When I reported to Stony Brook Air Force Station in the early fall of 1956, it had been in operation
for about two years. Built in 1954 as one of the last Operational Storage Sites in the United States, Stony
Brook eventually housed approximately 400 enlisted men and officers. Originally staffed by members of
the 1091st Special Reporting Squadron out of Sandia Base, New Mexico, the unit assignments gradually
changed throughout 1955, 1956 and into early 1957. When I arrived at Stony Brook, the units assigned
to that station were the 3084th Operations Squadron (my assignment), the 3084th Support Squadron
and the 3084th Security Squadron. The 3084th Operations Squadron was redesignated the 3097th
Aviation Depot Squadron in March of 1957. The unit designations remained the same during my tour
there from late 1956 until my separation from the Air Force in July 1959.
Memories of my arrival at Stony Brook as well as most of the daily activities remain, at best,
blurry after 50+ years. A few incidents do stand out in better clarity and are included in the Memories
Section of this site. My first impressions of Stony Brook were positive, with the barracks, mess hall
and other perks being quite a step up from my experiences in basic training and at tech school at Lowry
AFB in Denver. The barracks rooms were semi-private accommodations that were very comfortable and
roomy compared to the bunks and open bays of my previous assignments. When I first arrived, I had a
roommate, but at some future date I had a room all to myself. Great duty. The mess hall was excellent,
although some of the menu items were similar to earlier experiences, like “SOS” for breakfast and
“mystery meat” for dinner. But, overall, the food was great and the surroundings more than acceptable.
The Air Force treated us well in that regard. I am sure that, with Stony Brook being a vital part of our
country's defenses during the Cold War, we were all treated better for that reason.
Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays became special treats with lots of food, festive decorations
and atmosphere. Of course, we had the usual aspects of military life, such as KP, barracks and other
details, room and building inspections, and discipline. However, those were a small price to pay for the
better than average treatment we received. The responsibilities shouldered by the officers and enlisted
men on Stony Brook at that time, as well as the other similar sites, were awesome now that I look back
on that period. As the history of the Cold War is disclosed in greater detail to the American public, it will
be better understood how truly dangerous this period was and how close the world came to total
destruction. The initial disparity between the immense military might of the army of the Soviet Union and
the demobilized American military following World War II was offset to a great extent by our nuclear
weapons arsenal. The ability to assemble and deliver nuclear weapons in a timely and efficient manner
to all of our strategic forces became a battle of extreme importance.
With the successful detonation of their own nuclear weapon by the Soviet Union in 1949, the
ability of the United States to build, maintain and expand its nuclear forces took on an even greater
urgency. Thus came the advent of the Operational Storage Sites such as Stony Brook, Rushmore,
Caribou, Deep Creek and Fairfield, of the Strategic Air Command, and of the later concepts of Mutually
Assured Destruction (MAD) and Massive Retaliation. The role that these sites played during this period is
little known except by those that served on them. Of course, the need for secrecy at that time was
paramount.
Now almost 50 years later, the story of these dedicated veterans needs to be told.
This site derives from many sources. It is a compilation of personal experiences, Air Force and
DOE/DOD documents, internet resources, and declassified military records. Many of the photographs included
on this site were taken by veterans of Stony Brook, by the Air Force and by friends. A special thank-you is
extended to the personnel of the Massachusetts Municipal Wholesale Electric Company (MMWEC) for their
courtesies and assistance to the veterans of Stony Brook Air Force Station. MMWEC has been the owner
of the major portions of Stony Brook since the early 1970s.