Bangor Salutes Dow AFB
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The University of Maine DigitalCommons@UMaine Maine History Documents Special Collections 1964 Bangor Salutes Dow AFB Dow Air Force Base Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.library.umaine.edu/mainehistory Part of the History Commons This Book is brought to you for free and open access by DigitalCommons@UMaine. It has been accepted for inclusion in Maine History Documents by an authorized administrator of DigitalCommons@UMaine. For more information, please contact [email protected]. This is an unofficial publication, published by C. F. Boone Nationwide Publications, Inc., a private firm, in no way connected with the Department of the Air Force. Opinions expressed by the publisher and writers herein are their own and are not to be consid ered an official expression by the Department of the Air Force. The appearance of advertisements in this publication does not constitute an endorsement by the Department of the Air Force of the products or services advertised. MERCHANTS National Bank of BANGOR Merchants National Bank Broad St., Bangor Union at 14th, Bangor MEMBER F.D.I.C. Dow Air Force Base No. Main St., Brewer Quality Food and Service Open 6 Days 9am to l0pm Bangor Shopping Center General and Seiberling Tires KRAFT SYSTEM RETREADING FRONT END ALIGNMENT WHEEL BALANCING — BRAKES — MUFFLERS “Special Discount to Base Personnel” M. L. COFFIN CO., INC. TEL. 942-8289 725 BROADWAY BANGOR, MAINE Published by C. F. Boone Nationwide Publications, Inc.. 4007 Ave. A, Lubbock, Texas. Phone SHerwood 7-1624 INDEX Air Force Aid Society ____________________________________ 18 Recreation ______________________________________________ 21 Airmen's Quarters _______________________________________ 7 Recreation Supply _______________________________________ 21 Airmens Wives' Club _____________________________________ 27 Red Cross ______________________________________________ 19 Automobile Inspection ___________________________________ 12 Reenlistment _____________________________________________ 18 Bachelor NCO Quarters _________________________________ 7 Rod and Gun Club ______________________________________ 26 Bachelor Officer Quarters _______________________________ 7 Schools _______________________________ _________________ 19 Bangor Area __________________________________________ ___33 Service Club ____________________________________________ 26 Banking Facilities ________________________________________13 Service Station _________________________________________ 9 Barber Shop ____________________________________________ 9 Signing In ______________________________________________ 6 Base Exchange Services _________________________________ 9 Ski Club _________________________________________________ 26 Boats, Trailers, Parking _________________________________ 6 Sports Annex ____________________________________________ 9 Bowling ______________________ 21 Strategic Air Command _________________________________ 29 Cafeteria and Snack Bars ______________________________ 9 Swimming _________ 21 Capehart ________________________________________________ 7 Tailor Shop _____________________________________________ 9 Chapel __________________________________________________ 16 Taxi Service _____________________________________________ 13 Clothing Sales Store _____________________________________ 14 Tenant Units ___________________________________________ 32 Clubs ____________________________________________________26 Theater__________________________________________________ 21 Commercial Bus ___________________________________ ____13 Thrift Shop ______________________________________________ 18 Commissary ____________________________ 18 Toastmistresses ___________________________________________27 Credentials _____________________________________________ 6 Toyland _________________________________________________ 9 Credit Union ____________________________________________ 14 Traffic Management _________________________________ 12 Dining Facilities __________________________________________ 8 Trailer Parks ______ 7 Dow Pines _______________________________________________25 TransAtlantic Brides ______________________________________ 28 Dry Cleaners and Laundry _______________________________ 9 Transportation ___________________________________________ 12 Educational Services _____________________________________ 12 Uniforms and Dress ______________________________________ 9 Fairmount Terrace ______________________________________ 7 Vehicle Registration ____________________________________ 6 Family Services __________________________________________ 18 VOQ and VAQ _________________________________________ 7 Finance _________________________________________________ 12 Watch Repair _________________________________________ 9 Firearm Registration _____________________________________ 6 Women's Club _________________________ 27 Guest Housing ___________________________________________ 7 Youth Activity _________________________ _________________ 23 History of Dow AFB _____________________________________ 3 History of 397 Bomb Wg. ________________________________ 4 Hobby Shops ____________________________________________ 21 Hospital __________ 14 Housing _________________________________________________ 7 ID, Pass and Registration ________________________________ 6 Legal Services ___________________________________________ 9 Library __________________________________________________ 13 Living Accommodations _________________________________ 7 Locator _________________________________________________ 13 Main Exchange __________________________________________ 9 MARS Station ________________________ i__________________18 Mobile Units ____________________________________________ 9 NCOAGA _______________________________________________27 IMPORTANT TELEPHONE NUMBERS NCO Open Mess _________________________________________26 Ajrcraft Accident (Report) _________ 2305/2222 NCO Wives' Club _______________________________________ 27 Air Police _______________________________________ 2200 News Media ____________________________________________ 19 Base Locator Nursery _________________________________________________ 18 Duty Hours _________________________________ 2250 Off-Base Housing _________ 8 After Duty _________________________________ 2444 Officers' Open Mess _____________________________________ 26 Chaplain _____________________________________ 2100 Officers' Wives' Club___________ 27 Fire (Report) ____________________________________2333 Overseas Women's Club _________________________________ 27 Hospital (Emergency) _____________________ 2309/2525 Personal Affairs __________________________ 18 Motor Pool ______________________________________ 2124 Pet Control ________________________ 19 Officer of the Day ______________________ . 2444 Post Office _______________________________________________ 13 HEADQUARTERS 397th BOMBARDMENT WING (H) (SAC) UNITED STATES AIR FORCE DOW AIR FORCE BASE, MAINE Welcome to Dow Air Force Base. In its role as a Strategic Air Command heavy bomber base, Dow is one of the most vital and historic installations in the United States Air Force. Dow is located in the suburbs of Bangor, Maine and as such, is one of the eastern-most bases in the Continental United States. Because of the fact that a permanent change of station is most often a strange and confusing ex perience, probably the most important questions you have now are those concerning facilities that are available at Dow, the local community, the people with whom you will work and the machinery at your disposal to help minimize "settling in" problems. We hope the information contained in this guide will answer most of your questions and that you will find Dow and the city of Bangor a friendly community and that you will enjoy your tour here. EQUIPPED WITH B-26 light bombers during World War II, the 397th Bombardment Wing earned the Distinguished Unit Citation for action in Europe. 2 — Artist's Conception of New Gate for Dow. History of Dow AFB, Maine The origin of Dow Air Force Base dates back to When the 14th FW left Dow in October of 1948, August 19, 1923, when General “Billy” Mitchell landed the Maine Air National Guard began using the base as his flight of 26 airplanes, Martin bombers and DeHavi a training camp. Early 1951 saw the 101st FIW of the land scout planes, on the F. F. Rich farm, the present Maine Air National Guard called to active duty. At location of Dow. This was about two weeks before the this time the base was under the Air Defense Com famous bombing tests off the Virginia Capes, during mand. which Mitchell's bi-planes sank an obsolete ship in his In April 1951, the 132nd Fighter Wing of the Ne effort to get more planes. braska-Iowa Air National Guard was called to duty at General Mitchell told Bangor Rotarians that he Dow. This move also brought on a change of command saw a “great future for Bangor as an airdrome.” With from ADC to the Strategic Air Command. In January what was believed to be the entire strategic air force 1952, however, the base changed hands again, this time available at the time, the men of his command set up to the Tactical Air Command. temporary headquarters (tents) in the present Dow During June 1952, the 132nd transferred to Alex location and took-off on 22 August. Officers told local andria AFB, Louisiana and on July 1, Dow was again reporters that the Cooper Road Field (now Dow AFB placed under SAC as the 506th Strategic Fighter Wing location) was a superior field to the Boston Airport.