Sampson AFB Vets Assoc

About Sampson

Facility

Sampson Air Force Base was located on the eastern shore of Lake Seneca in the Finger Lakes region of New York, covering an initial area
of 2600 acres. The original construction was authorized in May ‘42 ,to serve as a Naval Training Station, (USNTS Sampson, NY) during
1942-1945. being completed in 270 days from the start of construction. It later served as an Air Force Basic Training Center during the
Korean War era (1950-1956). It is estimated that 411,000+ Navy personnel and 330,000+ Air Force completed their training at the
Sampson installation. Over various time periods, the facility has served many different purposes, including its current designation as
Sampson State Park.
The Sampson Air Force Museum and Memorial Naval Museum are currently located in the building which was formerly the old
stockade/brig. The displays for both the Navy and Air Force are quite extensive, including two restored military aircraft and a working
submarine periscope. Both Museums were funded primarily via contributions and fund-raising activities.

The time lines below, provide an extended explanation of the varied uses of the Sampson facility

Organization

The Sampson Air Force Base Veterans Association Inc. is recognized by the State of New York, the Federal Government and the U..S. Air
Force Museum as the official non-profit organization representing Sampson Air Force Base Veterans. The organization has a member-elected Board of Directors (President, Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer and six Board of Trustee members) who are listed on this site
and also in our quarterly news magazine, “The Roll Call”.

This Web site is developed and managed by and for Association members, as well as the general public.

The Membership is composed of the following categories of persons:

Active - Individuals who, as members of the US. Armed Services, who were assigned, attached, or otherwise affiliated with
Sampson Air Force Base, Geneva, New York during the period of its operation from 12 Nov 1950 to 1 Oct 1956.

Hereditary - Individuals who are adult offspring or widow(er)s of individuals who qualify as Active members of this Association

Associate - Individuals or firms who actively contribute to the goals of the Association.

As of January ‘08, our Membership Directory lists more than 4,000 members.

The Membership, at an annual meeting, voted to name Sampson as their ”Permanent Headquarters”. The vote was unanimous, “Sampson
State Park’. The reasoning, "this is where our Air Force careers started and this is where we want to have our reunions". The profits from
our reunions and other endeavors, are used for funding and maintaining of the Museum, the Memorial Statue and the T-33 display, as well
as other Association projects. Each individual benefits from the Association’s activities and events.
The Association hosts an Annual SAFBVA Reunion the first week-end following Labor Day. A typical schedule of events is specified in
the Section, “Annual Reunion Schedule“ of this site.

We have received numerous e-mails and phone calls asking us about the difference between the Sampson Air Force Base Veterans
Association and the Sampson Air Force Base Fellowship.

The Sampson Fellowship was founded by several former SAFBVA members in 1998. Their organization has a Board of Directors and some officers, but it does not offer “memberships” to veterans at large. The newsletter, "The SAMPSONITE” is published by the Fellowship. From time to time the Fellowship offers trips and get-togethers at various sites around the country. Those trips and
get-togethers represent their form of a reunion. The primary difference between the two groups is a desire to help to preserve and to
improve a portion of the the facility where our USAF careers began versus a desire to travel to different locations.

Questions regarding the Association should be addressed to a Member of the Board as identified on the “Board of Directors” page
Via E-mail or telephone.

Additional information regarding new memberships is available through the designated link below.