page_title: Loring Air Force Base
section_title: 42nd Bomb Wing
hierarchical_section_title: Loring Air Force Base / Major units / 42nd Bomb Wing
caption_attribution_description: English: Emblem of the 42d Air Refueling Squadron (SAC)
context_page_description: Loring Air Force Base was a United States Air Force installation in northeastern Maine, near Limestone and Caribou in Aroostook County. It was one of the largest bases of the U.S. Air Force's Strategic Air Command during its existence, and was transferred to the newly created Air Combat Command in 1992.
  The base's origins began in 1947 with an order for construction of an airfield by the New England Division of the United States Army Corps of Engineers. The chosen site, in northeastern Maine within both Limestone Township and Caswell Plantation, was the closest point in the continental U.S. to Europe, providing high strategic value during the Cold War. The base was originally named Limestone Army Air Field, and was renamed Limestone Air Force Base following the establishment of the Air Force in 1947. It was named in 1954 for Major Charles J. Loring, Jr., USAF, a Medal of Honor recipient during the Korean War. From 1951 to 1962, it was co-located next to Caribou Air Force Station.
  Loring was home to a civilian population, many of whom were employed alongside active duty service members.
context_section_description: The 42nd Bomb Wing was the host unit at Loring AFB from 1953 until 1994, supporting national security objectives with mission-ready B-52G Stratofortresses, and KC-135 Stratotanker aircraft. The wing had the ability to deploy at any time to support both SAC, and later, ACC missions. It was operational at Loring from 1953 to 1994. 
  The 42nd Operations Group (OG) formerly supported national security objectives, as directed by the Joint Chiefs of Staff, utilizing B-52 and KC-135 aircraft. Operational squadrons during the time of its operation at Loring included:
  69th Bombardment Squadron (B-52, 1952–1991)
  70th Bombardment Squadron (B-52, 1953–1966)
  75th Bombardment Squadron (B-52, 1953–1956)
  42d Air Refueling Squadron (KC-135, 1955–1994)
  407th Air Refueling Squadron (KC-135, 1968–1990)
  All B-52s carried the "LZ" Tailcode. In addition to the 42nd OG, other components of the 42nd Bomb Wing were:
  42nd Organizational Maintenance Squadron
  42nd Field Maintenance Squadron
  42nd Avionics Maintenance Squadron
  42nd Munitions Maintenance Squadron
  42nd Combat Support Group
  42nd Transportation Squadron
  42nd Supply Squadron
  42nd Civil Engineering Squadron
  42nd Consolidated headquarters Squadron
  42nd Security Police Squadron
  42nd Airborne Missile Maintenance Squadron (1964–1974), responsible for maintenance of missiles that were fitted onto the B-52s
  2192nd Communications Squadron, Air Force Communications Command unit absorbed into 42nd Bomb Wing in 1990
  Upon Loring's 1994 closure, the 42nd was moved to Maxwell Air Force Base in Alabama, where it became the 42nd Air Base Wing. All other squadrons of the wing were inactivated and have remained inactive, except for the 69th, which was reactivated in 2009 at Minot Air Force Base.
caption: Emblem of the 42d Air Refueling Squadron
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