Planes of Minot Past: The 5th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron and the F-106 Delta Dart

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Sean D. Smith
  • Minot Air Force Base Public Affairs
MINOT AIR FORCE BASE, N.D. --  Minot Air Force Base has been home to numerous units over the years, including the 5th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron, whose tenure lasted from 1960 to 1988, flying F-106 Delta Darts and later F-15s.

The F-106 was the Air Force's main interceptor for more than 10 years, though it was rarely referred to as the Delta Dart. The colloquial name for the F-106 was "The Six".

The purpose of an interceptor is to respond to and thwart incursions from enemy aircraft, primarily bombers. The F-106 was designed with the Tupolev Tu-95 in mind -- a long-range strategic bomber, and the Soviet answer to the B-52. An interceptor fighter is built with speed in mind so that it can catch and destroy larger, slower aircraft.

Interceptor aircraft had major strategic significance during the 1960s because of the changing technology dictating the dynamics of the Cold War at the time. There was tremendous fear of long-range bombers. After the 1960s, aircraft designed exclusively for the interceptor mission became rare. The Delta Dart was America's last dedicated interceptor. Its Soviet counterpart was the Sukhoi Su-9.

The Delta Dart did not have a smooth development. Problems with the ejector seat killed 12 pilots who attempted to eject. However, the F-106 was relatively cheap, and in a broad sense its performance was considered strong, which garnered it a measure of popularity.

The main theater of war open to the F-106 was Vietnam, but it never saw combat. The F-106 was continually updated during its service life, but was ultimately phased out and replaced by the F-15 Eagle in the early 1980s. Delta Darts were given to National Guard units, and retired toward the end of the decade.

Many retired F-106s were converted into drones to be used for training purposes with the Pacer Six Program. NASA also acquired several F-106 jets for research and testing aimed at improving fighter technology, and the Eclipse Program, which developed the concept of using aircraft to help launch spacecraft.

Once intercontinental ballistic missiles came into play, the strategic situation evolved. Long-range bombers were no longer the only, or even the main means of delivering a nuclear capable strike. Once American and Soviet nuclear armaments became effectively unstoppable, the reality of mutually assured destruction reduced the need for reactive interceptors, and created a need for new technology and tactics.

In 1988, the 5th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron was moved from Minot AFB to Vance AFB in Oklahoma, where it was re-designated the 5th Flying Training Squadron.