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Griffiss AFB

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During 1950 and 1951, the Air Force transferred the Watson Laboratory from Eatontown, New Jersey, to Griffiss AFB. This Air Research and Development Command facility subsequently became known as the Rome Air Development Center.

As the Rome Air Development Center, the facility tested large ground electronic systems including radars and command control links needed to support the deployment of defensive and deterrent missile systems.

The base also became host to a SAC B-52 Wing, which arrived in 1960. When the Wing's B-52G aircraft underwent modification to carry Air Launched Cruise Missiles (ALCMs), ground storage and assembly buildings were constructed to provide support for this strategic weapon system. On January 11, 1981, the first two ALCMs came to the 416th Bombardment Wing for environmental and maintenance training of the troops. In April, operational models of these weapons began to arrive at Griffiss. Five months later, President Reagan called for the deployment of 3,000 ALCMs from SAC bombers.

The first training mission with B-52G-mounted ALCMs occurred on September 13, 1981. A year later, a Griffiss-based bomber conducted the first ALCM operational test launch. In December 1982, the first squadron of B-52G bombers to be equipped with nuclear-tipped ALCMs was declared combat ready.

Griffiss AFB was closed under a Base Realignment and Closure Act.