Plattsburgh Air Force Base is a former United States Air Force (USAF) Strategic Air Command (SAC) base covering 3,447 acres (13.7 km²) in the extreme northeast corner of New York, located on the western shore of Lake Champlain opposite Burlington, Vermont, in the town of Plattsburgh, New York.
The base closed on 25 September 1995, pursuant to the Defense Base Realignment and Closure Act of 1990 (10 U.S.C. Sec. 2687 note) and the recommendations of the Defense Base Realignment and Closure Commission. It is now a civilian airport and industrial complex, operated by the Plattsburgh Air Base Development Authority. The airfield is now known as Plattsburgh International Airport.
Geography
The former air base is bordered by the city of Plattsburgh and the Saranac River to the north and the Salmon River to the south. It lies on the western shore of Lake Champlain on the New York-Vermont border.
History
Military Presence Before the Base
Plattsburgh was the third oldest military post in the United States. The U.S. has maintained a military presence at the site of the now-closed base since 30 December 1814.
In particular: On 30 December 1814, the Federal Government purchased 200 acres for the construction of the "Plattsburgh Barracks". In 1838, additional parcels of land were acquired and stone barracks were built to house the personnel. During the Civil War, Union troops organized and departed from the base. During the Spanish–American War, the 21st Infantry was transferred from Plattsburgh Barracks to Cuba in June 1898. The troops returned to Plattsburgh in September 1898. During the Interwar period, Plattsburgh Barracks was the home of the 26th Infantry Regiment of the "Iron first " division. In 1944, it was turned over to the United States Navy and became "Camp MacDonough", an indoctrination school for officers. After the World War II, from March 1946 to 1953, the base was used for college student housing for area colleges and extensions schools.
Plattsburgh Air Force Base (PAFB) In 1953, the site returned to the Federal government and Plattsburgh Barracks were renamed Plattsburgh Air Force Base. The USAF held a ground breaking ceremony for the new strategic base on 29 January 1954, and construction began immediately. The runway was completed and the first aircraft landed on 7 November 1955. However, operational facilities were not completed until 1956 due to several work-stoppages and severe winter weather.
Built during the Cold War, Plattsburgh AFB's runway is large enough to land the Space Shuttle. It was on a list of alternate landing sites for the Shuttle. Space Shuttle Columbia astronaut Michael P. Anderson, born at Plattsburgh AFB, was a USAF pilot at Plattsburgh AFB when he got selected by NASA in 1994.
Major commands to which the base was assigned: Strategic Air Command, 1954 – 1 June 1992 Air Mobility Command, 1 June 1992 – 25 September 1995
Major units assigned
308th Bombardment Wing (Wing existed on paper, but was non-operational) 373d Bombardment Squadron (Medium) 374th Bombardment Squadron (Medium) 375th Bombardment Squadron (Medium) 425th Bombardment Squadron (Medium) 380th Bomb Wing 26th Air Refueling Squadron (7 August 1957 – 31 July 1959) 310th Air Refueling Squadron (25 January 1967 – 1 October 1994) 380th Air Refueling Squadron (16 August 1956 – April 1961; 15 September 1964 – 1 October 1994) 528th Bombardment Squadron (11 July 1955 – 1 July 1991) 529th Bombardment Squadron (11 July 1955 – 25 June 1966 and 6 January 1971 – 1 September 1991) 530th Bombardment Squadron (11 July 1955 – 25 June 1966 and 1 July 1986 – 1 July 1991) (later 530th Strategic Bomber Training Squadron, Combat Crew Training Squadron) 531st Bombardment Squadron (1 May 1959 – 1 January 1962) 556th Strategic Missile Squadron: 15 September 1964 – 25 June 1965) 497th Air Refueling Wing (1 January 1963 – 15 September 1964) 26th Air Refueling Squadron (1 January 1963 – 15 September 1964) 380th Air Refueling Squadron (1 January 1963 – 15 September 1964) 820th Strategic Aerospace Division 556th Strategic Missile Squadron
Missile operations
Plattsburgh Air Force Base was designated as one of four major Atlas launching systems in the U.S., the only ICBM missile system deployed east of the Mississippi River.