by Ted Stone
staff writer

The 692nd Radar Squadron reunion already has 160 people signed up for its Friday night fish fry, and local organizer Shelly Phillippe said she expects there are still more people who will attend the reunion, but haven’t signed up yet.
Although a number of people from the area will be there, Phillippe said that most of those coming to the reunion will be from other places, some from as far away as Brazil and Germany. This year is the 50th Anniversary of the opening of the airbase, so this reunion has a special significance for many people.
According to a history of the 692nd Squadron submitted to the Region, personnel at the base actually began to arrive in December, 1958, a few days before 1959 began. The first base commander, Capt. Marvin Northrup had arrived four months before that.
But the base officially began operations in 1959. Initially, Baudette AFS was one of 31 radar sites within the 30th Air Division based in Madison, Wisc. Together, the separate airbases watched over the northern tier of the United States during the Cold War. In addition to the radar towers, receiver and the transmitter sites were located a short distance from the main site.
The base began as a manual radar station, but as equipment improved through technological change, the role of the station changed. In the early 1960s the site was converted to a back-up interceptor control manual site. From the manual radar station it developed into what was known as a semi-automatic ground environment radar network that resulted in its conversion to a long-range radar base, providing the 23rd Air Division in Duluth with aerial surveillance and aircraft radio communications. In addition, the site was the North American Air Defense Command’s alternate command post.
About 1969 the site took on the responsibility of conducting air defense operations.  With new equipment and responsibilities came an increase in personnel, to almost 300 people. In April, 1970 the unit was re-designated the 692nd Air Defense Group.
In 1970 Canadian and U.S. Army personnel were assigned to Baudette AFS. Col. Hockney of the Canadian Forces was named the NORAD Center Commander. At its peak, there were approximately 285 military personnel and 40 civilians working at the base.
By 1974, some of the base’s technology had already become obsolete again and the radar station was reduced to a manning level of 130 military and 30 civilian employees. The 692nd Air Defense Group was also renamed the 692nd Radar Squadron at this time.
Personnel at the Baudette Air Base contributed a lot to the community. An open house was held every May. The precision drill team marched in parades and public events throughout the area. Many military personnel were active in town and in local organizations. Columns appeared in the Baudette Region about activities at the airbase.
The announcement that the base would close came in March, 1978. Maj. Stanley Zelenski was the airbase’s last commander. The power was finally turned off on July 1, 1979, so 2009 is both the 50th anniversary of the base’s opening and the 30th anniversary of its closing.
This weekend’s reunion begins on Thursday, with a get-together at 7 p.m. at the American Legion. Registration, with coffee and cookies, takes place Friday at the V.F.W. from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. The Fish Fry is at the fairgrounds Friday from 5 - 7 p.m. There will also be a happy-hour get-together at the Moose Lodge from 7 – 8 p.m.
Saturday morning will be devoted to working on the squadron float for the parade before taking in other Fourth of July activities.
A breakfast will be held at the American Legion Sunday morning from 8 – 11 a.m.
Phillippe said that anyone who hasn’t registered for the reunion yet should contact her at 218-634-1393 or 218-556-2495.