Many airmen lived in nearby communities, including Riverhead, Quogue and Westhampton. It hosted the F86D from 1955 to 1957, the F102A from 1957 to 1959 and, finally, the F101B from 1959 to 1969. The 98 th FIS moved to Suffolk from Dover, DE, in the summer of 1963. It was always exciting driving past the base. They were a formidable sight, whether taxiing past the alert hangars or taking off in formation.
Great air shows.
The first was in the late 1950s. He was signing autographs under the nose of an F101B. Gabreski is one of the U. S. s top aces from both WWII and Korea. The Thunderbirds put on a splendid show with F100s. One did a barrel roll low over the field. I have not seen this in any of their performances since.