Not at posted coordinates! Be sure to check the logbook for the bonus codes!
The saga of the BUFF continues; one notable wing at which the B-52 was deployed is the 42nd Bombardment Wing (42 BW), Loring Air Force Base, Maine.
Loring was strategically located—the closest Strategic Air Command (SAC) base to the western Soviet Union and Europe. It’s not in Canada, but you can just about see Canada from there. Originally built as Limestone Army Air Field in 1947 (and later Limestone Air Force Base in 1950), it derived its early name from the nearby community by the same name. It was renamed in 1954 for a Medal of Honor recipient from the Korean War and Maine native, Major Charles J. Loring, Jr. Its incredible warfighting capacity kept it alive as a key defense asset for decades. Following the closure of the Gulf War, base closure plans deactivated Loring in 1991 and closed the base in 1994. Loring-assigned aircraft included the B-36, B-52, KC-135 tankers and others.
Loring was an especially notable base for a few reasons.
First, it was the second largest SAC base (14,300 acres—only Barksdale AFB was bigger). It was designed to support 100 enormous B-36 Peacemaker aircraft, so its hangar space, fuel capacity (highest in SAC in fuel storage capacity (9,193,374 gallons) and airfield (also second-biggest in SAC; ramp space was more than 1.1 million sq yards!). It boasted twin runways, one of three SAC bases so-equipped.
Another reason Loring was notable was its weapons storage. In fact, weapons storage capacity was 10,247,882 pounds NEW (Net Explosive Weight)--the highest in all of SAC. Loring was the first SAC unit to receive the new Short Range Attack Missile (AGM-69) on 1 March 1972, and was fully operational five months later.
In the early Cold War as today, nuclear weapons were a vital part of national deterrence policy. Nuclear weapons in the 1950s and 1960s were very large, cumbersome and difficult to maintain. Nuclear weapons then had nuclear material assemblies that were separated and fitted into the conventional explosive assembly casings for strike. Dedicated storage facilities were needed for the nuclear “capsules” and the conventional shells. Atomic Energy Commission (AEC) rules in those days required the nuclear material be kept separate from the conventional assemblies until “custody” was authorized by National Command Authorities (The President of the US). Such weapons before the early 1950s were stored by AEC, far from the aircraft which would carry it and following proper authorization issued custody to the US Air Force when the bomb could be assembled and prepared for strike. The process then was slow and cumbersome in a time when speed would be paramount.
The new construct was the highly-classified, so-called “Operational Storage Site” (OSS) or “Q-Area” (so-named for the level of security clearance required to enter). The OSS placed the bomb components on the air base which could be tasked for the strike. Loring was the first base to receive the Top Secret OSS (Site codenamed “Easy”), and it had the largest. Organized under the 3080th Aviation Depot Group, it had nearly self-contained support; a base within a base complete with a gym, library, dining facility and dorms. It had incredible security, electrified fences and underground secure “igloo” storage magazines. Known then as Caribou Air Force Station, or simply as “North River Depot” it rested just beyond the northeast corner of the enormous airfield. Today, its nuclear mission long gone, it is now Aroostook National Wildlife Refuge. The BUFFs at Loring were the first in SAC to assume a conventional bombing only mission in 1991.
Finally, training capabilities made Loring notable as well. Being remotely-located, airspace near Loring wasn’t congested, unlike most other New England bases. Loring was one base of four that had nearby government practice bombing range called a CERT (Conventional Enhanced Release Training). B-52's can do training bomb runs and drop practice ordnance in a CERT. Flight tactics in the Cold War suggested low-level flight during an air strike, and a key low-level flight training area entry point was just 165 miles from Loring AFB. In 1985, Loring was the first BUFF wing to receive the new AGM-84 Harpoon antiship missile.
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To find this cache, calculate the coordinates from the information in this listing.
N 48° AB.CDE W 101° FG.HIJ
A= Year Limestone AFB was renamed for Maj Loring XXXN, A=(N/2)
B= Year Loring was deactivated (not closed), XXXN B=(N-1)
C= Number of acres comprising Loring AFB, XN,XXX C=(N-0)
D= Fuel storage capacity, X,XXX,XNX gallons D=(N+1)
E= Ramp space on the airfield, X.N million sq yd E=(Nx8)
F= Total net explosive weight capacity of weapon storage, XX,NXX,XXX pounds F=(N-1)
G= Day in March 1972 Loring was the first SAC unit to receive the new SRAM, N March 1972, G=(Nx9)
H= Loring’s Operational Storage site, was organized under what Aviation Depot Group? NXXX H=(N-1)
I= How many bases had a CERT training range nearby? (number only) I=(Nx2)
J= Low-level flight training area area entry point was XNX miles from Loring? J=(N-5)
http://usafunithistory.com/PDF/3000/3080%20AVIATION%20DEPOT%20GP.pdf
http://www.strategic-air-command.com/bases/Loring_AFB.htm
https://www.loc.gov/item/me0311/
https://fas.org/man/dod-101/sys/smart/agm-84.htm
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Loring_Air_Force_Base
Dorr, R. & Peacock, L. (1995). Boeing’s Cold War Warrior: B-52 Stratofortress. London, UK; Osprey Aerospace.