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SAFB Key Events |
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1950 - 1956 Air Force Training Facility |
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1950 |
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October 15: Lt. Col. Kreeber, USAF, arrives on base to survey inactive naval training center and determines its suitability as an |
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Air Force indoctrination center. |
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November 14: Air Training Command assumes temporary jurisdiction of the base and designates it as Sampson AFB. |
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December 10: Rehabilitation of base begins with awarding of contract to Five-Bore-Malan Construction, Company. |
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1951 |
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January 16: Maj. Gen. Frank A. Armstrong assumes command. |
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February 1: First trainees arrive. |
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May 6: Base Hospital in Quinn Area opens. |
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May 7: Brig. Gen. Norris B. Harbold assumes command. |
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May 19: Sampson AFB observes its first Armed Forces Day program. |
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July 1:Thirty-one first classmen from the United States Military Academy at West Point arrive on base for participation |
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in the basic training program. |
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September 15: Sampsonaires 45-voice male chorus formed. |
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1952 |
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January 9: Construction of base firing range at Quinn area commences. |
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June 12: Last of base rehabilitation contracts completed. |
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July 19: Maj. Gen. Richard C. Lindsay succeeds Maj. Gen. Norris B. Harbold as commander. |
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August 22: 100,000th trainee, Charles J. Majon of Philadelphia, arrives at Sampson AFB. |
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October 20: Student leadership program initiated. |
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October 24: First Air Force Information Hour opens in Knight Building. |
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November 12: First base swimming pool opens in Ent Drill Hall. |
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1953 |
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January 28: Airstrip construction is started by C. J. Langenfelder and sons Inc. of Baltimore, Maryland. |
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February 9: Nine week basic military training course placed in operation. |
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February 14: Sampson AFB participates in Exercise Cold Spot with 9th and 18th Air Force Units. |
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June 27: First contingent of newly-commissioned Air Force ROTC graduates arrive for processing. |
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November 22: An L-20, first plane to use Sampson’s new air-strip, landed with Lt. Gen. Robert W. Harper and |
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Maj. Gen. Richard C Lindsay aboard. |
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November 1: Formal dedication of new USO headquarters in Geneva. |
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November 5: Ten week basic military training course implemented. |
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December 17: Faktor Aeronautical Museum opens. |
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December 21: Aircraft assigned to Sampson AFB and formerly stationed at Hancock Field, Syracuse, moves here. |
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1954 |
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January 18: Conduct first commercial airline movement from Sampson Airstrip. |
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February 1: Basic military training course increased to eleven weeks. |
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March 1: Chaplain (Lt. Col.) John F. Smeltzer, succeeds Lt. Col. Aubrey C. Halsell as Wing Chaplain. |
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March 31: Brig. Gen. Wycliffe B. Steele assumes command. |
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April 25: Mohawk Airlines inaugurates commercial air service. |
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April 26: First airmail received and dispatched at Sampson airstrip. |
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May 11: First meeting of the newly organized Non-Commissioned Officer Advisory Committee held. |
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May 15:Prior Service Military training course No. BT00014 placed in operation. Flights of prior service trainees entered a |
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15-day training program. |
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June 2: Sampson’s Trailor Park in Yarborough Area officially opened. T/Sgt. W.E. Melster was the first occupant to move |
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in and occupy a trailer space. |
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June 29: Student Council system revived and become a part of the basic training program. |
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July 1: The new industrial accounting system became effective in the Budget and Accounting Division of the Wing Comptroller’s |
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Office. |
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August 4: Centralized Base Clearance unit opened in Aldrich Area. |
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September 10: Civilian Service Center located in Building A-23 officially opened in appropriate ceremonies. |
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October 11: Sampson provided 142 airmen for reassigment to Parks Air Force Base, California . Basic military training program |
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reactivated there. |
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October 22: Manual telephone system converted to automatic dial. |
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Decenber 31: Non-commissioned Officer’s housing requirements were improved by the conversion of 18 apartments from one |
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to two bedroom units. |
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1955 |
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January 6: Student Leadership Program terminated by 3650th Basic Military Training Group. |
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February 23: Major General Carl A. Brandt arrived at Sampson Air Force Base for initial visit since his appointment as Commander,Technical Training Air Force. |
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March 24: The 3650th Installations Squadron redesignated the 3650th Installations Group and reassigned from the 3650th Air Base |
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Group to the 3650th Military Training Wing. |
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April 13: The 3650th Personnel Processing Squadron transferred from the 3650th Military Training Wing to the 3650th Basic |
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May 21: Armed Forces Day observed jointly by Sampson Air Force Base and Seneca Ordnance Depot |
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June 15: Sampson Air Force Base joined surrounding civilian areas in observance of Operations Alert-1955. |
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July 5: Split-Clothing Issue and Dual Classification and Assignment Interview System were innovations introduced in the basic |
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military training program at this base. |
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September 9: Input to General Instructor School increased and the school went on a two shift system. |
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October 10: Last flight of prior service enlistee airmen graduated and Sampson discontinued providing this type of training |
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November 1: Staff Visitation Program placed in operation. |
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November 1: Sampson’s Finance Office discontinues financial services to military and civilian personnel assigned to Seneca |
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Ordnance Depot. |
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November 14: Teaching of Mathematics discontinued in Sampson’s basic Military training program. |
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December 1: A total of 330 housing units were administered as rental property under the Lanham Act. |
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December 5: Cross-training program for Tactical and Academic instructors placed in operation. |
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December 29: Sampson Air Force Base received permission to close down the General Instuctor School. |
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1956 |
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The following taken from the Geneva Daily Times--1956 |
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5 January: Attend the ‘Keep Sampson’ Rally tonight, Hotel Seneca, 8 p.m. |
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19 January: Sampson Omitted in Fund Request--by Defense Department. |
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20 January: Sampson Meeting Tuesday; Senator Taber Pledges ‘Best Efforts’ With Air Secretary |
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23 January: (Senator) Ives Backs Proposal to Move Mitchel Air Base to Sampson. |
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24 January: Air Force ‘Far From Decision’ on Sampson.--Senator Ives, Taber Meet on Future of Air Base. |
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30 January: The $64 Dollar Question---What Will Happen to Sampson?. |
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15 February: Permanent Party to Pull KP, Guard Duty at Sampson---Not Enough Trainees |
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28 February: Mohawk Slices Flights in Half in Wake of Cutbacks at Sampson---Five Flights Daily |
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19 March: 1,200 Bed Hospital at Sampson Down to About 350 Patients--- Due to Trainee Cut Back |
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12 April: Sampson will Close - Air Force Announces |
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13 April: Base Awaits Closing Orders |
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The following plans were received by The Times from an unofficial source: |
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1. End trainee output this month and provide for the last trainee to leave the base by June 30 |
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2. Evacuate Hospital by 31 July |
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3. Reduce civilian employment to 387 in July, 312 in August, 258 in September, and 203 in October |
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4. Reduce permanent party military strenght to 461 Officers and 2,382 Airmen by June 30 |
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5. Transfer Airfield and its facilities to another agency |
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14 April: Sale of Sampson to Industry Seen Likely |
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28 April: ‘Operation Closeout’ at Sampson |
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28 September: Griffiss Air Base to Take Over Responsibilities for Sampson AFB as ‘Caretakers’ |
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* Source: Portal To Air Power The Sampson AFB Story . |
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