MINOT AIR FORCE BASE - A community drive to raise money for a B-52 model as a gift to Minot Air Force Base is "off and running," said Bruce Carlson, chairman of the Minot Area Chamber of Commerce's Military Affairs Committee.
"We've got donations totaling $11,000 so far. That's a good start," Carlson told committee members at the Oct. 4 meeting held at the Minot base.
The B-52 model would be a one-eighth scale model. It is being done to show appreciation to the Air Force.
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Eloise Ogden/MDN
The parade grounds at Minot Air Force Base, shown Thursday, is the site where a model B-52 bomber is planned to be located. The grounds are located across the street from the 5th Bomb Wing headquarters. The model B-52 would be a gift from the city to the base.
This year also is the 60th anniversary of the B-52 bomber. The last B-52 that came off the assembly line in 1962 50 years ago is assigned to Minot AFB.
The Military Affairs Committee's goal is to raise $75,000 for the project that would involve one or two large-scale B-52 displays with 32- to 36-foot wingspans. The cost would include installation.
A priority would be to have a model B-52 on base as part of the focal point of the base parade grounds, located across from 5th Bomb Wing headquarters.
Some people have also told The Minot Daily News they'd like to see the model B-52 installed outside the main gate of the base or at the Dakota Territory Air Museum in Minot so people who do not have base access can see the model B-52.
Donations for the model B-52 are being accepted from anyone interested in the project. Donations can be made out to "USAF Recognition Project" and sent in care of Minot Area Chamber of Commerce, PO Box 940, Minot, ND 58702 or delivered to its office at 1020-20th Ave. SW, Minot. For more information call the Chamber at 852-6000.