STRATOSPHERIC BALLOON BASES IN THE WORLD

Minnesota

Fleming Field Airport, South St. Paul

 

A balloon launch from Fleming Field circa 1952

Fleming Field is a small airfield located in the city of South Saint Paul and managed by local government. Located less than 10 minutes from Saint Paul, now has a paved runway of 1000 meters.

Over the decade of 1950 and 1960 that airport was the main launch center for Winzen Research Inc. One of the most important companies devoted to the construction and operation of stratospheric balloons. The proximity to their headquarters in Minneapolis, made the ideal place for testing of new balloon models, as well as for technological flights and a number of scientific experiments.

In 1957, Fleming Field was the site chosen to launch the first manned flight of the MANHIGH program of the Air Force, commanded by Lieutenant Joseph Kittinger. According to our records the latest balloons flights from there dating from the mid 60's.

Currently, inside the installations of the airport, there is an important museum with a very prominent collection of WWII aircraft.

Table of balloons launched from Fleming Field Airport

DateHourFlight DurationExperimentPayload landing place or cause of the failure
6/12/1953 ---PAYLOAD UNKNOWN--- No Data ---
6/17/1953 ---PAYLOAD UNKNOWN--- No Data ---
6/22/1953 ---GOPHER--- No Data ---
7/9/1953 ---TOASTMASTER--- No Data ---
7/22/1953 ---PAYLOAD UNKNOWN--- No Data ---
7/27/1953 ---PAYLOAD UNKNOWN--- No Data ---
7/27/1953 ---PAYLOAD UNKNOWN--- No Data ---
8/10/1953 ---TOASTMASTER--- No Data ---
8/10/1953 ---SKYPAK (19 launches)--- No Data ---
8/10/1953 ---TOASTMASTER--- No Data ---
8/10/1953 ---TOASTMASTER--- No Data ---
8/10/1953 ---TOASTMASTER--- No Data ---
8/10/1953 ---TOASTMASTER--- No Data ---
8/12/1953 ---TOASTMASTER--- No Data ---
8/12/1953 ---TOASTMASTER--- No Data ---
8/12/1953 ---TOASTMASTER--- No Data ---
8/21/1953 ---TOASTMASTER--- No Data ---
8/21/1953 ---GOPHER--- No Data ---
8/28/1953 ---GOPHER--- No Data ---
8/31/1953 ---TOASTMASTER--- No Data ---
9/8/1953 ---TOASTMASTER--- No Data ---
9/9/1953 ---TOASTMASTER--- No Data ---
9/11/1953 ---PAYLOAD UNKNOWN--- No Data ---
10/2/1953 ---GOPHER--- No Data ---
10/5/1953 ---PAYLOAD UNKNOWN--- No Data ---
10/8/1953 ---TOASTMASTER--- No Data ---
10/12/1953 ---CERENKOV COUNTER + CLOUD CHAMBER--- No Data ---
10/16/1953 ---TOASTMASTER--- No Data ---
10/17/1953 ---GOPHER--- No Data ---
10/20/1953 ---TOASTMASTER--- No Data ---
10/20/1953 ---TOASTMASTER--- No Data ---
10/21/1953 ---TOASTMASTER--- No Data ---
10/24/1953 ---GOPHER--- No Data ---
10/24/1953 ---TOASTMASTER--- No Data ---
10/26/1953 ---TOASTMASTER--- No Data ---
10/27/1953 ---TOASTMASTER--- No Data ---
10/29/1953 ---GOPHER--- No Data ---
10/30/1953 ---GOPHER--- No Data ---
11/3/1953 ---GOPHER--- No Data ---
11/4/1953 ---PAYLOAD UNKNOWN--- No Data ---
11/5/1953 ---TOASTMASTER--- No Data ---
11/17/1953 ---TOASTMASTER--- No Data ---
11/17/1953 ---TOASTMASTER--- No Data ---
11/18/1953 ---TOASTMASTER--- No Data ---
11/30/1953 ---TOASTMASTER--- No Data ---
12/2/1953 ---TOASTMASTER--- No Data ---
12/6/1953 ---TOASTMASTER--- No Data ---
12/12/1953 ---PAYLOAD UNKNOWN--- No Data ---
12/13/1953 ---TOASTMASTER--- No Data ---
12/14/1953 ---TOASTMASTER--- No Data ---
12/14/1953 ---TOASTMASTER--- No Data ---
12/16/1953 ---TOASTMASTER--- No Data ---
12/16/1953 ---TOASTMASTER--- No Data ---
12/16/1953 ---TOASTMASTER--- No Data ---
12/17/1953 ---TOASTMASTER--- No Data ---
12/17/1953 ---PAYLOAD UNKNOWN--- No Data ---
12/19/1953 ---TOASTMASTER--- No Data ---
12/19/1953 ---TOASTMASTER--- No Data ---
12/20/1953 ---TOASTMASTER--- No Data ---
12/22/1953 ---TOASTMASTER--- No Data ---
12/22/1953 ---TOASTMASTER--- No Data ---
12/22/1953 ---TOASTMASTER--- No Data ---
12/30/1953 ---TOASTMASTER--- No Data ---
12/30/1953 ---TOASTMASTER--- No Data ---
5/6/1954 ---BARBERSHOP--- No Data ---
5/18/1954 ---BARBERSHOP--- No Data ---
5/25/1954 ---PAYLOAD UNKNOWN--- No Data ---
6/2/1954 ---BARBERSHOP--- No Data ---
6/4/1954 ---BARBERSHOP--- No Data ---
6/30/1954 ---PAYLOAD UNKNOWN--- No Data ---
6/30/1954 ---PAYLOAD UNKNOWN--- No Data ---
7/7/1954 ---ANIMAL CAPSULE--- No Data ---
8/24/195412:493 hBORON TRIFLUORIDE PROPORTIONAL COUNTER--- No Data ---
8/28/195412:554 hBORON TRIFLUORIDE PROPORTIONAL COUNTER--- No Data ---
8/29/1954 ---PAYLOAD UNKNOWN--- No Data ---
9/11/1954 ---BARBERSHOP--- No Data ---
9/22/1954 ---PAYLOAD UNKNOWN--- No Data ---
9/25/1954 ---BARBERSHOP--- No Data ---
9/26/1954 ---BARBERSHOP--- No Data ---
9/27/1954 ---BARBERSHOP--- No Data ---
10/9/1954 ---BARBERSHOP--- No Data ---
10/20/1954 ---BARBERSHOP--- No Data ---
10/20/1954 ---PAYLOAD UNKNOWN--- No Data ---
10/20/1954 ---PAYLOAD UNKNOWN--- No Data ---
10/20/1954 ---BARBERSHOP--- No Data ---
10/21/1954 ---BARBERSHOP--- No Data ---
10/21/1954 ---BARBERSHOP--- No Data ---
10/21/1954 ---BARBERSHOP--- No Data ---
10/21/1954 ---PAYLOAD UNKNOWN--- No Data ---
10/21/1954 ---PAYLOAD UNKNOWN--- No Data ---
10/23/1954 ---BARBERSHOP--- No Data ---
10/23/1954 ---BARBERSHOP--- No Data ---
10/27/1954 ---BARBERSHOP--- No Data ---
10/27/1954 ---BARBERSHOP--- No Data ---
11/5/1954 ---PAYLOAD UNKNOWN--- No Data ---
11/9/1954 ---TEST FLIGHT--- No Data ---
11/11/1954 ---PAYLOAD UNKNOWN--- No Data ---
12/3/1954 ---PAYLOAD UNKNOWN--- No Data ---
12/4/1954 ---PAYLOAD UNKNOWN--- No Data ---
12/20/1954 ---SKYPAK 130--- No Data ---
12/23/1954 ---SKYPAK 130--- No Data ---
4/22/1955 ---PAYLOAD UNKNOWN--- No Data ---
6/14/1955 ---STRATOLAB--- No Data ---
6/16/1955 ---STRATOLAB--- No Data ---
6/24/1955 ---STRATOLAB--- No Data ---
6/30/1955 ---STRATOLAB--- No Data ---
7/7/1955 ---CERENKOV-SCINTILLATION COUNTER--- No Data ---
7/18/19555:57 CST7 h 30 mCAPSULE15 Miles NW of Isabelle, South Dakota, US
7/19/19556:23 CST6 h 50 mCAPSULE30 Miles NW of IMiller, South Dakota, US
8/19/1955 ---STRATOLAB PROJECT TEST FLIGHT--- No Data ---
9/12/19556:45 CST16 hANIMAL CAPSULE10 Miles NW of Willmar, Minnesota, US
9/20/19556:15 CST+ 3 dANIMAL CAPSULEFailure of the separation system. Never recovered.
9/20/1955 ---PAYLOAD UNKNOWN--- No Data ---
9/28/1955 ---PAYLOAD UNKNOWN--- No Data ---
9/28/1955 ---PAYLOAD UNKNOWN--- No Data ---
10/25/1955 ---PAYLOAD UNKNOWN--- No Data ---
1/23/1956 ---PAYLOAD UNKNOWN--- No Data ---
2/3/1956 ---PAYLOAD UNKNOWN--- No Data ---
2/9/19568:36 cst12 h 44 mMANHIGH CAPSULE - INSULATION TESTPayload not recovered
4/20/19566:49 cst4 h 24 mMANHIGH CAPSULE - PARACHUTE TEST5 Miles NW of Austin, Minnesota, US
6/1/19565:23 cst~ 10 hHIGH ALTITUDE MAPPING-PHOTOGRAPHY2 miles N of Marcus, Iowa, US
6/29/1956 ---VUELO TRIPULADO--- No Data ---
7/6/1956 ---BARBERSHOP--- No Data ---
7/10/1956 ---BARBERSHOP--- No Data ---
7/26/1956 ---BARBERSHOP--- No Data ---
8/17/1956 ---CERENKOV-SCINTILLATION COUNTER--- No Data ---
8/21/1956 ---CERENKOV-SCINTILLATION COUNTER--- No Data ---
11/9/1956 ---BARBERSHOP--- No Data ---
3/17/1957 ---PAYLOAD UNKNOWN--- No Data ---
3/21/1957 ---PAYLOAD UNKNOWN--- No Data ---
4/14/19577:18 cst10 h 30 mMANHIGH CAPSULE TRANSPORTING ANIMALSSaginaw, Michigan, US
4/27/19576:50 cst4 h 14 mMANHIGH CAPSULE - PARACHUTE TEST4 miles of Webster, Winsconsin, US
4/30/1957 ---PAYLOAD UNKNOWN--- No Data ---
4/30/1957 ---PAYLOAD UNKNOWN--- No Data ---
6/2/19576:23 cdt~ 7 hMANHIGH I - (Kittinger)Near Indian Creek, Minnesota, USA
6/27/1957 ---PAYLOAD UNKNOWN--- No Data ---
7/1/1957 ---PAYLOAD UNKNOWN--- No Data ---
7/9/1957 ---PAYLOAD UNKNOWN--- No Data ---
7/10/1957 ---PAYLOAD UNKNOWN--- No Data ---
7/22/1957 ---PAYLOAD UNKNOWN--- No Data ---
7/23/1957 ---PAYLOAD UNKNOWN--- No Data ---
7/30/1957 ---PAYLOAD UNKNOWN--- No Data ---
8/10/1957 ---PAYLOAD UNKNOWN--- No Data ---
9/5/1957 ---PAYLOAD UNKNOWN--- No Data ---
9/5/195713:06 utc2 hIONIZATION CHAMBER + EMULSION PACK--- No Data ---
9/14/1957 ---PAYLOAD UNKNOWN--- No Data ---
10/27/195713:01 utc6 h 38 mMAIN PAYLOAD UNKNOWN + IONIZATION CHAMBER + GEIGER COUNTER--- No Data ---
11/10/1957 ---PAYLOAD UNKNOWN--- No Data ---
2/16/195814:10 utc / 8:10 local7 h 12 mCERENKOV + SCINTILLATION + GEIGER COUNTERSNear Vermillion, South Dakota, US
4/11/1958 ---PAYLOAD UNKNOWN--- No Data ---
5/28/1958 ---PAYLOAD UNKNOWN--- No Data ---
6/14/1958 ---PAYLOAD UNKNOWN--- No Data ---
6/17/1958 ---PAYLOAD UNKNOWN--- No Data ---
6/18/1958 ---PAYLOAD UNKNOWN--- No Data ---
6/19/1958 ---PAYLOAD UNKNOWN--- No Data ---
8/1/1958 ---PAYLOAD UNKNOWN--- No Data ---
8/13/19587:30 cdt10 h 50 mSKY-CAR (Schock - Winzen)1 mile SW of Ashland, Winsconsin, US
8/26/1958 ---SKY-CAR--- No Data ---
9/27/1958 ---SKY-CAR (Lewis - McClure)--- No Data ---
9/28/1958 ---SKY-CAR (McClure)--- No Data ---
10/18/1958 ---PAYLOAD UNKNOWN--- No Data ---
4/13/1959 ---PAYLOAD UNKNOWN--- No Data ---
5/16/1959 ---PAYLOAD UNKNOWN--- No Data ---
7/2/1959 ---PAYLOAD UNKNOWN--- No Data ---
7/11/1959 ---PAYLOAD UNKNOWN--- No Data ---
7/20/1959 ---PAYLOAD UNKNOWN--- No Data ---
8/11/1959 ---PAYLOAD UNKNOWN--- No Data ---
8/12/1959 ---PAYLOAD UNKNOWN--- No Data ---
8/12/1959 ---PAYLOAD UNKNOWN--- No Data ---
8/14/1959 ---PAYLOAD UNKNOWN--- No Data ---
8/15/1959 ---PAYLOAD UNKNOWN--- No Data ---
8/15/1959 ---PAYLOAD UNKNOWN--- No Data ---
8/16/1959 ---PAYLOAD UNKNOWN--- No Data ---
8/24/195913:28 utc9 hNEUTRON COUNTER--- No Data ---
9/11/1959 ---PAYLOAD UNKNOWN--- No Data ---
9/14/1959 ---PAYLOAD UNKNOWN--- No Data ---
10/4/1959 ---PAYLOAD UNKNOWN--- No Data ---
7/1/1960 ---PAYLOAD UNKNOWN--- No Data ---
7/1/1960 ---PAYLOAD UNKNOWN--- No Data ---
7/27/1960 ---SKY-CAR--- No Data ---
9/27/1960 ---PAYLOAD UNKNOWN--- No Data ---
9/30/1960 ---PAYLOAD UNKNOWN--- No Data ---
11/17/1960 ---PAYLOAD UNKNOWN--- No Data ---
6/16/19615:40 cdt14 h 2 mCLOUD CHAMBER10 miles SW Gettysburg, South Dakota, US
6/20/19615:00 cdt14 h 55 mCLOUD CHAMBER20 miles NNW of Wall, South Dakota, US
7/21/19615:21 cdt12 h 44 mCLOUD CHAMBERChreey Creek, South Dakota, US
7/25/1961 ---PAYLOAD UNKNOWN--- No Data ---
7/28/1961 ---PAYLOAD UNKNOWNAborted flight
10/15/1961 ---PAYLOAD UNKNOWN--- No Data ---
8/17/1962 ---PAYLOAD UNKNOWN--- No Data ---
8/21/1962 ---MAGNETIC CLOUD CHAMBER--- No Data ---
8/22/1962 ---PAYLOAD UNKNOWN--- No Data ---
12/12/1962 ---PAYLOAD UNKNOWN--- No Data ---
12/14/1962 ---PAYLOAD UNKNOWN--- No Data ---
12/21/1962 ---PAYLOAD UNKNOWN--- No Data ---
3/22/1963 ---PAYLOAD UNKNOWN--- No Data ---
5/15/1963 ---SKY-CAR II--- No Data ---
5/22/1963 ---SKY-CAR II--- No Data ---
5/24/1963 ---JUMP BALLOON--- No Data ---
5/30/1963 ---SKY-CAR II--- No Data ---
8/7/1963 15 h 25 mCLOUD CHAMBER--- No Data ---
8/20/1963 ---PAYLOAD UNKNOWN--- No Data ---
9/9/1963 ---PAYLOAD UNKNOWN--- No Data ---
9/14/1963 ---PAYLOAD UNKNOWN--- No Data ---
9/26/1963 ---PAYLOAD UNKNOWN--- No Data ---
9/27/1963 ---PAYLOAD UNKNOWN--- No Data ---
10/1/1963 ---MAGNETIC CLOUD CHAMBER--- No Data ---
6/13/1964 7 hSKY BRIGHTNESS MEASUREMENTS--- No Data ---
6/16/1964 7 h 30 mSKY BRIGHTNESS MEASUREMENTS--- No Data ---
7/21/1964 ---GAMMA RAY TELESCOPEBalloon burst at 37.000 ft. Payload recovered 2 miles NE of Prescott, Wisconsin, US
7/25/1964 ---GAMMA RAY TELESCOPEBalloon failure at launch
8/3/19646:58 CDT~ 4 hGAMMA RAY TELESCOPE40 miles NW of Pierre. South Dakota, US
9/2/19652:28 utcF 18 h 30 mFAST NEUTRON DETECTOR + EMULSIONS--- No Data ---
9/8/1965 F 13 hEMULSIONS--- No Data ---
9/8/196512:10 utc11 h 35 mHODOSCOPENear Long Lake, Minnesota, US
7/6/1966 ---TECHNOLOGICAL FLIGHT--- No Data ---
8/27/196612:00 utc10 h 30 mHODOSCOPE1 Mile E of Modena, Winsconsin, US
8/30/196600:21 utc23 h 55 mHODOSCOPE2 km NW of Benson, Minnesota, US
9/7/196600:02 utc23 h 33 mHODOSCOPE1 km E of Cable, Winsconsin, US
4/11/1967 ---BALLOON TESTBalloon failure
4/27/1967 ---BALLOON TEST--- No Data ---
6/3/1967 ---BALLOON TEST--- No Data ---
5/10/1968 ---BALLOON TESTBalloon failure
9/5/196812:04 utc6 hHODOSCOPE--- No Data ---
9/10/196811:37 utc11 hHODOSCOPE--- No Data ---
6/3/1970 ---TECHNOLOGICAL FLIGHTBalloon failure
8/31/1970 ---CREPE II (Cosmic Ray Emulsion Plastic Experiment)Aborted Flight
9/4/197019:15 cdtF 345 hCREPE II (Cosmic Ray Emulsion Plastic Experiment)20 miles W of Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada
9/30/1970 ---NYLON BALLOON TESTBalloon failure

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