The airport is home to Fargo Air National Guard Base and the '' Happy Hooligans '' of the 119th Wing ( 119 WG ) , a unit of the North Dakota Air National Guard that operates MQ-9 Reaper . The airport was the intended destination for the airplane carrying Buddy Holly , Ritchie Valens , and J.P. Richardson on February 3 , 1959 . The airplane crashed shortly after takeoff from Mason City , Iowa , killing the 3 musicians and the pilot
crashed shortly after takeoff
The Day the Music Died
Hector International Airport