Raco Army Airfield

Military realignment and technological obsolescence. The site's primary mission was to support the CIM-10 BOMARC surface-to-air missile system. This system became obsolete as the primary Cold War threat shifted from Soviet bombers to Intercontinental Ballistic Missiles (ICBMs). The closure was part of a nationwide deactivation of BOMARC sites and a broader Department of Defense consolidation that included the closure of the nearby Kincheloe AFB.

The site is now a privately owned and operated automotive testing facility known as the Smithers Winter Test Center. The former runways and taxiways have been converted into specialized tracks for year-round vehicle, tire, and component testing, with a particular focus on winter and cold-weather performance on snow and ice surfaces. The original BOMARC missile launch shelters, though derelict, are still extant on the property and are a point of interest for historians. The site is private property and not open to the public.

Raco Army Airfield has significant Cold War history. Originally established during World War II as Raco Auxiliary Airfield to help defend the strategically vital Soo Locks, its most important role was from 1960 to 1972. During this period, it hosted the 37th Air Defense Missile Squadron (BOMARC). The base operated 28 nuclear-tipped CIM-10B BOMARC missiles, which were housed in individual concrete launch shelters and designed to intercept entire Soviet bomber fleets far from their targets. It was a critical component of the Sault Ste. Marie Air Defense Sector and NORAD's northern defense line. The airfield's long runway supported logistical operations for the missile site and served as a dispersal field for aircraft from Kincheloe Air Force Base.

There are no known plans or prospects for reopening Raco as a public or military airport. Its current, long-standing use as a private, secure automotive proving ground is a successful commercial venture. The infrastructure has been significantly modified for vehicle testing and is no longer configured or maintained to FAA standards for aviation purposes, making a return to airport operations highly improbable.