The Mickelsen Safeguard complex was deployed during the 1970's to defend the offensive Minuteman missiles based at Grand Forks Air Force Base in the event of a nuclear ICBM attack by the Soviet Union or China. Depending on the threat, the system could also provide a limited defense of a wider geographical area, including other offensive Minuteman missile fields as well as
civilian population centers <$. It was operational for approximately eight months.
The six sites that made up the complex are centered around the village of Nekoma, North Dakota, 100 miles northwest of Grand Forks.
(more....)
