View source for Plattsburgh Air Force Base

{{redirect|PAFB|the military airport in Alaska with that ICAO code|Ladd Army Airfield}}
{{Use American English|date=October 2019}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2023}}
{{Infobox airport
| name         = Plattsburgh Air Force Base
| nativename   = 
| nativename-a = 
| nativename-r = 
| image        = Plattsburgh AFB NY - 4 may 1994.jpg
| image-width  = 300
| caption      = [[USGS]] aerial photo as of 4 May 1994
| image2       = Shield Strategic Air Command.png
| image2-width = 70
| caption2     = 
| IATA         = PBG
| ICAO         = KPBG
| FAA          = 
| TC           = 
| LID          = 
| GPS          = 
| WMO          = 
| type         = 
| owner-oper   = 
| owner        = [[United States Air Force]]
| operator     = 
| city-served  = 
| location     = [[Plattsburgh (town), New York|Town of Plattsburgh]], near [[Plattsburgh (city), New York|Plattsburgh]], New York
| hub          = 
| built        = 1954–1955
| used         = 1955–1995
| commander    = 
| occupants    = [[United States Air Force]]
| metric-elev  = 
| elevation-f  = 234
| elevation-m  = 71
| coordinates  = {{Coord|44|39|14|N|073|27|56|W|region:US_type:airport|display=inline, title}}
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| pushpin_map            = New York
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| r1-number    = 17/35
| r1-length-f  = 11,758
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'''Plattsburgh Air Force Base''' is a former [[United States Air Force]] (USAF) [[Strategic Air Command]] (SAC) base covering 3,447 acres (13.7&nbsp;km{{sup|2}}) in the extreme northeast corner of New York, located on the western shore of [[Lake Champlain]] opposite [[Burlington, Vermont]], in the town of [[Plattsburgh (town), New York|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 [[Plattsburgh (town), New York|city of Plattsburgh]] and the [[Saranac River]] to the north and the [[Salmon River (New York)|Salmon River]] to the south. It lies on the western shore of Lake Champlain on the New York-Vermont border.<ref name="ATSDR" />

==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.<ref name=SAC>{{cite web|title=SAC Bases: Plattsburgh AFB|url=http://www.strategic-air-command.com/bases/Plattsburgh_AFB.htm|publisher=Marvin T. Broyhill|access-date=11 March 2016|year=2016|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160306134337/http://www.strategic-air-command.com/bases/Plattsburgh_AFB.htm|archive-date=6 March 2016}}</ref>

In particular:<ref name="SAC"/> 
* 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 (United States)|Civil War]], [[Union Army|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 [[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.<ref name="SAC" />

[[File:F-4Ds 134th TFS Vermont ANG 1984.JPEG|thumb|[[F-4D Phantom II]]s from the [[134th Tactical Fighter Squadron]] of the [[Vermont Air National Guard]] at Plattsburgh AFB]]
Built during the [[Cold War]], Plattsburgh AFB's runway is large enough to land the [[Space Shuttle]]. It was on a list of [[List of Space Shuttle landing sites|alternate landing sites]] for the Shuttle.<ref name=Schumer>{{cite web|title=Schumer Urges Airbus To Pick New York Facilities To Build New {{sic|nolink=yes|Aircrafts}}|url=https://www.senate.gov/~schumer/SchumerWebsite/pressroom/record.cfm?id=260610&|publisher=Senator [[Chuck Schumer]]'s Publicity Office|access-date=17 December 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081130064935/https://www.senate.gov/~schumer/SchumerWebsite/pressroom/record.cfm?id=260610&|archive-date=30 November 2008|date=25 March 2005}}</ref> [[Space Shuttle Columbia disaster|Space Shuttle Columbia]] astronaut [[Michael P. Anderson]], born at Plattsburgh AFB, was a USAF pilot at Plattsburgh AFB when he was 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====
[[File:Plattsburghb47.jpg|thumb|A [[B-47 Stratojet]] from Plattsburgh AFB on display]]
[[File:1982-KC-135.png|thumb|KC-135 Fuselage Departs Plattsburgh AFB]]

*[[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====
[[File:Convair SM-65F Atlas 100 556 SMS Site 6 Au Sable Forks NY.jpg|thumb|A Convair [[SM-65F Atlas]] #100 at Site 6 AuSable Forks NY]]

Plattsburgh Air Force Base was designated as one of four major [[Atlas (rocket family)|Atlas]] launching systems in the U.S.,<ref name=ATLAS>{{cite web|title=ATLAS F Missiles Bases 556th SMS|url=http://atlasbases.homestead.com/index.html|publisher=atlas bases|access-date=11 March 2016|year=2016|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160402021716/http://atlasbases.homestead.com/index.html|archive-date=2 April 2016}}</ref> the only [[ICBM]] missile system deployed east of the Mississippi River.<ref name="SAC" />

During the period 1961 and 1963, 12 [[SM-65F Atlas|Atlas-F]] missile sites were constructed within a 50-mile radius of the base, thus giving the 380th the capability to launch 12 missiles. All sites were in New York state, except for two located on the other side of Lake Champlain in Vermont. The 556th Strategic Missile Squadron, formerly assigned to [[Dow AFB]], Maine, was transferred to Plattsburgh AFB on 1 October 1961, and became completely operational on 20 December 1962. It was inactivated on 25 June 1965.<ref name="SAC" />

====BRACC 1991 and closure====
[[File:Mario Cuomo speaking at a rally, June 20, 1991.JPEG|thumb|Governor [[Mario Cuomo]] speaking at a rally in favor of keeping the base]]

During the [[1991 Base Realignment and Closure Commission]] (BRACC) deliberations, PAFB wound up being pitted against [[Loring AFB]] in Limestone, Maine. The people of Maine put up a brief fight but, at the end, PAFB was spared.<ref name=LTemplio>{{cite web|title=Decision to close PAFB blindsided community|url=http://www.pressrepublican.com/news/local_news/decision-to-close-pafb-blindsided-community/article_a77ae535-d2b5-5cdb-ba92-4fba55bfba3f.html|publisher=Plattsburgh Press-Republican (NY)|access-date=11 March 2016|date=26 September 2015|last=LoTemplio|first=Joe}}</ref>

Two years later, when BRACC reconvened for another round of closures, PAFB, along with [[McGuire AFB]] in [[New Jersey]] and [[Griffiss AFB]] in [[Rome, New York]], were considered for closing. The local sentiment was that, again, PAFB will be spared mainly because the USAF had plans to transform the base to a major Strategic Air Command base for the Northeast, expanding to add more aircraft and personnel.<ref name="LTemplio" />

It was a hard battle. Rallies were held and a local leadership group, dubbed Team Plattsburgh, was put together to save the base. Testimonies were held, before several BRACC members, to keep PAFB open and give it the intended expansion. At the end, McGuire AFB won over PAFB.<ref name="LTemplio" />

Plattsburgh AFB was officially closed on 30 September 1995, as a result of the [[Base Realignment and Closure|1993 Defense Closure and Realignment]] actions. The closure ceremony took place on Sept.29, 1995.<ref name="SAC" />

[[Bombardier Transportation]] established a plant on the site.<ref>Bombardier to open plant at Plattsburgh, NY ''[[Railway Age]]'' October 1994 page 25</ref> It has produced standard passenger cars, locomotives, hybrids, light rail cars and subway cars.<ref>[http://www.sbmonthly.com/bombardier-the-beginning-of-it-all/ Bombardier the beginning of it all] ''Strictly Business'' March 2020</ref>

===Current status===
[[File:Operating tables from the former hospital at Plattsburgh Air Force Base.jpg|thumb|Operating tables being taken out of the old base hospital, in the Double Cantilever Hangar]]

Plattsburgh Airbase Redevelopment Corporation (PARC), led by the nationally known planner, David Holmes, was created to manage the {{convert|5000|acre|km2|0|adj=on}} property. Holmes had overseen the redevelopment plan which included a mixed-use solution to overcome the economic shortfall that occurred when the military moved out. Uses included Aviation, Biotechnology, Industrial and Recreation. Ultimately, PARC split up the base into 165 parcels for redevelopment.<ref name=PARC>{{cite web|title=Welcome to PARC|url=http://www.parc-usa.com/home.htm|publisher=Plattsburgh Airbase Redevelopment Authority|access-date=17 December 2012|year=2010|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130217015559/http://www.parc-usa.com/home.htm|archive-date=17 February 2013}}</ref>

While community leaders feared in 1995, at the time of the actual closure, that the North Country's economy would collapse, this did not turn out to be the case; the base actually only accounted for $42 million in economic impact (about 8 percent of the local economy) because it was so isolated.  It was anticipated that it would take 20 years to replace the impact.  But in 1996, Dave Werlin of Great Northeast productions and PARC's Director of Planning, Nate Sears, devised a way to make up $30 million in 3 days. {{citation needed|date=October 2016}}

On 16 and 17 August 1996, PARC hosted a massive music concert on the runway of the old decommissioned airbase by the band [[Phish]]. The concert, known as [[The Clifford Ball]], was attended by 70,000 people<ref>{{cite news | title = Small Adirondack Town Is Host of a Giant Concert | newspaper = The New York Times | date = 18 August 1996 | url = https://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9D03E1D61630F93BA2575BC0A960958260 | access-date = 26 November 2007 }},</ref> and added $30 million to the local economy.<ref>{{Cite news | last = Weiss | first = Lois | title = Concert shows potential for military bases – Plattsburgh Airbase, New York | publisher = Real Estate Weekly | date = 4 September 1996 | url = http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m3601/is_n5_v43/ai_18729598 | access-date = 26 November 2007 }}</ref> The concert was the largest Rock Concert in North America in 1996 and drew attention from The New York Times, MTV and numerous news media world-wide.  The concert was possible due to a coalition of entities, including the [[New York State Police]], County Sheriff, City of Plattsburgh, CVPH Medical Center, the Clinton County Health Department and numerous other private and public organizations. Although Phish wanted to return, PARC's Board of Directors declined in a 6-1 vote and subsequent Phish concerts were held at the former [[Loring Air Force Base]] in [[Limestone, Maine]], where they generated $25 million and $40 million for the local community, respectively in 1997 and 1998.

[[NSYNC]] were scheduled to hold a concert at the former base on June 10, 2001 as part of the [[PopOdyssey]] tour, but it was cancelled.<ref>{{cite news |title=PARC expanse may broaden chances for 'N Sync concert |first= Joe|last=LoTemplio |newspaper=[[Press-Republican]] |date=4 April 2001 |publisher=[[Community Newspaper Holdings]] |location=Plattsburgh, New York}}</ref>

As of 2016,<ref>{{cite web|title=Plattsburgh International Airport|url=http://www.flyplattsburgh.com/Development-Opportunities/tenants|publisher=Plattsburgh International Airport|access-date=11 March 2016|year=2016|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160807010352/http://www.flyplattsburgh.com/Development-Opportunities/tenants|archive-date=7 August 2016}}</ref> PARC tenants on former airbase properties include:
*[[Wood Group]]
*[[Pratt & Whitney]] Industrial Turbine Services
*[[Sikorsky Aircraft|Sikorsky]]
*[[United Parcel Service|UPS]] Air Freight
*[[FedEx]] Air Freight
* PrimeLink
* Gradient etc.

The site also hosts a number of specialty services on site, including acres of parks, trails and playing fields as well as an 18-hole golf course, a day care center and a gym.

On the original Military Reservation, on the shores of Lake Champlain, is the Old Base Museum Campus. There are five museums within 200 feet of each other – the Clinton County Historical Museum, the Air Force Base Museum, the [[Champlain Valley Transportation Museum]], the Kids' Station Children's Museum and the [[War of 1812 Museum (Plattsburgh)|War of 1812 Museum]], all housed in former military buildings. Included on the Museum Campus are edifices built in the 1890s including Officers' Row, the old Headquarters Building and the old fire station. The historic district around the Oval parade ground saw General [[Leonard Wood]]'s founding of the Plattsburgh Idea, a training program started to prepare officers for duty in [[World War II]]. There is also a Memorial Chapel, the Clyde A. Lewis Air Park, and the Old Post Cemetery, in which a Spanish American War Medal of Honor recipient is buried. Two of the original structures built just after the [[War of 1812]] are still on Campus – the [[Old Stone Barracks]] and the original powder magazine.

The USAF lists Plattsburgh among its BRAC "success stories."<ref name=AFRPA>{{cite web|title=Air Force BRAC Success Stories|url=http://www.afrpa.hq.af.mil/factshts/success.htm|publisher=[[Air Force Real Property Agency]]|access-date=17 December 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040117064007/http://www.afrpa.hq.af.mil/factshts/success.htm|archive-date=17 January 2004|date=8 May 2002}}</ref>

The base's reuse and the circumstances surrounding it were chronicled in ''Flying High Again: PARC's Redevelopment of Plattsburgh Air Force Base'', written by [[Marian Calabro]] and published by CorporateHistory.net in 2008.<ref name=Calabro>{{cite book|last=Calabro|first=Marian|title=Flying High Again: PARC's Redevelopment of Plattsburgh Air Force Base|year=2008|publisher=CorporateHistory.net|location=Hasbrouck Heights, N.J.|isbn=978-0976833123|pages=160}}</ref><ref name=Heath>{{cite web|last=Heath|first=Dan|title=PARC success revealed in new book|url=http://www.pressrepublican.com/archivesearch/local_story_136220030.html|publisher=Press-Republican|access-date=17 December 2012|date=16 May 2008}}</ref>

==Environmental problems==
It is designated a military [[superfund]] site.<ref name=ATSDR>{{cite web|title=Public Health Assessment, Plattsburgh Air Force Base, Plattsburgh, Clinton County, New York|url=http://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/hac/pha/pha.asp?docid=254&pg=0|publisher=[[Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry]]|access-date=17 December 2012|location=Plattsburgh, New York|date=5 October 2000|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121202221733/http://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/HAC/pha/pha.asp?docid=254&pg=0|archive-date=2 December 2012}}</ref>

Historically, site contaminants originally included [[volatile organic compound]]s (VOCs), including trichloroethene (TCE), dichloroethene (DCE), and vinyl chloride, fuel-related compounds (mainly benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, and xylene), pesticides, various metals including chromium and cadmium, and lead and munitions waste from an old small arms range and an explosive-ordnance demolition range. As stated in other sections of this site profile, most of the formerly-contaminated areas have been cleaned up.  In addition to groundwater contamination, other potential exposures included direct contact with and ingestion of contaminants found in soil. The only known remaining [[soil contamination]] at the former base is at the landfills, which have been capped and are fenced off.<ref name="epa.gov">{{cite web |url=https://cumulis.epa.gov/supercpad/cursites/dsp_ssppSiteData2.cfm?id=0202439#Risk |title= PLATTSBURGH AIR FORCE BASE Site Profile|website=cumulis.epa.gov |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170102185226/https://cumulis.epa.gov/supercpad/CurSites/dsp_ssppSiteData2.cfm?id=0202439 |archive-date=2 January 2017}}</ref>

Additional potential risk to human health exists due to soil [[vapor intrusion]] (SVI) into buildings by VOCs.  However, this contaminant pathway has been extensively studied across the entire base, mainly in association with the FT-002 / Industrial Area Groundwater OU.  [[Soil vapor extraction]] (SVE) systems were installed at 3 buildings in the industrial area of the base where concentrations of VOCs warranted mitigation and/or remediation.  In addition, a large portion of the base is covered by a LUC/IC for SVI that requires either mitigation of risk or sampling and evaluation of risk prior to the construction of new buildings or modifications to or change in use of existing buildings. Any sampling and risk evaluations conducted would be reviewed by the Air Force and regulatory agencies, and continued monitoring or mitigation, as necessary, would be required.  Affected property owners must also certify compliance annually with the Air Force, which also conducts annual LUC/IC inspections.<ref name="epa.gov"/>

==See also==
* [[1968 Thule Air Base B-52 crash]]
* [[Operation Chrome Dome]]

==References==

{{Air Force Historical Research Agency}}
{{Reflist}}

==Further reading==
* Maurer, Maurer. [https://archive.org/details/AirForceCombatUnitsOfWorldWarIi ''Air Force Combat Units of World War II'']. Washington, DC: U.S. Government Printing Office 1961, 521p (republished 1983, Office of Air Force History, {{ISBN|0-912799-02-1}}).
* Ravenstein, Charles A. ''Air Force Combat Wings Lineage and Honors Histories 1947–1977''. [[Maxwell Air Force Base]], [[Alabama]]: Office of Air Force History 1984. {{ISBN|0-912799-12-9}}.
* Mueller, Robert (1989). Volume 1: Active Air Force Bases Within the United States of America on 17 September 1982. USAF Reference Series, Office of Air Force History, United States Air Force, Washington, D.C. {{ISBN|0-912799-53-6}}, {{ISBN|0-16-002261-4}}

==External links==
{{Commons category}}
*[http://www.strategic-air-command.com/bases/Plattsburgh_AFB.htm SAC Bases: Plattsburgh AFB] Marvin T. Broyhill, strategic-air-command.com., undated.
*[http://www.historiclakes.org/Plattsburg/barracks.htm Plattsburgh Barracks] James P. Millard, historiclakes.org, undated
*[http://www.atlasbases.homestead.com/ 556th Missile Sites]
*{{HAER |survey=NY-326 |id=ny1864 |title=Plattsburgh Air Force Base, U.S. Route 9, Plattsburgh, Clinton County, NY |photos=117 |data=38 |cap=23}}, and 114 other records for subsidiary structures

{{USAF Air Combat Command}}
{{Strategic Air Command}}
{{authority control}}

[[Category:Installations of the United States Air Force in New York (state)]]
[[Category:Military installations closed in 1995]]
[[Category:U.S. Route 9]]
[[Category:Military Superfund sites]]
[[Category:Buildings and structures in Clinton County, New York]]
[[Category:Historic American Engineering Record in New York (state)]]
[[Category:Superfund sites in New York (state)]]
[[Category:1955 establishments in New York (state)]]
[[Category:1995 disestablishments in New York (state)]]
[[Category:Transportation buildings and structures in Clinton County, New York]]
[[Category:Plattsburgh (town), New York]]