Radiac Lab Construction.

The above is photo is from June 1987.

It's been more than 10 years ago that Newark AFB learned of its pending closure, more than 40 years since the base's newspaper, On Target, was first published, and 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 created a month-by-month look at The Base through the years.

One Year Ago - June 2006
Feel the Impact. An update to personnel numbers and payroll numbers show The Base continues to have a major impact on the region. The latest figures showed $20 Million as the level of capital investment in projects currently underway at the COATC. $200 Million is the estimated size of the annual economic impact on the regional economy. $53 Million Payroll is the annual payroll based on 2005 payroll reports for The Base. 920 Employees is the level of employment at The Base as of December 31, 2005.


5 Years Ago - June 2002
Flood Wall Completed. Work wrapped up on a project to install a floodwall in the northeast section of the COATC. The wall extends from the eastern bridge and behind the Port Authority offices. The wall was a recommendation following the 1997 flooding at the base.


15 Years Ago - June 1992
Computer systems analyst earns ICBM award. A computer systems analyst in the Directorate of Maintenance received the Air Force Association Intercontinental Ballistic Missile Award. Ray Geisler, credited with significant support of the Minuteman System received the honor. Geisler had worked in various capacities since early 1963 and literally "grew-up" with the Minuteman, according to the nomination.


20 Years Ago - June 1987
Radiac Lab construction begins. The nearly 12,000 square foot facility, built underground, was scheduled for completion in the spring of 1988. It represented new calibration capabilities for AGMC and broadened the support of several Air Force operations.


25 Years Ago - June 1982
Metrology Responds to Crash in Turkey. An Air Force C-130 crashed in Erzurum, Turkey Killing all nine crew members and 18 passengers. Not something that would normally have an impact on AGMC, but it was learned that three technicians from the Air Force's PMEL in Incirlik Turkey had with them transportable field calibration units (TFCU) used to calibrate equipment in Turkey. All TFCU's used by the Air Force were designed and built at AGMCE 16 years earlier. Fortunately, Elgin AFB had recently turned in a unit to AGMC. All 75 instruments in the unit were recalibrated and then loaded into 12 cases by MSgt. David Wingrove. The units were sent ahead of scheduled avoiding a work stoppage at the Incirlik PMEL.


30 Years Ago - June 1977
Col. David Huff, AGMC vice commander assumed command when Col. William Bush retired. Before receiving his retirement certificate after 29 years of service, Col. Bush was awarded the Legion of Merit, first oak leaf cluster, for exceptionally meritorious service as the AGMC commander.


35 Years Ago - June 1972
Change of command. Col. Albert Neville Jr. signed Special Order G-1 assuming the command of the AGMC as it was relinquished by Col. Morris Burkhart. Burkhart was commander of AGMC from 1968 to 1972.


40 Years Ago - June 1967
Microfilm Lab begins production. Operations in NAFS microfilm laboratory began this month. The lab processed all technical data for Minuteman II production, including specification standards and drawings. Instead of the voluminous technical orders which often cost as much as $200 per page, the data would come from contractors on 35 and 16mm film and be reprinted into as many copies as possible. One "side" project saw 65 issues of On Target recorded on to 16mm film. It required 100 feet of film to reproduce this. Leonard Waite, editor, remarked two and half years work wrapped up in 100 feet.


45 Years Ago - June 1962
In April 1962 the Heath Directorate, headed by Col. Tom Lawton, began the move of their entourage of people, equipment and supplies from Middletown Air Material Area, Olmstead AFB located in Harrisburg, PA into the Heath facility. In June, the installation became known officially as the 2802nd Inertial Guidance and Calibration Group.