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In the 1930s the 1670th Company of
the Civilian Conservation Corps was located at Presque Isle, in Aroostook
County, Maine. The 23d Fighter Wing flew F-86 Sabres from Presque Isle as part
of Eastern Air Defense Force from 12 January 1951 to 06 February 1952 with a
mission to maintain a high degree of operational proficiency so that it might
repel any possible enemy air attack. The subordinate 23d Fighter Group was based
at Presque Isle Air Force Base from 12 January 1951 to 06 February 1952.
During the years 1951-1954, the 74th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron flew the
F-86 and F-94 at Presque Isle AFB, Maine. The 74th then moved to Thule AB,
Greenland in 1954. In the mid-1950s the 76th Fighter Interceptor Squadron was
based at Presque Isle. On 12 January 1951 the 75th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron
was activated at Presque Isle. During this period, the 75th served under the Air
Defense Command and flew the F-86. The squadron left Presque Isle on 16 October
1952 and was reassigned to Suffolk County Air Force Base, New York, where the
squadron remained for three years before returning to Presque Isle. The squadron
continued to fly the F-86 until 1955 when it converted to the F-89. It continued
operations out of Presque Isle until later moving to Dow Air Force Base, Maine.
The 318th Fighter Interceptor Squadron came back under ADC in August 1954 when
it was moved from Thule to Presque Isle AFB with F-89Ds. In August 1955 the
squadron moved to McChord AFB. In the fall of 1954, the 57th FIS, then based at
Presque Isle AFB, Maine, replaced the 82nd FIS at Keflavik, Iceland.
On 21 March 1957, the Air Force, acting on the recommendation of the
Strategic Missile Site Selection Panel, designated Presque Isle AFB, Maine, as
the site for the first Snark missile base. But in November 1959, within a year
of Power's request for a program evaluation, SAC recommended cancellation of
Snark (the recommendation was endorsed by ARDC). Headquarters USAF, however,
rejected that proposal. Despite General Power's recommendation, the Air Force
and the Department of Defense decided to continue a limited program for the
operational deployment of one Snark squadron to acquire some missile capability
until ballistic missiles became available in quantity. On 1 January 1959, SAC
activated the 702nd Strategic Missile Wing (ICM-Snark) at Presque Isle AFB,
Maine, and assigned it to the Eighth Air Force, thus making it the first SAC
missile wing to be assigned to a numbered air force.
The 556th SMS at Patrick AFB was assigned to the 702d SMW on 1 April 1959
and was scheduled to move to Presque Isle in July, but SAC inactivated the
squadron on 15 July 1959 before the move could be consummated. As a result of
this action and the subsequent cancellation of the programmed activation of the
702nd Missile Maintenance Squadron, the 702nd SMW was put in the unique position
of having no assigned subordinate units. All operational and maintenance
functions associated with the Snark ICM were handled by the 702nd SMW's deputy
commander for missiles.
The 702d SMW placed the first Snark ICM on alert on 18 March 1960 and by
the end of fiscal year 1960, a total of four Snark missiles were on strategic
alert. Yet, it was not until 28 February 1961 that SAC was able to declare the
702d SMW operational. But the Snark was living on borrowed time. Shortly after
taking office in 1961, John F. Kennedy scrapped the project. The Strategic Air
Command's negative evaluation of the Snark's potential was reinforced on 28
March 1961 when President John F. Kennedy, in a special defense budget message,
directed the phase out of the missile because it was "obsolete and of marginal
military value" relative to ballistic missiles. The President cited the weapon's
low reliability (a particularly sore point to his Secretary of Defense),
inability to penetrate, lack of positive control, and vulnerable, unprotected
launch sites. Accordingly, in June 1961 [various sources report either 2 June or
25 June], SAC inactivated the 702d Strategic Missile Wing at Presque Isle AFB
less than four months after it had been declared operational.
Presque Isle AFB was subsequently redesignated Presque Isle Air National
Guard Facility [ANG FAC].
During World War II, the federal government appropriated the local airport,
establishing an air base for planes bound to and from Great Britain. Almost
overnight, the Presque Isle base became a vital air transport installation and
the City found itself a busy war center. Following the War, the base experienced
ups and downs before its final closure in 1961. The city of Presque Isle, with a
population of 10,500, is the heart of Aroostook, the largest county east of the
Mississippi and a stone's throw away from Canada. Presque Isle is home the
University of Maine at Presque Isle, as well as the Northern Main Technical
College. Scheduled commercial air service is available through Northern Maine
Regional Airport in Presque Isle. General aviation services are available
through both Northern Maine Regional Airport and Caribou Municipal Airport.
The Skyway Industrial Park sits adjacent to Northern Maine Regional Airport
which offers commercial airline as well as general aviation services to the
entire region. Federal Express and United Parcel Service augment park
accessibility by air to and from major markets. Skyway Industrial Park, owned by
the City of Presque Isle and administered by the Presque Isle Industrial
Council, has been attractive to a variety of new businesses. To date, over 40
companies have located on the Park. The Park consists of 440 acres, of which 175
is prime industrial land served by all utilities, streets, subdivided and
available for further development. Located adjacent to the airport and within
1.5 miles of downtown, the park has become a dominant feature in the local and
regional economy. |
