The establishment of then-Limestone Air Force Base in 1947 was a watershed moment in United States Air Force history, with the air base designed and constructed as a “superbase,” able to support and arm America’s largest bomber, the B-36 Peacemaker. In 1953, the base was renamed after Major Charles J. Loring, Jr., a Korean War Medal of Honor recipient from the state of Maine. As the United States nuclear arsenal advanced over the decades, the men and women of the 42d Bombardment Wing at Loring AFB operated cutting-edge equipment and weaponry like the B-52 Stratofortress, KC-135 Stratotanker, and the AGM-69A Short Range Attack Missile. Loring members fought valiantly during the Vietnam War and the Gulf War, repurposing a strategic nuclear force into global power assets during conventional conflicts.
Changing global politics saw the inactivation of the base in 1994, with the land transitioning to public open spaces and an international airport among other activities. This volume encapsulates the history of Strategic Air Command’s first “superbase” and the activities of the men, women, and children of Loring AFB.