During the height of the Cold War, the base famously went on high alert when a bear climbing a security fence triggered an alarm. This nearly caused the launch of nuclear-armed interceptors before the source of the breach was identified.
❌ ✅ No, SAC left in 1960. The current mission is air superiority and precision strike.
Active-duty Air Force operations ended in 1983 , and the base transitioned to the Minnesota Air National Guard , which remains its primary occupant today. The 148th Fighter Wing: "The Bulldogs"
The primary identity of the Duluth base today is its SEAD mission. The pilots of the 148th Fighter Wing are trained to hunt down and destroy enemy surface-to-air missile (SAM) sites. This clears the path for other aircraft—bombers, transports, and other fighters—to operate safely.