Scott's USAF Installations Page

Trip Report: Live Free or Die

First published in 2012. Reformatted 2025.

We spent half of our nights on this trip in New Hampshire. We suspected the local residents were serious about their state motto when we learned that automobile insurance was not mandatory. Then we learned that seat belts are only required for those under the age of 18. Then we noticed state-controlled liquor stores at the highway rest areas. Yup, they are a different breed in New Hampshire! Just a reminder PIN means Permanent Installation Number and ILC means Installation Location Code; I include these for Air Force properties when I know them.

Sunday, 10 June 2012

We had a noon flight out of Denver, arriving in Manchester, New Hampshire, (on the former Grenier AFB) just in time to secure lodging before dinner. Our rented chariot for this excursion was a new Ford Mustang convertible.

Monday, 11 June 2012

From Manchester, we headed north for a long day of driving.

Lyndonville Air Force Station VT, PIN 3324, 44-39-54, 71-46-17. This Air Defense Command radar site was originally named North Concord AFS. It was also known as site M-103 and Z-103. It was active from approximately 1956 until 1963. Our visit was thwarted by a gate, signs, and a very large dog.
Gate

Burlington Municipal Airport VT, PIN 1519, ILC CURZ, 44-28-30, 73-09-00. This airport is now Burlington International Airport (BTV). During WWII the Burlington airport was improved under the Development of Landing Areas for National Defense (DLAND) program. The 1 May 1943 AAF Station List shows Burlington associated with 1 AF or Troop Carrier Command. In about 1952, Air Defense Command started operations at the airport. In approximately 1960, the Air Force property was transferred to the Air National Guard. Currently, the Vermont ANG still operates at Burlington, though on the other side of the airfield from the former ADC fighter alert area.
ADC fighter-interceptor alert hangar
ADC fighter-interceptor alert hangar
ADC fighter-interceptor alert hangar
ADC fighter-interceptor alert hangar
ADC fighter-interceptor alert hangar
ADC fighter-interceptor alert hangar
ADC fighter-interceptor alert hangar
ADC fighter-interceptor alert hangar, detail

Ethan Allen Air Force Base VT, PIN 1520, 44-30-00, 73-09-22. Located near the Burlington Municipal Airport, the former Fort Ethan Allen was transferred to the Air Force and designated Ethan Allen AFB in 1952. It provided base support facilities for the flying operations at the nearby airport. It was inactivated in 1960, and became the Vermont National Guard's Camp Johnson. Currently it has a mix of college and business uses.
General view
Pump house
Quartermaster storehouse
Water tower
Water tower detail
Water tower detail
Riding hall
Building
Building
Building
Building
Building
Building

St Albans Air Force Station VT, PIN 1454, 44-46-54, 73-03-49. This Air Defense Command radar site was in use from approximately 1951 until 1979. It was disposed of on 27 March 1984. It was also known as site P-14 or Z-14. We heeded the no trespassing signs on the access road.
Beginning of access road
Signage on access road
Housing area

We stopped in Montpelier, Vermont, for the night.

Tuesday, 12 June 2012

After this brief stay in Vermont, we drove east.

Mount Washington Icing Research Site NH, PIN 4975, 44-16-14, 71-18-12. This installation was on the highest peak in New England. There is still a weather observation station topside, along with accommodations for the throngs of tourists that visit when the weather is nice enough. I was greatly disappointed that none of the museum exhibits, signage, etc. mentioned the Air Force presence on site. Air Force icing research and jet engine testing started in approximately 1949 as the Climatic Projects Laboratory; by 1957 it was called Mount Washington Icing Research Annex, and when disposed of on 15 June 1964 it was Mount Washington Icing Research Site. My photos show the current buildings; some are post-Air Force but a couple of the older ones would have been familiar to Air Force icing researchers in the 1950s.
General view
General view
General view
General view
Tip Top House
Tip Top House
Stage Office
Stage Office
Air Force site may have been at the far left of this view
Navy hangar may have been at the left of this view
Cog train

Bangor Ammunition Storage Annex ME, PIN 2305, ILC FKNR, 44-46-35, 68-49-20. Located south-southwest of Dow AFB, a bridge was constructed to allow access from the main base to this storage area after Interstate 95 was built. The area has a mix of structures from the Air Defense Command and Strategic Air Command missions. This annex supported Dow Field, later Dow AFB, from WWII until base closure in July 1968.
General view
General view
General view
General view
General view
General view
Earth covered magazine
Earth covered magazine
Earth covered magazine door
Earth covered magazine detail
Earth covered magazine detail
Earth covered magazine detail
Multi-cubicle magazine
Multi-cubicle magazine
Multi-cubicle magazine
Multi-cubicle magazines
Elevated water storage tank
Water system building
Building
Building
Building
Building
Building
Building
Building
Building
Building
Building
Building

We settled into a hotel in Bangor, Maine, for two nights.

Wednesday, 13 June 2012

As we had arranged, my pal Dave showed up at half-past early to start our day. Dave is a history enthusiast specializing in Maine's Cold War military installations.

Presque Isle Air Force Base ME, PIN 1481, ILC NRCV, 46-41-30, 68-02-40. This was a WWII Army Air Field and later home to Air Defense Command fighter-interceptors. It was also home to the only operational Snark missile launch facility. It is now Northern Maine Regional Airport at Presque Isle (PQI). The steady rain limited my photo opportunities.
Snark missile hangar
Snark missile hangar
Snark missile hangar
Snark launch pad, now housing a fire training aircraft mockup
ADC fighter-interceptor alert hangar
ADC fighter-interceptor alert hangar
ADC fighter-interceptor alert hangar
Building
Building
Building

Caribou GLOBECOM Transmitter Annex ME, PIN 2286,46-51-05, 68-13-54. Located in the woods near Perham, this was a Global Communications transmitter site, supporting nearby Loring AFB, and activated approximately 1954. Some records suggest it was shut down in 1962, but communications enthusiasts report it was operational until the 1990s, possibly controlled by MacDill AFB FL after Loring AFB closed. I took very few exterior photos due to the pouring rain.
Building interior
Building interior
Building interior
Building interior
Building interior
Building interior
Building interior
Building interior
Building interior
Building interior
Building interior
Building interior
Building exterior
Building exterior
Building exterior
Building exterior
Building exterior
Building exterior
Building exterior

Loring Air Force Base ME, PIN 2283, ILC NRCH, 46-56-55, 67-53-30. This former Strategic Air Command base is now Loring International Airport (Private) (ME16). This is one of the few Cold War USAF airfields that did not have its start in or before WWII. Construction began in 1947, and the base was activated on 5 June 1950 as Limestone AFB. It was redesignated Loring AFB on 1 October 1954, and served until 1994. Due to the rain, my photos were shot from inside the truck.
SAC double-cantilever hangar
SAC thin-shell concrete hangar
SAC Hound Dog missile run-up shop
SAC Hound Dog missile run-up shop
SAC Hound Dog missile run-up shop, interior
SAC Hound Dog missile run-up shop, interior
SAC alert area
SAC alert area
SAC alert area
SAC 70-man "molehole" readiness crew building
Jet engine test cell
ADC fighter-interceptor alert hangar
ADC fighter-interceptor alert hangar
ADC rocket storage building
ADC rocket storage building

Dow Air Force Base ME, PIN 2300, ILC FKNN, 44-48-30, 68-49-35. The Bangor Airport was acquired for military use in 1940, becoming Dow Field. It was redesignated Dow AFB on 13 January 1948, and was briefly inactive between 1949 and 1951. On 1 July 1952 it was transferred from Tactical Air Command to SAC, and it stayed with that command until closure on 1 July 1968. At that time, part of the base was transferred to the ANG, who still use part of the base. Due to the present configuration of fences and gates, it is tough to get close to either the ADC fighter-interceptor alert hangar or the SAC "molehole" readiness crew building. The airport is now Bangor International Airport (BGR).
WWII hangar
WWII hangar
ADC rocket storage building
ADC rocket storage building
ADC rocket storage building
ADC buildings
ADC building
ADC building
ADC building
ADC building
Buildings

After a soggy but fun day, I said goodbye to Dave and hunkered down for a second night in Bangor.

Thursday, 14 June 2012

After a delicious truck stop breakfast, we packed up and headed south out of Bangor.

Mount Cadillac Air Warning Station ME, 44-20-50, 68-13-30. This WWII radar site was located near the current parking lot on Mount Cadillac, one of the main tourist spots in Acadia National Park. A real estate map shows the site consisted of four parcels of land, but that particular map does not indicate structures. I've estimated the approximate location of the air warning station.
General view
General view

Pease Air Force Base NH, PIN 4453, ILC SZDT, 43-04-40, 70-49-00. This was another Strategic Air Command base. It is now Portsmouth International Airport at Pease (PSM). During WWII, it was known variously as Portsmouth Airdrome, Portsmouth Airfield, and Portsmouth MAP. Built as a civil airport, during WWII it was improved under the Development of Landing Areas for National Defense (DLAND) program. In 1943 it was listed as a sub-base of Grenier Field, and in 1944 it was transferred to the Navy and briefly known as Portsmouth Outlying Field. It reverted to civilian use after WWII, and on 24 December 1952 it was designated Portsmouth AFB. It was redesignated Pease AFB on 7 September 1957, and served until 1995. At that time, part of the base was closed and became Pease International Tradeport; but much of the base was transferred to the ANG as Pease ANGB.
Aircraft shelters
SAC maintenance dock
SAC maintenance dock
Building
Building
Building

We checked in for two nights in a Portsmouth, New Hampshire, hotel.

Friday, 15 June 2012

From Portsmouth, we drove south for the day.

Rye Air Force Station NH, PIN 3313. Located on part of Fort Dearborn, this was an Air Defense Command long-range radar site also designated as M-104 and P-10B. Toward the end of its Air Force service it was known as Rye Gap Filler Annex, Z-108. It was in use from 1955 to 1965. I've selected some photos that show areas the Air Force likely used, though these could just as easily be included above as Fort Dearborn photos. Specifically, a radar antenna was mounted on the top of Battery 204. The stone building (now much enlarged) was used as a dormitory.
Battery 204 general view
Battery 204 top
Battery 204 top
Battery 204 top
Sugden House general view
Sugden House showing large addition

Pulpit Rock Fire Control Station NH, 43-01-59, 070-43-11. This small property housed a fire control tower (also called a base end station), support buildings, and an Anti Motor Torpedo Boat (AMTB) battery of four (two fixed, two mobile) 90mm guns, Battery AMTB 951.
Fire control tower
Fire control tower
Battery AMTB 951 gun emplacement No. 1
Battery AMTB 951 gun emplacement No. 1
Battery AMTB 951 gun emplacement No. 1 and fire control tower

After a leisurely drive down the coast into Massachusetts and back, we returned to Portsmouth for the night.

Saturday, 16 June 2012

We drove west out of Portsmouth, past Manchester.

Grenier Air Force Base NH, PIN 1023, ILC JQNZ, 42-56-00, 71-26-20. This was Grenier Field during WWII, and became Grenier AFB on 13 January 1948. It had been a civil airport before the war, and it reverted to that role after the Air Force departed in 1966 (though a portion of the property remained in AF use until the 1970s as Grenier Air Force Station). It is now Manchester Airport (MHT).
Pre-war airport terminal
Pre-war airport terminal
Pre-war airport terminal
Pre-war airport terminal
Pre-war airport terminal
Building
Building

After exploring the back side of the airport, we turned-in the car and started our return trip to Denver. We put 1,540 miles on the Mustang during the week.

Updated May 10, 2025

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