Loring Air Force Base
In 1951, the Department of Defense (DOD) allocated funds for the construction of an ordnance storage site at Loring AFB. The designs called for a self-sufficient "maximum security storage area for the most advanced weapons of mankind". The mission of the facility would be the protection and maintenance of the weapons used by SAC. The facility was in the northeast corner of the base, and construction began on 4 August 1951. In addition to 28 storage igloos and other weapons storage structures, the facility included weapons maintenance buildings, barracks, recreational facilities, a warehouse, and offices.
Caribou Air Force Station
The Assembly Area included structures dedicated to the assembly of weapons in preparation for loading on bombers, or the disassembly of the weapons upon return. Plant I (Building No. 216) was constructed in 1952. This huge reinforced concrete structure was the focal point for early atomic (Type I) weapons maintenance. Constructed of heavily reinforced concrete throughout, the structure was the largest to be built at this site. It measured 103.5 feet by 220.5 feet. The original building consisted of six bays (structures) to accommodate various functions of weapons maintenance. On one side of Plant I was the Power Plant Room where two large diesel motor generators stood ready as an emergency power supply. There was also a mechanical bay, an electrical bay, and the readiness or breakdown bay where team members stripped down the weapon for re-assembly. Mounted on the ceiling of each of the large bays was a monorail crane system with a mounted winch. These were used to lift and move nuclear weapons and related components to facilitate their maintenance. The facility included workshops and office space. Bays one and two were connected by a narrow hallway. Bays three, four, five and six were also connected by hallways. A set of blast doors was located in the hallway between bays four and five. Another set of blast doors was located between bays five and six. Inside of each bay, alarms were installed which would activate if an over radiation situation existed.