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 outer room had two 36-inch wide by 10 feet long rubber mats installed on the floor. On each side of the room were two benches each measured 30 inches in width, by 72 and 96 inches in length, respectively. The inner room was actually a vault. It measured 12 feet in width by 10 feet in length. The height of the vault was also 12 feet. A vault door with a combination lock had been installed in the center of the one foot, four inch thick wall separating the inner and outer rooms of the structure. The intake and exhaust, positive pressure, climate control, and security of the facility were all specifically designed for storage of the material that would be placed within the vault of the structure. These structures were designed and were used to store weapons reservoir gas bottles that contained tritium gas. Tritium is a radioactive gas that was used to boost the yield of thermonuclear weapons. All of the standard and special igloos, and three of the four Type VI igloos still remain at the site. One Type VI igloo (Building No. 309) was demolished in 1988. The facility was removed to make way for a security patrol road that was constructed in the northern part of the SAC Weapons Storage Area. This patrol road allowed the new perimeter fence behind the storage igloos to be patrolled by security personnel. According to base records for this structure, the igloos original cost in 1954 was $36,877.00. Subsequent improvements, which were made to the structure through 1956, included the installation of an ADT security system in February 1956. The total value of the structure at that time was $39,501.25. This valuation was in 1956 dollars. Today’s valuation would have been at least three times that amount.