But you're right, there are many people who are opposed to it. The now empty mess hall full of soldiers, mechanics working in the motor pool, people bowling and playing tennis in the rec area. And the F-35, like any other major program, has political spoils. Our return to the base actually took us longer than the climb to the summit because we did a little geocaching along the way. We're here for the foreseeable future, Harder said. We roamed around the summit for a while looking at the buildings. It wasnt perfect. But heres the thing about that process. One such place for Full Dark is the abandoned Lyndonville Radar Base. Consisting of several deep shafts, a number of missile silos and a maze of tunnels, the installation was large enough to house hundreds of personnel and could stay completely autonomous for up to 15 days. Site 2 of the 556th Strategic Missile Squadron, Plattsburgh. Jane Lindholm, 2018: So we know the delegation has supported it and political influence is a large factor. He's from a fairly liberal state, not always someone that the defense hawks could count on for support. Its so loud. Tucked into the mountains of Vermont from 1956 to 1963 the base not only consisted of the usual mess hall, motor pool, and barracks. "Mission" was one of five factors the Air Force said went into their basing decision. (The Air National Guard is a reserve component of the Air Force.) Especially when it comes over the building and does its turns. They were all open with weeds and grass growing up around them, so I knew they had not been closed in a long time. _ Mission, which is a heavier weighted part of it training airspace, our ability to meet training requirements for the F-35 and the mission. Mare Island Naval Shipyard. So, the Pentagon budget is enormous. Is it the environmental impact, is that the key factor here and whether or not you think the F-35 should be here? Have stories to tell not stuff to show.. And Bobbys question was basically: Why are these things here? Here we enjoyed the view while we ate a picnic lunch. Though many of the fort's military structures remain, much of the land has been sold off to private developers and part of the site garnered National Monument status in 2012. The steel areas, though rusty in appearance seemed quite solid. Since then parts of the site have been repurposed as housing, motels, a gym, restaurants and more, but a significant proportion of the facility remains derelict and out of bounds. There is a need militarily for national defense, then-Vermont National Guard Assistant Adjutant General Richard Harris told VPR. So the Air Force narrowed it down to some finalists, and produced a hefty Environmental Impact Statement. But would that matter for Vermont? Heres an anecdote that illustrates the ambiguity. Watch the video below to hear local residents describe the F-35 sound as it flies overhead. McIntyre, Rosanne argues. eljava Air Base was built by the Yugoslav armed forces between the late 1940s and early 1960s under a mountain at a secret location on what is now the border of Bosnia and Croatia. And after the decision was made for Burlington, the pro-F-35 postcards became a talking point. It's not like a commercial aircraft that flies over and we have plenty of those that fly over Winooski as well, Bobby said during a quieter moment. All in all, nine forts and nine batteries were constructed on the site. Yesterday my son and I embarked on an adventure close to home. Thats where the Vermont Air National Guard takes off and lands for their training flights, roughly twice a day. There was an interesting track system that seemed to go from tower to tower. Surveillance radars were placed on the top of the mountain, which was protected by surface-to-air missile interceptor systems and heavily guarded 24/7. Tweet. We worked our way across these and into the dark stairwell. They said, the best place is South Carolina. The F-35 is a stealth fighter jet that is the largest single weapon system ever procured by the Pentagon. And there were certainly people in Vermont that didn't want the planes who sort of seized that.. Along the way we found other building here and there. Despite the vast expense, the withdrawing Yugoslav People's Army destroyed much of the complex during the Yugoslav Wars in 1991 to prevent the opposing forces from using it for their own ends. In the environmental component, Vermont is not first, but overall we are still the preferred base. One such place for Full Dark is the abandoned Lyndonville Radar Base. And that's not what we're looking for. Special thanks to Bob Kinzel, Julie Macuga, Kirk Carapezza, Sarah Harris and Taylor Dobbs and to VPRs program Vermont Edition, for doing so many shows on the F-35 over the years. And we're appreciative of that opportunity., What happens now, Harder explains, is the Air Force and the Air National Guard will do another noise modeling study, to see if what was predicted [in the EIS], is that, kind of, the reality of how we are doing our operations?. It's an investment to the local economy. And so, again, even though the process for deciding these things is a pretty bureaucratic one, where they do all kinds of different assessments, I've been around long enough and covered some of these debates long enough to know that, while you might not be able to find the direct link between senator so-and-so making the call and the decision being made, there's no doubt that these decisions can be influenced.. In the early 2000s, the facility was used to care for mentally disabled adults. From Route 102 in Guildhall I turned onto Granby Road. Another noise study. There was enough in the Environmental Impact Statement that I think would cause any rational and caring human being to say, This is not appropriate to put in a residential neighborhood, Greco says. The naval forts were swiftly abandoned by the military following the war. We then came out into an open area. And unfortunately, I feel like my opinion and those opinions that are in the community that feel the same way [we] aren't being heard by those that are in power. Savanna grew to become the biggest munitions storage base in America during World War II.The depot had a workforce of thousands in its heyday. That's a really good question. The facility dates from 1917 when it served as a manoeuvre area and field artillery target range. In other words, they made Vermont look more attractive, the base look more attractive, downplayed some of the environmental concerns about having the planes there, the noise level, the public safety, Bender says. WebOctober 2nd, 2021SaturdayThis first video of this series is just us driving up to the base camp. The first few steps are missing some pieces. [Phil] Scott all supported the F-35. Colonel Greco, for you, is it noise? This was about nine months before Burlington was announced as the chosen base location. They looked quite rotted and not safe. Like. As for Patrick Leahy, hes always downplayed his own political influence. They said they needed the mission, because their current jet, the F-16, was aging into obsolescence. Sure we were, and we were providing information, accurate information about our operations. Of all the abandoned places in Vermont, the Belvidere Mountain Asbestos Mine is the most dangerous. And is the Air Forces decision one that could ever be reversed? The 676th Radar Squadron was decommissioned in 1977 and has sat abandoned ever since. This is Bobby Arnell, and I am recording what it sounds like to have an F-35 flying over our house! he shouts as a kind of piercing rumble fills and distorts the recording. Situated atop East Mountain in the remote Northeast Kingdom of Vermont, the mysterious and intriguing former Air Force Base is revered as a And a number of years ago, Senators Leahy and Bernie Sanders who are both senior members of the Senate, politically powerful, sitting on key committees they went to bat with the Pentagon and the Air Force to try and get Vermont to the top of the list when it comes to actually getting some of these new planes. As was the case with several other bases in our round-up, the end of the Cold War spelled the demise of Chanute. They included chemical weapons such as mustard gas. Sacramento Army Depot. The landowner did not know that snowmobilers were still on the property. Site 2 of the 556th Strategic Missile Squadron, Plattsburgh. That's true, Sanders replied. We climbed the long dark stairwell to an open area. And Bobby added that his questioning of the F-35 isnt rooted in criticism of the Air National Guard itself. Stay ConnectedTwitterInstagramredditSupport Brave Little StateListen on your smart speakerSign up for our newsletterE-mail us. We recommend listening to the audio above if you can! You couldn't get to the actual radar dome though. We have no follow-on mission right now We can't just go to Burger King and order a follow-on mission off the menu. He grew up in a military family, in the Northeast Kingdom. Outside of special events, the property remains abandoned. The following is a list of United States Army Installations that have been closed down; Language links are at the top of the page across from the title. It is quite sad to see all the graffiti and vandalism here. Its based at BTV, the Burlington International Airport. The radar base that once employed 174 military personnel must have been quite spectacular in its day. We located the gate on the way out 2 miles from the base. But certainly, he didn't stop it. Packs of wild dogs roam the landscape, adding to the post-apocalyptic vibe. Four naval and three army forts were built at a cost of 724,000, which works out at 34 million ($43m) today when adjusted for inflation. ISC Kodiak Coast Guard Base in Kodiak Island, AK. I was surprised to suddenly find myself beside the motor pool. This is where we meet someone who has been opposed to the F-35 from the beginning. After World War II, the fort was used as a training facility and went on to became America's leading instructional installation during the Vietnam War. of Defense Base Structure Report FY2005, U.S. Dept. A disclosure at the outset: There is basically nothing straightforward about this story. In the late eightys another death occurred when someone fell from one of the buildings. Because as much as this was an Air Force decision, there were some other prominent characters in the story. With a little knowledge of the history, I was more excited than ever to explore this base in the mountains of Vermont. I actually think it would be Senator Leahy, Bobby said. All of the archival tape in this story is thanks to the work of our VPR news colleagues over the years. A striking memorial standing 105 feet tall was unveiled at the site in 1984. Thats when she first heard Vermont might get the F-35. This was conceived more than a generation ago, Bender says of the program. San Carlos War Dog Training Center. That happened in September of 2019. One of 12 Atlas F ICBM sites in NY and VT which ringed Plattsburgh Air Force Base during the Cold War. Then there was our congressional delegation. Much of the east side of Maidstone Lake can be seen from here. Mix and sound design by Josh Crane; digital production by Myra Flynn and Elodie Reed; video by VPRs news fellow Marlon Hyde. Fort IX, which was partly renovated in 2007, houses an exhibition of artefacts and welcomes hundreds of thousands of visitors a year. Despite relentless bombardment, the facility held out for an impressive 11 days, a testament to its robustness. Pin. The complex has remained abandoned ever since. My sense was that Sanders certainly didn't stand in the way of this, Bender goes on. We know the Air Force supported it. The total cost of construction was $585,000, which translates to $11.7 million (9m) in today's money. And they say the records show that this decision was forced. The base was further expanded during World War II when accommodation for 15,000 personnel was built. So Bobby came to us, with a question about the F-35. Along with the mess hall, motor pool, gymnasium, tennis court and bowling alley, we found two building that must have been barracks, and a cement pad where a another building of some sort must have stood. As you might imagine, toxic pollutants and unexploded ordnance litter the site, parts of which remain extremely dangerous. The radar base that once employed 174 military personnel must have been quite spectacular in its day. Decisions are based on a comprehensive assessment of all viable basing locations. It's an investment in the airport. The Vermont Air Guard had actually been activated after that attack. WebAir Force Combat Wings Lineage and Honors Histories 1947-1977. And it's an investment into the 1,100 men and women that that work and serve our National Guard, Cray said the same year. It is tight getting through the tubelike opening with a pack on. Alburg, Vermont (VT), US. I am not sure what these were used for. After exploring the ground at the summit we proceeded to climb the last small radar tower in the row of towers. Heres a back-and-forth that illustrates this tension. So now my curiosity was really piqued. I mean, there's two sides on this issue. Under ANG Scenario 2, there would be 803 fewer operations. The facility was deemed superfluous to the needs of the US military, which went on a downsizing spree during the early 1990s. A bewildering waste of taxpayers' money, the Stanley R. Mickelsen Safeguard Complex in Nekoma, North Dakota was completed in April 1975 at a cost of $6 billion (4.7bn) when adjusted for 2019 dollars. This top-secret missile base near Lake Plateliai in what is now Lithuania was built by a workforce of 10,000 men from 1960 to 1962. Subscribe to Brave Little State for free, and never miss an episode: Bobby Arnell lives in Winooski with his wife and 5-year-old daughter. The former base was to have been used as a maintenance site for the oil industry. For example, we secured funding for the Chamberlain School in South Burlington, were getting funding for communities to help. Gen. Hank Harder, with the Vermont Air National Guard, dismissed Rosanne Grecos assertion that the Guard had unduly influenced or manipulated the process in any way: I can tell you that as long as I've been in the Guard and the people that I serve with, we keep our oath very prominent, that we're going to serve to the best of our ability and serve the Constitution. Overall, the cost of basing the airplane here. He didnt get to speak with Leahy for this episode, but he did get to pepper General Hank Harder, of the Vermont Air National Guard, with questions for almost an hour. Our aircraft are going away within the next six to eight years. However, when it opened in 1956 it was called the North Concord Air Force Station. But we do have an Air National Guard. She joined the Air Force when she was 25. The base Do you have any idea as to what that means for future missions for the Guard?, I don't want to necessarily speculate on that, Harder replied. There were other potential Air Guard bases, in McEntire, South Carolina, and Jacksonville, Florida, where far fewer people would be impacted by the noise. With a summit elevation of 3439 feet, East Mountain is the highest peak in Essex County. They were very vocal in their support of the F-35. The noise does not bother me I sort of enjoy it, Greco says. I know Senator Sanders, Congressman Welch, I and the governor are doing everything possible, working with the Guard to do that. He sold his house. The base closed for good in December 1993. Only intended to serve four years until I got my master's and get out, she says. The Stanley R. Mickelsen Safeguard Complex was snapped up by a religious group named the Spring Creek Hutterite Colony. The structures were named after their designer Guy Maunsell. If that gate is closed hiking round trip distance would be 9 miles. The Air Force does not maintain records of delegation contacts.. Situated atop East Mountain in the remote Northeast Kingdom of Vermont, the The crumbling base has been nicknamed Zombieland and likened to TV show The Walking Dead by US soldiers, while the Afghan security forces refer to the dilapidated buildings as houses for demons. But the weight for mission is the stronger weighted, because it's more about mission and meeting the Air Force needs to meet its strategy. The installation was completed in 1917 at a cost of $1 million, around $20 million (16m) in today's money. The installation was completed in 1917 at a cost It is our federally-resourced and mandated mission that we have to train and be ready for the nation's call, just like we were after 9/11. The rest of the site is not much more than a ruin. As for the people we were covering? The sighting lasted 18 minutes. Vermont is one place where the aircraft showed up first, in the Air National Guard.. [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons, Presidio of Monterey [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons, Erlend Hammer [CC BY-SA 3.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)], Ballota [CC BY-SA 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0)], Jerry Gunner [CC BY 2.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0)], Library of Congress [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons. WebAbandoned Missile Silo, Alburg, VT (Google Maps). It was once part of the North Concord Radar Station that existed on East He was a senior member of the Appropriations Committee at the time, [a committee that] oversees the Pentagon budget. Our goal is to give you a reader-friendly document, they said on page 2 of more than 1,000. From the information I had gathered I was expecting to have to park at the gate. I think the Air Guard, I think the National Guard in Vermont does a lot of great things for the community. But because I have heard this as being noisier, Ive been working to get money, FAA funding, to help with mitigation. But for the Air Force, while that bucket is a consideration, its only a minor one. We've said all along and recognize the fact that the F-35 is slightly louder than the F-16. Plans have been floated to redevelop the ramshackle facilities, including a $127 million (100m) project to transform Red Sands Fort into a luxury hotel, but none have made it off the drawing board. In 1961 it was the site of a UFO encounter. In Burlington, it would be thousands. If you are wearing a hat I suggest you remove it before stepping onto the roof. A Women's Army Corps school was also set up during the conflict. There is also a summit building with these same tracks in the floor. Angela Evancie is Vermont Public's Director of Engagement Journalism and the Executive Producer of Brave Little State, the station's people-powered journalism project. We asked POLITICOs Bryan Bender how he would answer Bobby Arnells question: How did the F-35 end up being based in Vermont? We want to work with the community as best we can.. A spokesperson for the senator declined our interview request. Back in 2009, the Air Force began to assess which Air Force and Air Guard bases should get the first F-35s. And so I think this was widely seen as sort of a way to kind of get into the good graces of Pat Leahy and obviously, Pat Leahy wanted the planes there. So that's my point of view.. Bernie Sanders office didnt respond to a list of detailed questions about his support of the jets. The final bill could be in the region of $350 million (275m), which totally eclipses the initial cost of the facility. The Vermont Air National Guard prepared for the jet. When we asked about the nature of the Air Forces communication with our delegation, and how many times they were contacted by our senators, they said this: During the F-35 basing action referenced, the Air Force regularly briefed the defense committees and the affected state delegations on the basing status. On March 1, 1956 the 911th Aircraft Control and Warning Squadron took up residence on the base and ground control radar on East Mountain became operational. The site and its operations were closed by the Air Force in 1963, leaving many of the buildings standing Sort of a cement gully with a steel beam in the center.