F-89H "Scorpion"

Brief History

The Northrop F-89H was a subsonic fighter designed to serve as an all-weather interceptor. It served during the Korean War and the early days of the Cold War. Both Minnesota squadrons flew the F-89 on active air defense missions beginning in the late 1950s. In January 1958, the 109th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron took over the F-89H all-weather interceptors of a deactivated Air Force squadron, along with the alert hangars that now house the museum. The 109th Fighter Interceptor Squadron at Minneapolis flew the F-89H in 1957-59, until its mission changed from air defense to air transportation flying the C-97s. The 179th FIS at Duluth to over the air defense mission from the 109th FIS and flew the F-89J from mid-1959 through late 1966.