan to disperse its big bombers over a larger number of bases, thus making it more difficult for the Soviet Union to knock out the entire fleet with a surprise first strike.

Before receiving the [[Boeing KC-135 Stratotanker|KC-135A]] [[Aerial refueling|tanker]] and heavy B-52H bomber aircraft of SAC, an all-weather, heavy-duty concrete runway was built, measuring {{convert|24|in|cm}} thick and {{convert|150|ft}} wide. It was extended in 1959 from {{convert|6000|to|12366|ft|-1}},<ref>World Wide Metric http://www.worldwidemetric.com/measurements.html</ref> overruns of {{convert|1000|ft|-1}}. There are also {{convert|75|ft|adj=on}} shoulders on each side of the runway, providing a paved width of {{convert|300|ft|-1}}.

The two operational units to be assigned later to this wing were the [[923d Expeditionary Air Refueling Flight|923d Air Refueling Squadron]] on 1 May 1960, and the [[526th Bombardment Squadron]] on 1 June 1961. The refueling squadron's first KC-135A aircraft arrived 4 August 1960, and the unit was declared fully combat ready in November of that year.
[[File:Boeing B-52H-140-BW (SN 60-0017) 061026-F-1234S-023.jpg|thumb|A Boeing [[Boeing B-52 Stratofortress|B-52H]] (SN {{nat|60-0017}}), the type assigned to the 410th Bomb Wing at K. I. Sawyer AFB]]
[[File:Boeing KC-135 J57 wet takeoff.jpg|thumb|A [[Boeing KC-135 Stratotanker|KC-135A]] taking off with [[Water injection (engine)#Use in aircraft|water injection]] to its [[Pratt & Whitney J57|J-57 engines]]]]
In April 1961, the 923d was inactivated and the [[46th Air Refueling Squadron]] organized and activated as a replacement unit. The first B-52H aircraft assigned to the 526th arrived at Sawyer in August 1961. On 1 February 1963, the 4042d Strategic Wing was discontinued and the [[410th Air Expeditionary Wing|410th Bombardment Wing]] (Heavy) organized and activated with no change in mission, personnel or aircraft. Also on that date, the [[644th Bomb Squadron|644th Bombardment Squadron]] was activated replacing the 526th, and the 46th Air Refueling Squadron was reassigned to the 410th. The majority of the wing's present support squadrons were also activated on this date as well.

On 1 January 1964, SAC assumed jurisdiction of Sawyer AFB, with the 410th Bomb Wing becoming the host unit under the [[4th Air Division|4th Strategic Aerospace Division]]. K.&nbsp;I. Sawyer was one of three SAC bases in Michigan that operated the B-52: the others were [[Kincheloe Air Force Base|Kincheloe AFB]] to the east, near [[Kinross Charter Township, Michigan|Kinross]], south of [[Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan|Sault Ste. Marie]], and [[Wurtsmith Air Force Base|Wurtsmith AFB]], in the northeast of Michigan's Lower Peninsula, near [[Oscoda, Michigan|Oscoda]].

The 410th and its subordinate units' mission was to operate at full readiness, and support activities included aircraft and vehicle maintenance, bombing crew and unit training, and air refueling support. The wing did not deploy bomber aircraft to Southeast Asia during the [[Vietnam War]], as the B-52H was dedicated to strategic deterrence. However, the tanker aircraft and aircrews participated in the "Young Tiger" [[Temporary duty assignment|TDY]] effort, and the bomber aircrews went through RTU (Replacement Training Unit) training to fly B-52Ds out of [[Andersen Air Force Base|Andersen AFB]], Guam and [[U-Tapao Royal Thai Navy Airfield|U-Tapao RTAFB]], Thailand and were active participants in many of the notable campaigns that took place in Southeast Asia, such as [[Operation Arc Light]].

One Sawyer KC-135A (61–0313) became famous throughout the SAC community as "the glider" when it ran out of fuel on a short final approach prior to landing at its home base after flying practice approaches at nearby Kincheloe AFB to complete requalification training. The flight crew, with the exception of the instructor pilot, bailed out when the engines went quiet. The instructor pilot, who remained on board, landed the aircraft just short of the runway overrun, bounced and rolled to a stop on the runway. The aircraft was repaired and returned to service quickly and even the crew entry door (which separated from the aircraft during bailout procedures) was returned to the USAF by a local farmer.<ref>46th Air Refueling Squadron Association {{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20170203172329/http://46thars.tripod.com/id26.html http://46thars.tripod.com/id26.html]}}  "Night of the Gliding Pig" entry by crew Navigator Joe "Hump" Heywood</ref>

Other aircraft assigned to K.&nbsp;I. Sawyer over the years included [[Kaman HH-43 Huskie|HH-43B]] and [[Bell UH-1 Iroquois|HH-1H]] rescue helicopters of the 48th and 39th Air Rescue and Recovery Wings at [[Eglin Air Force Base|Eglin AFB]], Florida at the K. I. Sawyer Helicopter (later re-designated Training) Annex, 14 March 1975 to 1 October 1977. SAC [[General Dynamics F-111 Aardvark|FB-111]] bombers assigned to the [[509th Bomb Wing|509th Bombardment Wing (Medium)]] from [[Pease Air National Guard Base|Pease AFB]] in [[New Hampshire]], on satellite alert at Sawyer in 1974 and 1975.

In the early 1980s, K.&nbsp;I. Sawyer's B-52s were modified to carry the new Boeing [[AGM-86 ALCM|AGM-86 Air-Launched Cruise Missile]] (ALCM). The ALCM was powered by a {{convert|600|lb|t|abbr=on}}. [[Williams F107|Williams F107-WR-100 turbofan]], which is fed by an inlet which folds out on the top of the missile. The B-52 could carry six AGM-86Bs on each of the two underwing pylons. In 1980, two B-52H crews assigned to the 644th Bomb Squadron (S-21 and S-31) were awarded the [[Mackay Trophy]] for "executing a nonstop, around-the-world mission with the immediate objective of locating and photographing elements of the [[Soviet Navy]] operating in the [[Persian Gulf]]." The Wing Commander at this time was Col G. Alan Dugard, a great leader and author of the 2011 book about the [[Operation Linebacker II]] missions of 1972, titled "When the Wolf Rises."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://naa.aero/html/awards/index.cfm?cmsid%3D187 |title=NAA: National Aeronautic Association |access-date=2013-09-30 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120222043251/http://www.naa.aero/html/awards/index.cfm?cmsid=187 |archive-date=22 February 2012 }}</ref>

===Closure===
In [[1993 Base Realignment and Closure Commission|1993]], the [[Base Realignment and Closure]] Commission of the [[Federal government of the United States|federal government]] ([[1993 Base Realignment and Closure Commission|BRAC 1993]])<ref>{{Citation
  | last = BRAC 1993 defenselink.mil Sec. 1 Pg 72
  | title = Brac 1993
  | year = 1993
  | url = http://www.defenselink.mil/brac/docs/1993com2.pdf
  | access-date = 30 March 2009 }}
</ref> recommended the base for closure.

The KC-135 tankers departed in October 1993 and the B-52H's were split between the two remaining B-52 bases, [[Barksdale Air Force Base|Barksdale AFB]] and [[Minot Air Force Base|Minot AFB]]; Sawyer's final B-52 left for Minot in November 1994.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://members.fortunecity.com/kisawyer/ |title=Mike's K.I. Sawyer AFB tribute |access-date=7 October 2004 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20041001013313/http://members.fortunecity.com/kisawyer/ |archive-date=1 October 2004 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

The last aircraft assigned to Sawyer were six [[Cessna T-37 Tweet|T-37 Tweet]] jet trainers of the [[71st Flying Training Wing]] assigned to "Accelerated Copilot Enrichment Program" in 1977 and were later assigned to the "Companion Trainer Program" under [[Air Combat Command]]. K.&nbsp;I. Sawyer AFB was officially closed at the end of September 1995.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.kishamuseum.org/New_website_files_grj/kisawyerhistory/kisawyerhistmenu.htm |title=K.I. SAWYER HISTORY |access-date=16 January 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080323172636/http://www.kishamuseum.org/New_website_files_grj/kisawyerhistory/kisawyerhistmenu.htm |archive-date=23 March 2008 |url-status=usurped }}</ref>

The closure of K. I. Sawyer had a major negative economic impact on the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. With 12,000 people, the base and the area around it functioned as the Upper Peninsula's second-largest city,<ref>{{Cite news|last=Binder|first=David|date=14 September 1995|title=Upper Peninsula Journal; Yes, They're Yoopers, and Proud of It|work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1995/09/14/us/upper-peninsula-journal-yes-they-re-yoopers-and-proud-of-it.html}}</ref> and the U.S. Air Force's annual spending in the region totaled $157 million. {{As of|1993}}, Marquette County was projected to lose 20&nbsp;percent of its economy.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Rohan|first=Barry|date=15 August 1993|title=Closing of Base in Upper Peninsula Casts Cloud Over Employment Gains|work=Chicago Tribune via Detroit Free Press|url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-xpm-1993-08-15-9308150125-story.html}}</ref> In the end, the closure led to the loss of 5,000 jobs and 14,000 residents.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Editorial|date=16 October 2018|title=Yoopers stand together against economic adversity|work=Marquette Mining Journal via Iron Mountain Daily News|url=https://www.ironmountaindailynews.com/opinion/editorials/2018/10/yoopers-stand-together-against-economic-adversity/}}</ref> {{As of|2016}}, the town around the base had a reputation as a troubled area with a slew of abandoned and boarded-up buildings.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Dawsey|first=Chastity Pratt|date=21 June 2016|title=Poverty in the UP: Down and out in purest Michigan|work=Bridge Magazine via MLive|url=https://www.mlive.com/news/2016/06/down_and_out_in_purest_michiga.html}}</ref>

===Legacy===
K.&nbsp;I. Sawyer was a favorite base among the SAC community. Although isolated and definitely northern, it was an attractive base for its pleasing [[Laurentian Mixed Forest Province|North Woods]] location and its proximity to outdoor activities off the base, including hunting, fishing, boating, and winter sports including [[Alpine skiing|skiing]] at [[Marquette Mountain]] (known as "Cliffs Ridge" before 1982), as well as the venues on site (base lake, ski hill, and others).

While the base was sometimes referred to as "K.&nbsp;I. [[Siberia]]" or "The Rock" and there was an abundance of [[lake-effect snow]],<ref name=sremflkp>{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=YhJQAAAAIBAJ&sjid=zlUDAAAAIBAJ&pg=5429%2C5617317 |newspaper=Ludington (MI) Daily News |agency=Associated Press |last=St. John |first=Paige |title=Snow removal fleet keeps Sawyer open|date=17 March 1989 |page=2}}</ref> it was not the bitter sub-zero temperatures and wind chills and hot summers of the tree-sparse [[North Dakota]] bases, or the confinement of the bases in the more established communities of the northeastern states. Locals maintained that the K.&nbsp;I. Sawyer runway was built over some of the best [[blueberry]] fields in the state. Berry patches remained on many other parts of the base, and families of aircrew members often picked them near the alert barracks and the family center.

A portion of the operational section of K.&nbsp;I. Sawyer AFB has been converted into [[Marquette Sawyer Regional Airport]], which opened its passenger terminal for service as Sawyer International Airport in September 1999. It&nbsp;replaced the smaller [[Marquette County Airport]], just southwest of Marquette, as the region's primary civilian airport.
[[File:Boeing B-52D Stratofortress at KI Sawyer AFB.jpg|thumb|A retired Boeing B-52 Stratofortress bomber outside on concrete pads as part of a static display collection of five aircraft, one unguided bomb and one [[ADM-20 Quail]] decoy cruise missile, commemorating the former K. I. Sawyer Air Force Base.]]
In recent years, a group of local citizens interested in preserving the historical significance of the base have collected six aircraft of the types used actively at various times through the base's history to be displayed near the airport. The program is known as the "Sawyer 6" project. The aircraft are part of the K. I. Sawyer Heritage Air Museum, which also has exhibits in the base's former Silver Wings Recreation Center.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Bleck |first1=Christie |title=Museum keeps air heritage alive |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/105300128/lansing-state-journal/ |access-date=July 9, 2022 |work=[[Lansing State Journal]] |agency=[[Associated Press]] |date=September 20, 2014 |page=7A |via=[[Newspapers.com]]}}</ref>

===Previous names===
* Opened as: K.&nbsp;I. Sawyer Airport, 8 April 1956
* Redesignated: K.&nbsp;I. Sawyer Air Force Base, 8 May 1959 – 30 September 1995

===Major commands to which assigned===
* [[Aerospace Defense Command|Air Defense Command]] (ADC), 8 April 1956
* [[Strategic Air Command]] (SAC), 1 January 1964
* [[Air Combat Command]] (ACC), 1 June 1992 – 30 September 1995 (Tail Code: "KI")

===Major units assigned===
{{Col-begin}}
{{Col-break|width=50%}}
* [[56th Fighter Wing]] (Air Defense), 1 February 1951 – 1 January 1964
** [[473d Fighter Group]], 8 April 1956 – 1 October 1959
*** [[484th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron]], 8 June 1956 – 16 February 1959 (not equipped)
* [[62d Fighter Squadron|62d Fighter-Interceptor Squadron]], 1 August 1959 – 30 April 1971
* [[87th Flying Training Squadron|87th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron]], 1 May 1971 – 1 October 1985
* [[Sault Sainte Marie Air Defense Sector]], 8 November 1958 – 15 December 1963
{{Col-break|width=50%}}
* [[410th Air Expeditionary Wing#Strategic Air Command|4042d Strategic Wing]], 1 August 1958 – 1 February 1963
** [[526th Bombardment Squadron]], 1 June 1961 – 1 February 1963
** [[923d Expeditionary Air Refueling Flight|923d Air Refueling Squadron]], 1 May 1960 – 1 April 1961
* [[410th Air Expeditionary Wing|410th Bombardment Wing]], later 410th Wing, later 410th Bomb Wing, 1 February 1963 – 30 September 1995
** [[46th Air Refueling Squadron]], 1 April 1961 – 8 October 1993
** [[644th Bomb Squadron|644th Bombardment Squadron]], 1 February 1963 – 21 November 1994
{{col-end}}

==Geography==
The [[elevation]] at the passenger terminal is {{convert|1190|ft|0}} above [[sea level]], about {{convert|600|ft|-1}} above [[Lake Superior]], {{convert|15|mi|km|spell=in}} north.

According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], the CDP has a total area of {{convert|1.73|sqmi|km2|2}}, of which {{convert|1.71|sqmi|km2|2}} are land and {{convert|0.02|sqmi|km2}}, or 1.21%, are water.<ref name="CenPopGazetteer2022"/> The CDP was previously much larger at the [[2000 United States census|2000 census]], encompassing {{convert|8.5|sqmi|sqkm|2}} until the [[Sands Township, Michigan|Sand Township]] portion was removed—leaving only the smaller portions within [[Forsyth Township, Michigan|Forsyth]] and [[West Branch Township, Marquette County, Michigan|West Branch]] townships.

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|1970= 6679
|1980= 7345
|1990= 6577
|2000= 1443
|2010= 2624
|2020= 3064
|footnote=<!--source:-->
}}

As of the census<ref name="GR2">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|access-date=2008-01-31|title=U.S. Census website}}</ref> of 2000, there were 1,443 people, 501 households, and 360 families residing in the CDP. The population density was {{convert|171.0|/mi2|/km2|disp=preunit|inhabitants&nbsp;|inhabitants}}. There were 1,659 housing units at an average density of {{convert|196.6|/mi2|/km2}}. The racial makeup of the base was 90.23% [[Race and ethnicity in the United States Census|White]], 0.69% [[Race and ethnicity in the United States Census|African American]], 3.47% [[Race and ethnicity in the United States Census|Native American]], 0.35% [[Race and ethnicity in the United States Census|Asian]], 1.18% from [[Race and ethnicity in the United States Census|other races]], and 4.09% from two or more races. [[Race and ethnicity in the United States Census|Hispanic]] or [[Race and ethnicity in the United States Census|Latino]] of any race were 2.15% of the population.

There were 501 households, out of which 55.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 45.9% were married couples living together, 19.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.1% were non-families. 17.8% of all households were made up of individuals, and 2.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.88 and the average family size was 3.27.

In the CDP, the population was spread out, with 38.5% under the age of 18, 12.3% from 18 to 24, 37.8% from 25 to 44, 9.1% from 45 to 64, and 2.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 25 years and for every 100 females, there were 92.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 93.0 males.

The median income for a household in the CDP was $26,550, and the median income for a family was $26,979. Males had a median income of $27,679 versus $18,333 for females. The per capita income for the CDP was $10,029. About 24.4% of families and 26.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 30.6% of those under age 18 and 31.3% of those age 65 or over.

==See also==
* [[United States general surveillance radar stations]]
{{Portal bar|Michigan}}
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==References==
{{Air Force Historical Research Agency}}
{{Reflist}}
* Maurer, Maurer. ''Air Force Combat Units of World War II''. Washington, D.C.: U.S. Government Printing Office 1961 (republished 1983, Office of Air Force History, {{ISBN|0-912799-02-1}}).
* Ravenstein, Charles A. ''Air Force Combat Wings Lineage and Honors Histories 1947–1977''. [[Maxwell Air Force Base]], [[Alabama]]: Office of Air Force History 1984. {{ISBN|0-912799-12-9}}.
* Mueller, Robert (1989). Volume 1: Active Air Force Bases Within the United States of America on 17 September 1982. USAF Reference Series, Office of Air Force History, United States Air Force, Washington, D.C. {{ISBN|0-912799-53-6}}, {{ISBN|0-16-002261-4}}
*  A Handbook of Aerospace Defense Organization 1946–1980, by Lloyd H. Cornett and Mildred W. Johnson, Office of History, Aerospace Defense Center, Peterson Air Force Base, Colorado
* Winkler, David F. (1997), Searching the skies: the legacy of the United States Cold War defense radar program. Prepared for United States Air Force Headquarters Air Combat Command.
* [http://www.radomes.org/cgi-bin/museum/acwinfo2x.cgi?site=%22K.+I.+Sawyer+AFB,+MI%22&key=KISawyerAFBMI&pic=KISawyerAFBMI&doc=KISawyerAFBMI Information K. I. Sawyer AFB, MI]
* [http://www.strategic-air-command.com/bases/K_I_Sawyer_AFB.htm Strategic-Air-Command.com]&nbsp;— K.&nbsp;I. Sawyer AFB history
* {{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20051118080647/http://www.kishamuseum.org/ K.I. Sawyer Air Heritage Museum]}}&nbsp;— base history

==External links==
* [http://www.sawyerairport.com/ Sawyer International Airport]&nbsp;— official site
* {{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20051118080647/http://www.kishamuseum.org/ K.I. Sawyer Air Heritage Museum]}}&nbsp;— home page
* {{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20041001013313/http://members.fortunecity.com/kisawyer/ Mike's K.I. Sawyer AFB tribute]}}
* [http://www.pasty.com/cam/2008/07/20/cameo/index.html Birthplace of the Center line, K.I. Sawyer as inventor]
{{US-airport-ga|SAW}}

{{Strategic Air Command}}
{{Aerospace Defense Command}}
{{Marquette County, Michigan}}
{{MIMilitary}}

{{authority control}}

[[Category:Installations of the United States Air Force in Michigan]]
[[Category:Semi-Automatic Ground Environment sites]]
[[Category:Installations of Strategic Air Command]]
[[Category:1944 establishments in Michigan]]
[[Category:1995 disestablishments in Michigan]]
[[Category:Military airbases closed in 1995]]
[[Category:Military airbases established in 1955]]
[[Category:Marquette County, Michigan]]