| Loring Air Force Base | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Limestone Air Force Base | |||||||||
| near Limestone and Caswell, Maine in United States | |||||||||
 USGS 1970 Aerial Photo | |||||||||
 Logo of Air Combat Command | |||||||||
  Loring AFB (KLIZ) Location of Loring AFB  Loring AFB (KLIZ) Loring AFB (KLIZ) (the United States) | |||||||||
| Coordinates | 46°56′59″N 67°53′20″W / 46.94972°N 67.88889°W | ||||||||
| Type | Air Force Base | ||||||||
| Area | 9,000 acres (14.1 sq mi; 36.4 km2) | ||||||||
| Site information | |||||||||
| Owner | United States Air Force | ||||||||
| Operator | 42nd Bomb Wing | ||||||||
| Open to the public | Yes | ||||||||
| Stations | Caribou Air Force Station (East Loring), Caswell Air Force Station | ||||||||
| Site history | |||||||||
| Built | 1947-53 | ||||||||
| Built by | United States Army Corps of Engineers | ||||||||
| In use | 1950–1994 | ||||||||
| Fate | Mainly intact, partial demolition | ||||||||
| Events | Cold War | ||||||||
| Garrison information | |||||||||
| Current commander | Robert J. Pavelko | ||||||||
| Garrison | 42nd Bomb Wing | ||||||||
| Occupants | 69th Bombardment Squadron, 70th Bombardment Squadron, 75th Bombardment Squadron, 42d Air Refueling Squadron, 407th Air Refueling Squadron, 2192nd Communications Squadron, 101st Fighter Squadron | ||||||||
| Airfield information | |||||||||
| Identifiers | IATA: LIZ, ICAO: KLIZ | ||||||||
| Elevation | 746 ft (227 m) AMSL | ||||||||
| |||||||||
Loring Air Force Base (IATA: LIZ, ICAO: KLIZ) was a United States Air Force installation in northeastern Maine, near Limestone and Caribou in Aroostook County. It was one of the largest bases of the U.S. Air Force's Strategic Air Command during its existence, and was transferred to the newly created Air Combat Command in 1992.
The base's origins began in 1947 with an order for construction of an airfield by the New England Division of the United States Army Corps of Engineers. The chosen site, in northeastern Maine within both Limestone Township and Caswell Plantation, was the closest point in the continental U.S. to Europe, providing high strategic value during the Cold War. The base was originally named Limestone Army Air Field, and was renamed Limestone Air Force Base following the establishment of the Air Force in 1947. It was named in 1954 for Major Charles J. Loring, Jr., USAF, a Medal of Honor recipient during the Korean War. From 1951 to 1962, it was co-located next to Caribou Air Force Station.
Loring was home to a civilian population, many of whom were employed alongside active duty service members. The base included many amenities, such as a hospital, school, and ski hill, which facilitated the adjustment to Maine life by the civilians.
The 1991 Base Realignment and Closure Commission recommended that Loring be closed and its aircraft and mission be distributed to other bases in the nation. The base was closed in September 1994 after over 40 years of service. It was redeveloped by the Loring Development Authority as the Loring Commerce Centre, an industrial and aviation park; the airfield is operated as Loring International Airport.