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



 
Prisoners Three?
The above photo is from July 1979 On Target.
July 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 - July 2008
Governor Strickland visits COATC Boeing and Port Authority officials joined local leaders in welcoming Governor Ted Strickland to the Central Ohio Aerospace & Technology Center (COATC). Governor Strickland used his visit to tout the state's bipartisan, $1.57 Billion economic stimulus package. Workforce components of the package were the focus of the visit.


5 Years Ago - July 2004
SPECIAL: LIVE VIEW FROM CAMERA, RIGHT NOW! For a limited time, the WeatherCamI was available with a live feed for all to see. The west parking lot project was underway and this live feed meant you could see it going on throughout the day.


15 Years Ago - July 1994
Gyroscope pioneer visits AGMC. In the early stages of inertial navigation, theories involving gyroscope operation were developed by a number of aerospace engineers. One of those pioneers of gyroscope design and theory visited NAFB. John Dieselman was a chief engineer at Northrop/Grumman in the early 1960's when the aerospace corporation was designing the Minuteman GI-Ti-B gyroscope. His visit to AGMC was prompted by test problems in the work areas here that specialize in test and repair of a GI-T1-B, a gyroscope that Diesleman designed. James Draper, an MAKE Quality Assurance Specialist, said it was nice having Dieslman here because the drawings we use in test and repair have his signature on them. "Because of his visit, we gained a better insight into the testing of the GI-T!-B and GCA," Draper said.


20 Years Ago - July 1989
Accident results from excessive speed. In early July a Newark AFB employee was killed on his way home from work on a bright sunny Friday. According to the official police reports the cause of the accident was excessive speed. Police indicated that he was traveling in excess of 80mph on Thornwood Drive when his car careened out of control and hit a tree. According to Heath police they would start doing frequent radar detection during heavy morning and evening traffic periods in an effort to slow people down. Here we are 20 years from that time and still speed is an issue on our roadways. Now Heath has introduced the red light and speed cameras. In the first few weeks of issuing citations, the cameras have taken over 4,000 pictures. Rt. 79 is difficult enough to drive on in heavy traffic and it doesn't help with excessive speed and red lights being ran. Take a few moments and slow down and arrive home safe to your family and allow others to do the same.


25 Years Ago - July 1984
AGMC museum reopened. Beginning in early July groups touring the AGMC began, again including the museum on their agenda. The museum was closed in late 1983 due to the extensive construction on the roof of the Activity Center. The museum was first opened in September 1982 as part of AGMC's Heritage Program. The Air Force Logistics Command vice commander, Lt. Gen. Earl O'Loughlin dedicated the museum during the 20th anniversary celebration of the activation of Newark Air Force Station.


30 Years Ago - July 1979
Prisoners Three? Movie title? The movie was "Brubaker" and the prisoners were three NAFS employees who were among 1100 playing extra roles during the filming at nearby Junction City. Ed Burkhart, Otto Samrow and Donald Burns thought the experience "very interesting." Burkhart and Samrow said one day was enough, Burns stuck around for two more. Burkhart said the pay wasn't great. He framed his checks totaling $31.74, including overtime. That was for a 9AM-7:30PM day in the hot sun. The extras wore prison uniforms. All three were in a scene in which actor Robert Redford was fired as the prison warden. Burns was also in a scene in the mess hall and another when Redford was installed as the prison warden.


35 Years Ago - July 1974
Price goes up July 15. Whatever happened to the 25-cent lunch, the 2-cent stamp, the 75-cent haircut, and the 5-cent cup of coffee? They, like almost all commodities and services, have lost the battle to skyrocketing inflation. The base restaurant, for over a year, has tried to combat runaway inflation and the resultant price increase of any restaurant goods. Unfortunately, after having done everything in its power to fight a price increase, the base restaurant must follow the example of the local community restaurants by increasing the sales price of a certain well liked commodity: coffee. Effective July 15, the 10-cent cup of coffee was no more as the price was raised to 15 cents.


40 Years Ago - July 1969
AGMC Aids Apollo 11 Moon Shot A survey of AGMC assistance to Apollo 11's lunar mission showed that three elements of the support complex for the moon shot received support from the Air force Metrology and Calibration System. These elements were the 8 Apollo Range Instrumented Aircraft, the 4 Apollo ships and the 9 Satellite Control Facility activities.







Previous Issues
  • June 2009
  • April 2009
  • March 2009
  • February 2009
  • January 2009
  • 2008 Archive
  • 2007 Archive
  • 2006 Archive
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