A monthly look at history of the Base campus of the Central Ohio Aerospace and Technology Center  



 
Lowney Retires
The above photo is from an December 1989 On Target story.
December 2009

It's been 16 years ago that Newark AFB learned of its pending closure, 43 years since the base's newspaper, On Target, was first published, and over 45 years since the establishment of a guidance and metrology operation in Heath. From a complete collection of On Target newspapers and other archives, the Port Authority's Bill Wright creates a month-by-month look at The Base through the years.

One Year Ago - December 2008
Roadway project bid saw Layton Excavating present the low bid at just under $2.9 million. Digging would begin in the next month with the road, bridge and east parking lot all being completed by September 2009.


5 Years Ago - December 2004
Time Capsule: The Newark AFB Bicentennial time capsule, dug up in June, was made a permanent loan to The Works museum in Newark. About 40 Base advocates and former Base employees gathered on Veteran's Day to view the unveiling of the new Works display about the Base created from the contents of the time capsule.


15 Years Ago - December 1994
AGMC supervisor wins EEO award. Newark AFB supervisor Jan Parks was selected as a winner in the Air Force Distinguished Equal Employment Opportunity Awards. Parks was selected as the 1994 winner in the Affirmative Action category for his role in contributing outstanding support of the Air Force and AGMC goals for affirmative action.


20 Years Ago - December 1989
Lowney retirement closes era at Center. When R. Eric Lowney left here to begin his retirement, he closed an era. Mr. Lowney was one of the first people officially assigned to Newark AFB, then known as the Heath Maintenance Annex and he was the last of those first hirees. He was officially a part of the Newark operation April 15, 1962. During his years here he worked on the systems for two bombers, two fighters, one missile, one cargo plane and a submarine.


25 Years Ago - December 1984
Metrology lab opens for new support. The first major facility improvement for Metrology in at least 5 years was opened Dec. 6, 1984. The 3,900 square foot laboratory was constructed by R.G. Zachrich Construction, Inc. for a cost of $586,000. The purpose of the laboratory is to support calibration of expanded workloads and to house engineering projects with the objective of developing new measurement standards.


30 Years Ago - December 1979
Metallurgist holds one-of-a-kind job. Norman Marttala had the last word in metallurgy at AGMC. He was the AGMC metallurgist and the only employed here with that title. Marttala came here after holding positions at United States Steel in Pennsylvania and Kaiser Aluminum in Heath. Metallurgy, he said, is the science and technology of metals. Marttala's job here was in physical metallurgy. He worked with composition of metal's mechanical working (either cold or hot as effected by heat). One of AGMC's biggest problems is corrosion of metals. Marttala had to determine what caused the corrosion and if the problem was really corrosion.


35 Years Ago - December 1974
No Light, No Heat for Bldg. 2. During the holiday curtailment of operations, Dec. 21- Jan. 1, Bldg. 2 was completely closed and was not lighted or heated. Heat and light was also reduced in Bldg. 4 to the maximum extent possible. There was a natural gas shortage during this time in 1974 and 75, so energy conservation was needed.


40 Years Ago - December 1969
Iranian Visitors. Three members of the Imperial Iranian Air Force visited AGMC for three weeks of training on the Transportable Field Calibration Unit. During their visit the Iranians also received training on flow, microwave, theodolite, and phase measurement in the Air Force Standards laboratories.







Previous Issues
  • November 2009
  • October 2009
  • September 2009
  • August 2009
  • July 2009
  • June 2009
  • April 2009
  • March 2009
  • February 2009
  • January 2009
  • 2008 Archive
  • 2007 Archive
  • 2006 Archive
  • 2005 Archive

    Future Issues

  • Coming Soon: January 2010

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