The Air Force Air Defense Command activated the 74th Air Defense Missile Squadron on April 1, 1960 at this northern Minnesota installation. Because it was one of the last three BOMARC sites built, Duluth never deployed the liquid-fueled BOMARC A missile. Instead, engineers designed the installation to accommodate the solid-fueled B version. Thus, this base featured a Model IV type launcher shelter.
Operations began at this site with the BOMARC B missile in August 1961. The squadron was deactivated on April 30, 1972. In addition to hosting this BOMARC site, Duluth AFB hosted Air Defense Command interceptor squadrons as well as a SAGE site.