Bangor Air National Guard Base

Bangor Air National Guard Base
Part of Maine Air National Guard (ANG)
Bangor, Maine
KC-135 of the 101st Air Refueling Wing at Bangor ANGB
Coordinates	44°48′51″N 068°49′51″W
Type	Air Force Base
Site history
Built	1927
In use	1953-Present

Bangor AFB

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Location of Bangor Air National Guard Base, Maine

Dow Army Airfield, July 1944. Note the former station facilities are on the south side of the airfield. These facilities were raised and a new Air Force Base built on the north side of the main runway (also rebuilt) about 1950.

For the civil use of this facility and airport information, see Bangor International Airport

Bangor Air National Guard Base is a United States Air Force base, located at Bangor International Airport, Maine. It is located 2.7 miles (4.3 km) west-northwest of Bangor, Maine.

Overview

The base is the home of the 101st Air Refueling Wing, Maine Air National Guard. The 101st provides 24 hour air and ground refueling for many aircraft whose destination takes them across the Atlantic. Gained by Air Mobility Command, the wing participates around the globe supporting USAF contingency operations such as Operations Noble Eagle, Enduring Freedom, and Iraqi Freedom. The Wing has operated KC-135 Stratotanker aircaft since April 1976 and is part of the Northeast Tanker Task Force (NTTF).

History

Bangor Air National Guard Base began as "Godfrey Field" in 1927, on land owned by local attorney Edward Rawson Godfrey (1877–1958). Commercial flights began at the field in 1931 under Northeast Airlines. Just prior to the Second World War Godfrey Field was taken over by the US Army Air Corps and was named "Godfrey Army Airfield" (Godfrey AAF).

World War II

Under USAAF control, Godfrey AAF was initially placed under the jurisdiction of the 8th Service Group, Air Service Command. It's initial mission was the maintenance and preparation of Lend-Lease aircraft bound for Great Britain, being transported by AAF Ferrying Command to RCAF Stations in Newfoundland. The civil airport was greatly expanded to include 3 hard-surfaced runways 7000' runways, aligned 01/10 (N/S), 08/26 (NE/SW) and a main (NW/SE) runway aligned 14/32 being constructed along with many hardstands and taxiways for the temporary parking of large numbers of aircraft during their stay at the airfield.

The name was changed to Dow Army Airfield in 1942. It was named after James Frederick Dow of Houlton, Maine who joined the Army Air Corps and was killed on June 17, 1940 in a training accident when the bomber he was piloting collided with another near Mitchel Field on Long Island, New York.

On 28 February 1942, with the United States entering World War II, Dow Field's mission was upgraded to that of being a springboard for the ferrying of B-17 Flying Fortress and, later, B-24 Liberator heavy bombers and other combat aircraft to the European Theater of Operations flying on the Great Circle Route. In addition, beginning in early 1943, it acquired the additional mission of training engineer aviation personnel and staging hundreds of 4-engined heavy bombers which arrived from throughout the United States and preparing them for the overseas flight to European and Mediterranean combat theaters.

On 5 March 1944, jurisdiction of Dow AAF was transferred from Air Service Command to Air Transport Command, being placed under its North Atlantic Wing. Over 8,400 aircraft passed though Dow in 1944, and approximately 2,150 in the last five months of the European conflict in 1945. After the end of the European war in May 1945, Dow was a stop on the return leg for aircraft returning to the United States, and remained part of ATC's North Atlantic Transport route for strategic air transportation between the United States and the United Kingdom.

The base was drawn down during the demobilization in late 1945, and placed in a standby status on 7 May 1946, being made a satellite base of Westover Field, Massachusetts.

Cold War

Air Defense Command

F-84G Thunderjets from the 14th Fighter Group

Although placed in standby status in 1946, Dow Field never was inactivated and the airfield continued to see ATC aircraft transit the field occasionally. First Air Force, Air Defense Command acquired jurisdiction from ATC in November 1946 and it activated the 14th Fighter Group at Dow, stationing P-47N Thunderbolts at the airfield. Assigned squadrons were 37th, 48th and 49th Fighter Squadrons. The 47th Fighter Group (later wing in August 1947) was one of the first USAAF groups assigned to Air Defense Command. The unit was responsible for air defense of the Northeastern United States.

In July 1947 the group deployed to Muroc AFB, California to conduct accelerated service tests with new F-84B Thunderjets prior to acceptance. First operational production USAF F-84Bs arrived at Dow AFB on 7 November; the last P-84B was delivered in February 1948. Throughout the winter of 1947/48 the 14th Fighter Group lost three F-84s at Dow. Findings indicated that the extreme cold weather at the base enhanced aircraft performance over what was found during testing in California, however as the temperatures moderated in the spring of 1948, accident rate remained high.

Dow Air Force Base was assigned to ADC's 26th Air Division on 25 August 1948 with the creation of ADC's first Air Divisions. Mission was daylight and fair weather defense of northeast United States from New York City north to Maine/New Brunswick border, shared with 52d Fighter Group (All-Weather) at Mitchel AFB, New York which flew F-82 Twin Mustangs for night and inclement weather operations.

In July 1949, the 14th Fighter Group sent sixteen F-84Bs to New York City for flyover display at newly-opened Idlewild Airport, however it was inactivated on 2 October 1949 due to budget cutbacks.

With the activation of the 14th FW in late 1949, the facilities at Dow AFB were greatly expanded and completely rebuilt. A long 11,000' jet runway was laid down parallel to the wartime main NW/SE main runway, and a permanent Air Force Base was built on the north side of the World War II and prewar facility. The former World War II base facilities were abandoned and later were torn down. Today they are a wooded area on the southwest side of the airport.

The new Dow Air Force Base was activated on 1 January 1951. The 4009th Air Base Squadron was assigned to the base to support the existing base facilities, and supervise the ongoing construction of the base facilities still not yet complete.

The first use of the new Dow AFB was during the Korean War, as the Maine Air National Guard was federalized and brought to active service at the base. The 101st Fighter-Interceptor Wing activated two F-80C Shooting Star interceptor squadrons (101st FIS, 132d FIS) which were placed under ADC's Eastern Air Defense Force. In 1952 with the ANG squadrons being returned to state control, ADC activated the 49th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron at Dow.

The ADC 32d AD also activated several Aircraft Control and Warning Squadrons (128th (WI ANG), 679th, 765th), which were Ground Intercept Radar units. These squadrons were formed at Dow, and later deployed to new radar stations being constructed in Maine which were equipped with long-range radars and then directed the interceptor aircraft at Dow to unknown aircraft which entered their coverage.

In September 1952, Military Air Transport Service at Westover AFB moved the 83d Air Transport Squadron (1600th Air Transport Wing) to Dow AFB. This was done primarily to relieve overcrowding. The 83d ATS operated C-54 Skymasters from Dow from September 1952 until the wing at Westover was inactivated in June 1955.

In November 1952, jurisdiction of Dow AFB was transferred from ADC to Strategic Air Command (SAC). The ADC units would remain at the base in a tenant status. the ADC 49th FIS transferred to the 4707th Air Defense Wing at Hanscom AFB, Massachusetts in November. They were repalced by the 75th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron which remained at Dow until April 1968

On on 8 January 1957, the Bangor Air Defense Sector was activated at Topsham AFS, Maine and took control of the ADC 75th FIS at Dow. On 1 June 1959, the 30th Air Defense Missile Squadron was activated 4 miles north-northeast of Dow, equipped with 28 IM-99A BOMARC surface-to-air missiles. The missiles remained active until 15 December 1964 when they were inactivated.

Strategic Air Command

The SAC 506th Strategic Fighter Wing was activated at Dow on 20 November 1952 and was assigned to SAC's Eighth Air Force. The wing composed of the 457th, 458th and 462d Strategic Fighter Squadrons and was equipped with F-84G Thunderjets. SAC was founded by men who had flown bomb raids against Germany during World War II. They usually encountered swarms of enemy fighters and knew the importance of having fighter escorts, so they had fighter wings placed under their own operational control. Although assigned to SAC, the group was associated with the ADC units at Dow.

The wing was deployed to Misawa Air Base, Japan between 13 August and 7 November 1953 to support SAC's rotational deployment of fighter units to northern Japan to perform air defense duties, relieving the 12th Strategic Fighter Wing. Under the self-supporting concept, the 506th SFW gained the KB-29P Superfortress 506th Air Refueling Squadron on 23 September 1953. The 506th ARS remained with the wing until 1 March 1955. Upon the wing's return to the United States, the 508th was re-equipped with new F-84F Thunderstreaks, in January 1954 becoming the first SAC fighter wing to be equipped with the swept-wing model.

The wing remained at Dow for just over a year until being reassigned to Second Air Force and was transferred to Tinker AFB, Oklahoma on 20 March 1955.

The fighters were replaced by the SAC Eighth Air Force 4060th Air Refueling Wing, activated on 8 March 1955. Equipped with KC-97 Stratotankers, the 4060th was a provisional organization with a mission to support B-47 Deployments to Europe and Morocco, with air refueling over the Atlantic Ocean. In addition, during the late 1950s, SAC extended the runway at Dow to 11,000' and alert pads were constructed at the 15 (Southeast) end. The runway became the longest east of the Mississippi River and was designed for B-52s.

On 15 February 1960, SAC established the 4038th Strategic Wing at Dow as part of SAC's plan to disburse its B-52 Stratofortress heavy bombers over a larger number of bases, thus making it more difficult for the Soviet Union to knock out the entire fleet with a surprise first strike. The wing consisted of the 341st Bombardment Squadron, consisting of 15 B-52Gs, and the KC-135-equipped 71st Air Refueling Squadron. Half of the aircraft were maintained on fifteen minute alert, fully fueled, armed, and ready for combat. SAC Strategic Wings were considered a provisional unit by HQ, USAF and could not carry a permanent history or lineage.

The 4038th SW was redesignated as the 397th Bombardment Wing (397th BW) on 1 February 1963 in a name-only redesigation and was assigned to SAC's Eighth Air Force, 6th Air Division. The 341st BS was also redesignated as the 864th Bombardment Squadron, one of the unit's World War II historical bomb squadrons. The 71st ARS designation was unchanged, and component support units were also redesignated to the 410th numerical designation of the newly-established wing.

The 397th Bomb Wing continued to conduct strategic bombardment training and air refueling operations to meet operational commitments of Strategic Air Command, including deployments to Southeast Asia during the Vietnam War. By 1968, Intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBM) had been deployed and become operational as part of the United States' strategic triad, and the need for B-52s had been reduced. In addition, funds were also needed to cover the costs of combat operations in Indochina.

The 397th Bombardment Wing was inactivated on 25 April 1968 and its aircraft were reassigned to other SAC units. As part of the inactivation, Dow AFB was closed, with most of the base was purchased by the city of Bangor and reopened the following year as Bangor International Airport.

Maine Air National Guard

That portion of Dow AFB not turned over to the city became the basis for the current Air National Guard Base and the Maine Army National Guard's Army Aviation Support Facility.

Dow became home to the 101st Air Defense Wing of the Maine Air National Guard, an ANG associate of Aerospace Defense Command (ADCOM) 36th Air Division at Topsham AFS, Maine. It operated F-106s until 1969, then changed to F-101B Voodoo interceptors from Dow until 1976. It was reassigned to be an associate unit of SAC, and was renamed the 101st Air Refueling Wing (101st ARW).

The wing was re-equipped with the Boeing KC-135 Stratotanker, which it continues to operate today and shares the civilian airport facilities. Currently, the 101 ARW is operationally gained by the Air Mobility Command (AMC).

Units Based at Dow Air Force Base

World War II

• 49th Pursuit Squadron (1942)
  • 2264th Standby Squadron (1942)
• 45th Bombardment Group (1942)
  • 867th Bombardment Squadron (1942)

Cold War

• 6th Air Division 1 April 1961-2 July 1966
  • 397th Bombardment Wing February 1963 – April 1968
• 14th Fighter Group (1946–1949)
  • 37th Fighter Squadron, Jet Propelled (1946–1949)
  • 48th Fighter Squadron, Jet Propelled (1946–1949)
  • 49th Fighter Squadron, Jet Propelled (1946–1949)
• 23d Fighter-Interceptor Wing (Detachment)
  • 23d Fighter-Interceptor Group (1959–1968)
    • 75th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron (1959–1968)
• 101st Fighter-Bomber Group (1951–1953)
  • 174th Fighter-Bomber Squadron (1951–1953)
• 341st Bombardment Group (1947–1949)
  • 490th Bombardment Squadron 1947–1949
• 506th Strategic Fighter Wing 1953-1955
• 820th Strategic Aerospace Division
  • 4038th Strategic Wing January 1, 1959 – April 1, 1961
  • 4060th Air Refueling Wing January 1, 1959 – February 1, 1960
• 4083rd Strategic Wing
• 4711th Defense Wing

Planes based here

• KB-29 Superfort Tanker ()SAC
• KB-50 Superfort Tanker () SAC
• KC-97 Stratotanker ()SAC
• KC-135 Stratotanker (?-1968)SAC
• B-52 Stratofortress (?-1968)SAC
• HH-43 Huskie Fire/Rescue () SAC
• KC-135R Stratotanker (2007–present)MEANG
• KC-135E Stratotanker (1984-2007 MEANG
• KC-135A Stratotanker (1976–1984)MEANG
• F-101B Voodoo (1969–1976)MEANG
• F-102A Delta Dagger (1969) MEANG
• F-89J Scorpion (1959–1969) MEANG
• F-89D Scorpion (1957–1959) MEANG
• F-94A Starfire () MEANG
• F-86D Sabre ()MEANG
• P-51H Mustang ()MEANG
• P-51D Mustang (1950)MEANG
• P-80C Shooting Star (1948–1950)MEANG
• P-47D Thunderbolt (1947–1948)MEANG

Missiles based here

• CIM-10 Bomarc
• AGM-28 Hound Dog

References

 This article incorporates public domain material from the Air Force Historical Research Agency

• Maurer, Maurer. Air Force Combat Units Of World War II. Washington, DC: U.S. Government Printing Office 1961 (republished 1983, Office of Air Force History, ISBN 0-912799-02-1).
• Ravenstein, Charles A. Air Force Combat Wings Lineage and Honors Histories 1947–1977. Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama: Office of Air Force History 1984. ISBN 0-912799-12-9.