 During 1946-1950, personnel from Ladd laid some of the groundwork of the early Cold War with strategic reconnaissance and Arctic research projects.Among other missions, they made initial assessments of the Soviet presence in the Arctic; more fully developed the practice of polar navigation; extended Arctic topography; tested cold weather equipment, clothing, and human performance, as well as maintained the area air defenses of the region.In 1948, as Cold War tensions heightened, the Army's 2nd Infantry sent ground defense soldiers to Ladd

From the onset of the Korean War in 1950 and continuing through 1957, Ladd saw intense use.