The Schnozzola.

The above photo is from January 1969 On Target.

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 - January 2008
GREENWAY PROJECT Clearing of the newly-purchased land along Irving Wick Drive east of The Base entrance got underway this week. What a difference. The project called for clearing brush and overgrowth along this near half-mile long stretch. We call it the "Greenway Project" because, when grass can grow, we'll have a greener entranceway. The project also signals the start of more to come with the third phase of roadway work on the COATC campus. The first phase was Kaiser Drive, completed in 2005, and the second was James Parkway, which opened in May 2007.


5 Years Ago - January 2004
FOREIGN TRADE ZONE APPROVAL IMMINENT Official word is expected any day now on approval of Foreign-Trade Zone status for 49 acres on the COATC South Campus. The FTZ is an extension of general purpose FTZ #138 (Rickenbacker). The Port Authority expects to secure the extension through an agreement with the Columbus Regional Airport Authority, operators of FTZ#138, with approval by the Foreign Trade Zone Board and the U.S. Department of Commerce. The FTZ is an added incentive for global trade companies to join the COATC family and locate on the 350-acre campus. Local, state, and federal tax benefits are available to companies located in a general purpose FTZ. UPDATE: "After a change in state law to eliminate the inventory tax by 2010, the FTZ has become less an issue. The COATC FTZ status will likely end in 2009."


15 Years Ago - January 1994
SRAM workload passes into AGMC history. A chapter in AGMC history came to a close recently when the last AGM-69 Short Range Attack Missile inertial measurement unit tested complete and was shipped from the base. SRAM inertial guidance system test and repair had been a workload at Newark Air Force Base since the first SRAM repair was accomplished on May 15, 1975.


20 Years Ago - January 1989
New RADIAC lab is open. The new Radiation Detection Identification and Computation lab was finally completed. The 12,000 square foot facility, which took more than a year to complete, replaced two facilities that were previously used for this workload. It would improve the center's ability to support a broader range of instruments required for the Air Force mission, including instruments used for Disaster Preparedness functions, Non- Destructive Inspection and Medical and Health Physics activities.


25 Years Ago - January 1984
Water problems dampen Christmas Holiday. Christmas at NAFS ended with several water problems causing Civil Engineering personnel to work the holiday. The flow alarm in the COM sounded alerting the firemen to a problem. When they arrived at the south side of the COM, water was flowing from the lobby to the outside steps. A break in the sprinkler system above the drop ceiling was discovered. While the clean up was progressing in the COM, a multiple break occurred in a water line between the north outside wall of Building 4 and the telephone equipment room under Mezz 1. The clean up crew then headed for this area as water was running down the hallway and into several rooms. Another area needing attention that day was on Mezz 4 in Metrology. Condensation originating from the humidification system saturated the ceiling tile causing several to fall.


35 Years Ago - January 1974
"On Target" celebrated 10th year. With the first issue of 1974, On Target began its 10th year. The first issue was published on Jan. 7, 1965. During this period the newspaper was published biweekly except for two years (1971-1972) when it ran weekly. On Target was an unofficial commercial newspaper, published by Ace News, Inc at no cost to the government.


40 Years Ago - January 1969
The Schnozzola. The bulbous nose sported by the EC-135N modification of a Stratolifter is reminiscent of the big nose worn by a circus clown. The mission of this weird bird was no laughing matter though. Six such aircraft were used in Apollo 8 recovery to track the descent of the spaceship to earth. Calibration requirements for the plane were developed by the AGMC Directorate of Metrology.