TABLE OF CONTENTS People helping people ........................................... 1 History of Loring ................................................ 2 People ............................................................. 3-9 Pre-arrival planning ............................................ ..................................................................... 10 Climate 10 Road conditions ............................................ 10 Mileage ......................................................... 10 Reporting in ...................................................... 11 In-processing ................................................. 11 Getting paid ................................................. 11 Firearm registration ....................................... 11 Vehicle registration ........................................ 11 Housing facilities ............................................... 12 Family housing .............................................. 12 Floor plans ................................................... 13 Barracks ....................................................... 13 Commissary ...................................................... 14 Base Exchange ................................................... 14 Educational opportunities ................................. 16 Youth activities ................................................. 16 School system ................................................... 17 Nursery school .................................................. 17 Family services ................................................. 18 Clothing Sales ..................................................... 18 Library ............................................................ 18 Hospital ........................................................... 19 Dental care ....................................................... 19 Veterinarian ...................................................... 19 Chapel activities ................................................ 20 Dining Hall ...................................................... 21 Recreation ..................................................... 22-26 Swimming pool ................................................22 Aero Club ....................................................... 22 Golf Course .................................................... 22 Auto/Wood Hobby Shop ..................................23 Gym ...............................................................23 Bowling Center ................................................23 NCO Club .......................................................25 Officers' Club ..................................................25 Ski slope ..........................................................26 Base facilities .................................................... 27 Maine is ........................................................28-31 About the Cover Maine is known for skiing, ice skating, camping, fishing, snowmobi/ing and other sports. It MILITARY PUBLISHERS, 1021 W, Maple Street, P.O. is also known for its quiet and Box 12188, San Diego, Cal. scenic beauty as shown b y 92112 this photograph taken by SSgt. Telephone (714) 239-3835 Dennis Keener. LORING HOME OF THE 42nd BOMBARDMENT WING (HEAVY) In June, 1956, the wing's first B-52 Stratofortress arrived. The bomber force was trimmed to one squadron with movement of the 75th in 1959 and the 70th in 1966. In January 1955, the 42nd Air Refueling Loring Air Force Base occupies a 10,000 acre area in Squadron was activated. KC-135 Stratotankers replaced northeast Maine. It took seven years of planning and work its propeller-driven KC-97s in October 1957. The tanker to transform dense forests into a functioning Air Force fleet doubled with the arrival of the 407th Air Base. Refueling Squadron in July 1968. A stretch of land more than two miles long had to During its history, the wing has been chosen for be graded and filled so the large aircraft could have a many honors. In November 1956, four of its B-52s straight, level runway. flew nonstop to the North Pole and then around When the work was completed, the 42nd North America's perimeter to test the bombers' Bombardment Wing (Heavy) was activated here effectiveness. February 25, 1953, and entered its operational period as One year later, six wing B-52s flew a good will a unit of Eighth Air Force. With the activation of the mission to Buenos Aires, Argentina. wing came the 69th, 70th, and 75th Bomb The 42nd Bomb Wing was the first SAC organization to Squadrons. Three months later the first B-36 Peacemaker start a First Term Airmen's Council in January 1969 bombers began arriving. and the first to certify WAF force status controllers, six The base at this time was called Limestone AFB. On months later. Oct. 1, 1954, it was renamed Loring AFB in honor Presently, the 42nd Bomb Wing is engaged in of Maj. Charles J. Loring, Jr., a Portland, Maine, development of an operational capability with the new native. Major Loring, in a 1952 fighter-bomber mission Short Range Attack Missile (SRAM). The 42nd is the in Korea, dove his F-80 into an enemy gun first Air Force base to be equipped with the new emplacement. He was posthumously awarded the Medal weapon system. of Honor. PEOPLE TALK Any Air Base, no matter where it is located, is an accumulation of machinery, buildings and concrete runways. What transform a base into a living community is the people which make up that community. People give a base its own individual flavor, its personality. Loring is like other installations. Some like the base, others don't. But all get on with the job at hand, doing their own part in the overall mission. Therefore, no base guide is complete unless it highlights that most important resource of a community - its people. Sgt. James U. Baker, Motor Pool Driver 42nd Transportation Sq. "This is the first time my wife and I have been in a cold climate, and we're taking advantage of it. We're learning to ski and enjoy other winter sports. "We arrived in June from Puerto Rico and found it somewhat difficult to adjust to the chilling cold. When the first cold spell hit us, we were walking around all bundled up while others were still wearing short sleeves. But we've made the required adjustments. "Housing off-base is hard to find and what you do get for the money isn't all that great. We're renting a house in Limestone now, after living in Presque Isle. We're a lot happier now since we are close to the base, but it will be even better when we move on base. "One big advantage to living on base is that you have so much in common with your neighbors. This will be our first chance and we're looking forward to taking part in the Loring military community." Capt. Lanny R. Geib, Instructor Pilot 407th Air Refueling Sq. "I guess you might call me an old timer up here; I've been at Loring for over five years. Although I'm from Philadelphia, I don't like big cities. I do like camping, hunting and fishing, and this is ideal for that. Nova Scotia and the Maine coast are beautiful, and everyone should try to get to see them, as well as the other beautiful areas around. "Perhaps the best advice anyone could get is to not come here with a negative attitude. If the Air Force didn't need us here, we wouldn't be here, so it is up to us to make it with what we've got. The people here are fantastic, and there is a good c h a n c e f o r advancement because people are interested in your career." AlC Joyce E. Howell, USAF Hospital "I've been here 17 months and I still haven't gotten used to the snow. I'm from a little town in Mississippi called Sumral. They do have a lot of good winter sports here, but I'd tell anybody coming here to bring as many clothes as they can. "Really, Loring is okay. There are other places a lot worse than here. Off base shopping, though, is hard. Prices are higher and the quality is lower. The best thing to do is comparison shop." 4 Sgt. Paul H. Boisvert, B-52 Crew Chief 42nd Organizational Maintenance Squadron "Loring is a great place to be if you're the outdoor type. There are plenty of winter sports here like skiing, snowmobiling, ice fishing and camping. In the spring and fall, fishing and camping are really great. Hunting is also good. Recreation Services has most of the equipment that one needs for all these things. "I'm a B-52 crew chief and working on them in the winter is really hard work. Because of the extreme winter temperatures, we alternate, working only about five minutes at a time in the cold, especially when it's minus 12 or below. There are also times when the wind and snow are blowing so hard that we don't work at all. "During the summer it's not bad at all since it seldom gets very hot. In fact, it's rather nice. I've been here a little over two years and really enjoy it, but you have to look for the recreation. It just doesn't come looking for you." CMSgt. William S. Van Evera, Sergeant Major 42nd Bomb Wing "How many people really give the base a fair chance? Before they ever get here they make up their minds they're not going to like it. As soon as they get here they put in their paper work to go somewhere else, like another stateside base or somewhere overseas. "Oh sure, people are going to have problems getting used to this, or any other base, but the only way to work it out is to solve the problems. "Anytime a person has a problem, they can come to me I and we'll sit down together, discuss whatever is bothering them, and come up with a workable solution. If people take the time to communicate, then we can get