Cold War Relics

[11bee]

I was just wondering if other ARC'ers have pics of abandoned cold-war bases / structures. Here in the Northeast US, there are literally hundreds of abandoned cold war sites, ranging from gigantic SAC airbases (Loring AFB, ME comes to mind as a great example), SAM missile sites, radar stations, etc, etc. Some have been razed to the ground, while others are still in somewhat decent shape and are accessible to the public.

Yesterday I was biking with my kids out on Cape Cod (Massachusetts) and decided to swing by the ex-North Truro Air Force Station. This was a DEW Line radar and interceptor control station from the early 50's until it's closure in 1985. It is situated cliffside, overlooking one of the prettiest beaches in the country. More info on the base can be found here:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/North_Truro_Air_Force_Station

After being shut down by the AF, a single long-range surveillance radar was left in service. Operated by the FAA, it is also networked to the AF as part of the Joint Surveillance System.

What is somewhat unique about this base is that most of the buildings are still intact and the site is usually accessible. Although there is a sign indicating that the base is off limits, the facility gate has been open every time I have visited and I've often seen other people wandering the site. The only area completely off limits is the operational FAA radar unit. Unlike many other sites, there appears to be absolutely no vandalism.

At the entrance to the station is a signboard showing the original layout of the site. All but one of the radar domes have been dismantled.

Also at the entrance is a baseball field that has seen better days.

Immediately inside the perimeter fence is a large earth-covered mound with ventilation stacks and access hatches on the top. Have no idea what is underneath, possibly a bunker of some sort? Anyway, from the top of the mound, you get a pretty good overall view of the station:

Family housing is just outside the perimeter fence, these units are in very poor condition:

Enlisted Barracks:

Decrepit basketball court with the base powerplant in the distance:

Mess hall with the FAA radar in the background:

More to follow.

Edited April 17, 2012 by 11bee

[11bee]

Interceptor control building. This structure appeared to be only building on the site that was hardened. It was constructed from 18" reinforced concrete.

FAA / JSS radar site:

Vehicle maintenance garage:

Foundation for one of the radar units, with the emergency generator station and the Atlantic ocean in the distance:

That pretty much does it, hope you enjoyed the tour. I'll see if I can dig up some pictures of some of the other cold-war sites I have seen over the years.

John

[dmk0210]

Reminds me of abandoned facilities in the the TV show Lost.

Looks like the site is somewhat maintained. The grass looks mowed at least.

Edited April 17, 2012 by dmk0210

[Linden Hill]

How about the old GSFG base at Finow? Once the home of MiG-21s, -25s and -29s, it's now Europe's largest solar power plant. Here's their live Webcam, solar-powered, no doubt:

http://finowtower2.livecam360.com/flash/main.php

[Hal Marshman Sr]

So Weymouth NAS is rapidly becoming a community called Southfield. The main hangar was supposed to come down a couple of weeks ago, but they ran into a problem. The post chapel, Gymnasium, BX, HQ building, and many more are still intach, but show lack of maintenance. The Coast Guard Bout maintenance facility is still there, and base housing for its employees. The museum is in the Gymnasium bldg, and is open to the public last Saturday of the month from 0900 to 1100.

If you want to see a WWII relic, go to Brant Rock section of Marshfield. There's a 5 story square cement tower there, which had been erectted to spot U-boats off shore. In Hull, the coastal artillery positions are still intact, no guns of course. There's a small museum there, also, but I don't have any details, as it's inaccessible to me. I believe there's another of those Sub towers at the northern end of Humarock, as it's visible from rte 3A on a clear day, distance about a mile. Hal Sr

[11bee]

So Weymouth NAS is rapidly becoming a community called Southfield. The main hangar was supposed to come down a couple of weeks ago, but they ran into a problem. The post chapel, Gymnasium, BX, HQ building, and many more are still intach, but show lack of maintenance. The Coast Guard Bout maintenance facility is still there, and base housing for its employees. The museum is in the Gymnasium bldg, and is open to the public last Saturday of the month from 0900 to 1100.

If you want to see a WWII relic, go to Brant Rock section of Marshfield. There's a 5 story square cement tower there, which had been erectted to spot U-boats off shore. In Hull, the coastal artillery positions are still intact, no guns of course. There's a small museum there, also, but I don't have any details, as it's inaccessible to me. I believe there's another of those Sub towers at the northern end of Humarock, as it's visible from rte 3A on a clear day, distance about a mile. Hal Sr

I need to swing by NAS SoWey before they tear everything down and take some pictures. Good memories of watching the Blue Angles (in A-4's) at the annual open house, it's pretty sad to see the old base run down like that.

I've seen that old U-boat watch tower in Marshfield (used to hang out in Brant Rock when I was a kid). There are a few of those along the south shore, one is up in Scituate still. If you make it down to the Cape Cod canal, there are some old WW2 coastal artillery bunkers at the mouth of the canal in Sagamore. On a more modern note, it's amazing how many I am a spammer....please report this post./Hercules SAM sites there are in this area. A couple are still in pretty decent shape.

Regards,

John

Edited April 17, 2012 by 11bee

[Spectre711]

I've been told that in Old Bridge, NJ there was a N!KE base on Jake Brown Rd. My link

Lived in the area all my life but never investigated it but you can still see some rods and a loop.

Had to use ! in place of the I or I get this in place "I am a spammer....please report this post."

Edited April 17, 2012 by Spectre711

[Archangel]

Back in 1984 and part of 1985 I was stationed on a I am a spammer....please report this post. Hercules missile site run by the Italian Air Force. The reason I was there was to stand guard on the hardstand while the American Techs help with the maintanace of the missiles. Part of that maintanace was also for the nuclear warheads attached to those missiles. We,the USA owned the warheadds so we of course had to stand guard on them 24/7. I was at a site called Zelo named after the town about a mile and a half down the road to the north. They closed the site down in 87 and I did get a few pictures of what's left of it years later . Its all run down and looks to be as open as any other place that's been abandoned . One of the pictures that igot still showed that a sign we had up in the guard hose was still there whne the picture was taken but who knows now. I was in the 3rd/47th USSAD part of the 559th USADD which was all over the northeast part of Italy. The layout of the site isn't much different from any other I am a spammer....please report this post. Herc site like the ones we have near here in Nebraska.

[RiderFan]

Those pictures remind me of CFS Lowther in northern Ontario. Same radar domes as it was also part of the Pine Tree (DEW) line. My family was stationed in Lowther in the 70s but now it looks a lot like those pictures.

[Kevan Vogler]

Here's a couple of pics of some 80s era HAS units at Turany International Airport here in Brno:

Turany was used by the Czechoslovak air force as a fighter base through the 1980s and these HAS units are still used to house civil aircraft today.

There is something slightly comical about seeing a Cessna 172 roll out of a big, imposing HAS.

[JackMan]

The Forgotten Hunters of Kalaikunda:

http://www.bharat-rakshak.com/IAF/Images/Special/AirfieldVisits/Kalaikunda/S576-S1389.jpg.html'>http://www.bharat-rakshak.com/IAF/Images/Special/AirfieldVisits/Kalaikunda/S576-S1389.jpg.html

http://www.bharat-rakshak.com/IAF/Images/Special/AirfieldVisits/Kalaikunda/S1389.jpg.html'>http://www.bharat-rakshak.com/IAF/Images/Special/AirfieldVisits/Kalaikunda/S1389.jpg.html

http://www.bharat-rakshak.com/IAF/Images/Special/AirfieldVisits/Kalaikunda/

Though some of the aircraft seem still active...

Also, this earlier thread by me might interest you:

http://s362974870.onlinehome.us/forums/air/index.php?showtopic=195349&st=0&p=1832756&hl=jackman&fromsearch=1entry1832756

More ( WARNING! Picture intensive):

Former Airfield Protasovo

http://englishrussia.com/2012/04/13/former-airfield-protasovo/

Tour To Once Powerful Air Defence Station

http://englishrussia.com/2012/04/09/tour-to-once-powerful-air-defence-station/

Edited April 18, 2012 by JackMan

[11bee]

Former SN-62 Snark cruise missile storage building and launch pad. Taken at Presque Isle, ME. This unit (the 702nd Strategic Missile Wing) was operational for only a year, being shut down in July of 1961. There were a total of 6 storage / maintenance buildings, each with a dedicated launch pad. All are still intact and are in reasonably good shape.

[Kevan Vogler]

Here's a picture of Turany airport as it appears today. Just a bit to the left of the centre of the picture you can see the HAS area. Looks to be about 12 or 13 of them in total by my count:

[KursadA]

I really liked the photos of this old Soviet submarine base. I hope I'll be able to visit it sometime.

http://englishrussia.com/2008/02/29/russian-underground-submarine-base/

http://www.wired.com/autopia/2012/04/driving-inside-the-soviets-secret-submarine-lair/?pid=1731

http://www.retronaut.co/2011/07/abandoned-nuclear-submarine-base/

[Julien (UK)]

Took a trip out to former RAF Bentwaters with a friend to drop somehing off and have a poke around the old place.

Former USAF "Special Weapons" facility;

One of the old hangers;

Its now owned as a commercial estate. The ammo bunkers have been used to store fireworks. The runway is still used Caroline Grace has her Spitfire there.

Also used to store stuff like this;

also used by Everett aero to store surplus aircraft bought from the MOD;

Julien

[11bee]

Took a trip out to former RAF Bentwaters with a friend to drop somehing off and have a poke around the old place.

Former USAF "Special Weapons" facility;

Cool pics, those shots of the nuke storage area are pretty neat. I thought Bentwaters was an old A-10 base, surprised that they would have nukes stored there. There is an old SAC base (Pease AFB near Portsmouth, NH) near me, supposedly the weapons storage area is still somewhat intact and accessible. I may have to swing by and take some pictures.

Here are a few pictures of the old alert facility at the ex-Presque Isle AFB up in Northern Maine. They used to house F-86A's and then F-89's before the USAF moved out.

Down the road from the airport, I came across this at a park. Have no idea what it is.

[cvrle]

That looks like the Hound Dog without the engine?

[Kevan Vogler]

That looks like the Hound Dog without the engine?

I have to agree with that.

[11bee]

That looks like the Hound Dog without the engine?

You might be correct. Loring AFB was right down the road and the B-52's at this based used Hound Dog's at one point in time. Here is another picture I just stumbled across.

[Les / Creative Edge Photo]

You might be correct. Loring AFB was right down the road and the B-52's at this based used Hound Dog's at one point in time. Here is another picture I just stumbled across.

The tail code says AGM-28.

That's for the Hound Dog as noted already in this thread.

It's kinda eery at how these old COLD WAR bases look and stand today. Think about it, not 20 years ago they'd likely be humming with people and activity. I'd like to see more of the Russian closed down bases linked here too.

Edited April 22, 2012 by Les / Creative Edge Photo

[Moose135]

Long Island was home to many facilities during the Cold War, including search radars, airfields, and missile sites, and a few remains of those days are still around.

On the eastern tip of the Island, at Montauk Point, Camp Hero was established during WWII, housing 4 16-inch naval guns, anti-aircraft guns, and a fire control center. The Army, Navy, and Coast Guard all used Camp Hero during WWII. Openings for the gun emplacements have been sealed over. Reports are that there is an extensive network of tunnels under the hillside, connecting the gun emplacements, ammo storage, and other facilities.

At the Montauk Point Lighthouse, the fire control tower - the tall white building on the right - still remains.

After the war, the Air Force took control of the base, eventually changing the name to Montauk Air Force Station, and installed a series of long range radars to defend against the threat of Soviet bombers. In 1960, a high-power AN/FPS-35 radar was installed at Montauk AFS. In 1981, the facility was finally determined to be obsolete and was closed. Due to the size of the radar dish, it was left in place on the facility, but the control motors were removed, allowing it to turn with the wind. The site remained undeveloped for years, until 2002 when it was opened to the public as Camp Hero State Park. The radar facility is fenced off, but you can walk around the gun emplacements, and the old camp buildings.

Looking a bit farther away...a few years ago during a road trip to the Air Force Museum, I headed to Kokomo, IN to visit some old friends from my Air Force days, and checked out what is left of Grissom AFB. It's now home to an AF Reserve KC-135R wing. The old Alert facility is still in place, but not used.

[JackMan]

This site is quickly becoming one of my favourite web haunts...

Unusual Discoveries Unexpectedly Close

Enjoy!

[11bee]

Decided to check out what is left of the ex-NAS South Weymouth (Mass) before everything is turned into condos. NAS SoWey was a victim of one of the BRAC rounds in the late 90's. At one point it was home base for the following reserve units:

VMA-322 (various versions of the A-4, through the M-model)

A USMC UH-1 detachment

VP-92 (P-3C)

HSL-74 (SH-3, then converted to SH-2)

At the end, the base only had the VP-92 and an understrength C-130 unit assigned. VP-92 was transferred to NAS Brunswick, ME where it served for a few more years until that base also fell victim to BRAC, thus ending Naval Aviation's presence in New England.

After sitting idle for years, it looks like construction is moving quickly to turn the base into "Southfield" a large, high-end retail, condo and apartment complex. Sad to see the base being torn down but I suppose it's better than watching it rot away over the years. Despite living nearby, I haven't been through the base in years. I finally took a couple of hours and walked through it with my kids.

Main entrance to the base

Nice memorial on the way in

Base HQ

"Auto Hobby Shop"

Barracks:

Hangar 2

No worries about noise today

More to follow...

[11bee]

Remaining pics...

Base chapel with a beautiful hardwood door that somehow hasn't been pilfered.

Patches of the various units that passed through

Fire station

No helos today, the only things out on the runway were bicycles

The old control tower

The "new" tower. Typical military logic, this was built only a couple of years before the base was shut down. Such a waste of $

Last few pics to follow... BTW, sorry for the orientation of some of my pics. I corrected it in Photobucket but the changes apparently didn't take. PB sucks.

Edited June 3, 2014 by 11bee

[11bee]

Last few pics.

TACAN and runway lighting emergency generator buildings

Runway lighting controls

Jet Blast Deflector located at what I assume was an engine test pad, located out by the runways, far away from the main base.

Who let that toddler on the runway???

That's it. Hope you enjoyed the tour.