Scott's USAF Installations Page

Trip Report: Yoopers

First published in 2012. Reformatted 2025.

This was my first visit to Michigan's Upper Peninsula, or U.P. I dedicated a full week to this trip, and I could use another visit to see more of the sights. Just a reminder PIN means Permanent Installation Number and ILC means Installation Location Code; I include these for Air Force properties when I know them.

Sunday, 5 August 2012

I flew from Denver to Minneapolis-St. Paul, Minnesota. My rental car was a Chevy Cruze.

Osceola Communications Facility Annex WI, PIN 8456, ILC SNHA, 45-16-28, 92-38-00. This Air Defense Command communications annex, a ground-to-air transmit and receive facility, served Osceola Air Force Station. One of the stenciled signs on a door uses the acronym DECUF, which I'm told means Defense Conditions Under Fallout.
General view from gate
Building
Building
Building
Building door
Building interior
Building interior
Building interior
Building interior
Building interior

I stopped in Spooner, Wisconsin, for the night. This was a short day of 133 miles in 3 hours.

Monday, 6 August 2012

From Spooner, I headed northeast.

Naval Radio Transmitter Facility Clam Lake WI, 46-05-04, 90-55-01. This Navy communications site was the first half of the Extremely Low Frequency (ELF) transmitter system, used to send messages to nuclear submarines at sea. It was constructed in 1968 as Wisconsin Test Facility. In 1985 it attained initial operational capability and was redesignated Wisconsin Transmitter Facility. on 1 October 1989 it became fully operational (synchronized with NRTF Republic) and renamed Naval Radio Transmitter Clam Lake. The system was shut down 30 September 2004.
Gate
Former location of transmitter building
Possible Navy vehicle storage building
Possible Navy vehicle storage building, and former location of transmitter building

Calumet Air Force Station MI, PIN 1452, ILC CXJG, 47-22-16, 88-10-14. This Air Defense Command radar site was also known as P-16 and Z-16. In use since 1953, it was formally activated 31 October 1956, and used until December 1988.
Gate
Facility 99 - Water system building
Facility 100 - Water system building

I stopped in Ishpeming, Michigan, for the night. This day lasted 10.5 hours, covering 412 miles.

Tuesday, 7 August 2012

From Ishpeming, I doubled back to the southwest before heading east.

Naval Radio Transmitter Facility Republic MI, 46-20-10, 87-53-05. This installation became fully operational on 1 October 1989, transmitting in synchronization with NRTF Clam Lake. The system shut down 30 September 2004.
Gate
General view
General view
General view
General view
General view
General view

Raco Army Air Field MI, PIN 1706, 46-21-00, 84-48-50. This field had its start in WWII as Raco Airfield, and during the war it was sometimes listed as Raco Army Airfield. It was inactivated in 1944, but remained on the books in temporarily inactive status. On 13 January 1948 it was redesignated Raco Air Force Auxiliary Field, though it remained inactive until it was assigned to Air Defense Command on 1 March 1959. Shortly after that, it was renamed Kincheloe Air Force Missile Site and was home to BOMARC missiles. The property, renamed Raco Missile Site (ILC MERT) was disposed of 15 January 1973. Most of the land for the airfield was separated from the larger Fort Brady Target Range. That was an Army installation, with small arms ranges to the west of the airfield, that continued operation until 1962.
Access road
Airfield pavement
Airfield pavement
Airfield pavement
Airfield pavement
Airfield pavement
View toward BOMARC missile area from runway
View toward BOMARC missile area from runway
View toward BOMARC missile area from runway

I settled into a hotel in Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan, for two nights. This day was 9.5 hours long, covering 306 miles.

Wednesday, 8 August 2012

From the hotel, I started with some local sightseeing.

Sault Ste. Marie Air Force Station MI, PIN 1421, ILC UZLM, 46-27-26, 84-23-15. This Air Defense Command radar site was also known by the identifiers P-66 and Z-66. It was in use by 1952, formally activated 31 October 1956, and used until 1 October 1979.
General view
General view
General view
Sentry house
Operations building
Operations building
AN/FPS-35 radar tower
AN/FPS-35 radar tower
Radar tower
Administration building
Administration building
Dormitory
Dormitory
Building
Housing area

After a short day--66 miles--I spent a second night in Sault Ste. Marie.

Thursday, 9 August 2012

From Sault Ste. Marie I headed south, crossing the Mackinaw Bridge for some non-military sightseeing in the lower part of Michigan before heading to Escanaba, Michigan, for the night. This was an 8.5-hour day, covering 334 miles.

Friday, 10 August 2012

From Escanaba, I headed west into Wisconsin.

Antigo Communications Facility Annex WI, PIN 7183, ILC ALLW, 45-04-36, 89-13-40. Located about a mile away from Antigo Air Force Station, this Air Defense Command communications annex was a ground-to-air transmit and receive facility. My thanks to the property owner for allowing me access.
General view
Building
Building
Building
Detail

Antigo Air Force Station WI, PIN 1448, ILC ALLU, 45-02-53, 89-14-02. This Air Defense Command long-range radar site also designated as P-19 and Z-19. First use was June 1952, and it was formally activated 31 October 1956. It was inactivated 30 June 1977, and declared excess in 1979. Many thanks to Max for showing me around the property.
View from gate
General view
General view
General view
General view
General view
Facility 101 - Sentry house
Facility 101 - Sentry house
Facility 206 - Dormitory
Facility 209 - Bachelor Officer Quarters (BOQ)
Facility 209 - BOQ
Facility 212 - Communications building
Facility 303
AN/FPS-35 tower and height finder tower
AN/FPS-35 tower and height finder tower
AN/FPS-35 tower interior
AN/FPS-35 tower interior
AN/FPS-20 tower
AN/FPS-20 tower
AN/FPS-20 tower
AN/FPS-20 tower
AN/FPS-20 tower interior
AN/FPS-20 tower interior
Operations building
Operations building
Operations building
Power plant
Power plant
Water storage tank
Commercial telephone building
Heating plant
Supply / Base Exchange
Supply / Base Exchange
Commissary
Recreation building
Dormitory
Dormitory
Building
Building
Building
Building
Building
Building

Antigo Housing Annex WI, PIN 5227, 45-02-53, 89-13-51. This annex was adjacent to Antigo AFS.
General view

Antigo Water System Annex WI, ILC ALLZ, 45-00-30, 89-14-20. This annex had two water system buildings pumping water to Antigo AFS.
Both buildings
Both buildings
Facility 403 - Water system building
Building

I stopped for the night in Eau Claire, after driving 318 miles in 9.5 hours.

Saturday, 11 August 2012

I continued west from Eau Claire, heading back into Minnesota. This drive to the airport was 127 miles and took 3.5 hours. The Chevy Cruze averaged 36.5 miles per gallon on this 1,696-mile trip.

Updated May 10, 2025

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