Dow Army Airfield

Dow Army Airfield
United States Air Force · Public domain · source
Name	Dow Army Airfield
Partof	Dow Air Force Base
Location	Bangor, Maine
Country	United States
Type	Army airfield
Built	1940s
Used	1940s–present
Controlledby	United States Army

Dow Army Airfield is a military airfield located near Bangor, Maine, within the footprint of the former Dow Air Force Base and adjacent to Bangor International Airport. The installation has served roles connected to World War II, the Cold War, and contemporary United States Army aviation operations, supporting a mix of fixed-wing and rotary-wing activities while interfacing with regional civil aviation, national defense, and joint-service logistics. Its geographic position in Penobscot County, Maine has made it strategically important for Atlantic operations, NORAD-related activities, and NATO-linked transatlantic missions.

History

Dow Army Airfield originated in the early 1940s as Dow Field, constructed as part of the United States' expansion before and during World War II to support Eighth Air Force and Air Transport Command operations. Postwar realignment placed the facility under the aegis of the newly established United States Air Force during the Berlin Airlift era and the subsequent buildup of Strategic Air Command, when strategic bomber and tanker units such as those from SAC operated at the base. During the Cold War, the site was involved in continental defense alongside North American Aerospace Defense Command installations and hosted deployments tied to Cuban Missile Crisis readiness and NATO reinforcement flights. Following several rounds of base realignment and closure processes influenced by the Base Realignment and Closure Commission and Defense Department restructuring, the installation transitioned to joint civil-military use, with portions transferred to civil authorities while the Army retained an airfield and support areas to facilitate United States Army Reserve and active-duty missions.

Facilities and Infrastructure

The airfield complex comprises runways, taxiways, ramp space, hangars, control tower facilities, and logistics areas integrated with Bangor International Airport infrastructure. Key structural assets include long concrete runways originally designed for Boeing B-52 Stratofortress and Convair B-36 Peacemaker operations, reinforced apron zones suited for Lockheed C-5 Galaxy and Boeing C-17 Globemaster III loads, and maintenance hangars supporting rotary platforms like the Bell UH-1 Iroquois and Sikorsky UH-60 Black Hawk. On-base navigation and communications gear has been interoperable with installations such as Pease Air National Guard Base and Maine Air National Guard assets. Ancillary facilities have accommodated organizations like the Federal Aviation Administration, Transportation Security Administration coordination units, and reserve component training centers. Environmental management programs have addressed contamination issues commonly encountered at legacy air base sites, coordinating with agencies such as the Environmental Protection Agency and Maine Department of Environmental Protection.

Units and Operations

Units that have operated from the airfield include elements of the United States Army Aviation Branch, Army National Guard aviation units, and United States Army Reserve aviation detachments, often in coordination with Air Mobility Command and joint task force elements. The site has supported exercises involving units from I Corps, XVIII Airborne Corps, and regional commands deploying through Fort Bragg and Fort Drum. Training and logistics missions have tied into exercises with NATO members such as units from the Canadian Armed Forces and deployments supporting operations endorsed by the United Nations and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization. Civil support missions have interfaced with state agencies including the Governor of Maine’s emergency response teams and federal partners such as the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

Aircraft and Missions

Aircraft types historically using the airfield range from World War II-era B-17 Flying Fortress and B-24 Liberator bombers to Cold War-era B-52 Stratofortress bombers and intercontinental tankers like the KC-135 Stratotanker. Later periods saw tactical airlift via C-130 Hercules, strategic airlift by C-5 Galaxy and C-17 Globemaster III, and rotary-wing operations by CH-47 Chinook, UH-60 Black Hawk, and AH-64 Apache platforms during training and support missions. Missions have included strategic deterrence support, aerial refueling staging, airborne troop insertion, aeromedical evacuation with Air National Guard medical detachments, search and rescue in coordination with the Coast Guard Air Station Cape Cod model, and humanitarian airlift tasks similar to operations conducted during Hurricane Katrina and other domestic emergency responses.

Accidents and Incidents

Over its operational history, the airfield and associated units have experienced incidents common to busy joint-use facilities, including ground mishaps, instrument landing system challenges under fog conditions characteristic of the Maine coastline, and aircraft mishaps during training sorties. Notable regional aviation accidents involving military aircraft have prompted investigations by boards akin to the Air Force Safety Center and coordination with the National Transportation Safety Board. Past environmental remediation efforts were initiated after discovery of contaminants in fuel storage areas, requiring oversight similar to cases handled by the Environmental Protection Agency and triggering infrastructure modernization to meet Federal Aviation Administration safety standards.

Current Status and Future Plans

Currently, the airfield functions as a joint-use facility supporting Army aviation units alongside commercial operations at Bangor International Airport, with ongoing roles in strategic airlift staging, National Guard readiness, and interagency emergency response. Future plans discussed in regional planning forums reference modernization of navigation aids, apron expansion to accommodate larger transports, and enhanced coordination with entities like the Maine Department of Transportation and Federal Aviation Administration to support increased civil-military operations. Proposals considered by stakeholders echo themes from national defense documents and regional development strategies championed by the Governor of Maine and local authorities in Bangor, aiming to balance heritage preservation tied to World War II history with contemporary readiness for joint-force and coalition operations.

Category:Airfields in Maine Category:United States Army airfields Category:Bangor, Maine