White Paper: The role of Hanscom Air Force Base at Hanscom Field
Hanscom Air Force Base should not be confused with Hanscom Field Airport. Unlike the Massachusetts Port Authority (Massport), the Air Force Base at Hanscom Field has always been a good neighbor to the area communities. The Air Force Base has a minimal environmental impact and is not part of the threat to the historic or natural resources of the area.
Background
In 1940, the Massachusetts Auxiliary Airport was created against the will of the local communities, passing by a single vote in the legislature. The land for the airport was taken by eminent domain at a price of $60,000 for 510 acres.
In 1942, after developing the airport, the Commonwealth leased the airport to the Army Corps of Engineers. The airport became used for a multitude of military operational units and aircraft, which continued until 1973.
In 1943, the airport was named after Lawrence Hanscom, a reporter for the Worcester Telegram who died in an airplane crash.
In 1951, the Air Force assumed control of Hanscom Air Force Base, and established a research center working on “Project Lincoln” related to air defense. The Air Force worked closely with MIT, which eventually led to the creation of Lincoln Labs and MITRE Corp. By 1958, additional Air Force research labs, including the Air Defense System Integration Division and the Electronic Systems Center were established.
On the north side of the Airport, separate from Hanscom Air Force Base, from 1951 to 1999 the Navy, in conjunction with Raytheon, operated the Naval Weapons Industrial Reserve Plant, which had a single large Hangar on the airfield. The facilities behind the Hangar on Hartwell Road developed radar-guided missiles. The hangar served primarily as a site for Raytheon corporate aircraft and was occasionally used for fitting radar equipment to test aircraft.
In 1957, the Massachusetts Port Authority was established. Two years later, in 1959, Congress established Minute Man National Historical Park adjacent to the Airport.
In 1964, NASA considered locating its major electronics research center to Hanscom Field, which would require the Air Force to leave. After considerable debate, it was agreed that the Air Force would stay. Many different Air Force command centers and research groups operated at the base.
In 1970, a 100-unit military housing project in Lincoln was created. By 1973, all military flight operations ceased. The remaining flights were for experimental and staff transportation purposes.
In 1977, the Air Force transferred control of the airport back to the State under Massport, to operate “For the good of the people of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts”.
The Air Force Base occasionally uses the airport for staging military operations and was used during Desert Storm. In addition the Air Force has regular flights to other Air Force bases which go through Hanscom Field. However, the Air Force makes up less than 1% of the aviation activity at the airport and has a negligible traffic, pollution, and noise impact.
Hanscom Air Force Base: A good neighbor
Hanscom Air Force Base regularly participates in public meetings and communicates openly regarding activities that might create environmental impact. Hanscom Air Force base participated in the negotiations with Massport for a Memorandum of Understanding regarding future plans for the airport, as originated by former Massport director Peter Blute. The Air Force Base contributed to the work of the Hanscom Field Noise Workgroup under former Mass. Secretary of Environmental Affairs Trudy Coxe. The Air Force Base is a regular and valued participant in public meetings of the Hanscom Field Advisory Commission. When the Air Force recently consolidated certain facilities within the Base, they worked cooperatively and openly with the communities to understand and mitigate problems in advance.
The communities, through their elected representatives and all the local preservation groups, have repeatedly expressed their support of the Air Force Base.
Conclusion
Many people are confused about the distinction between Hanscom Air Force Base and Hanscom Field Airport. These are completely separate and distinct entities. The threats to the historic and natural resources of the area are not due to the Air Force Base, they are due to a quasi-public authority, Massport, about which a former Massport director recently said
“Massport is a public agency that has lost its sense of mission, confused its priorities, and forgotten the public it is supposed to serve”
Frederick Salvucci, Boston Globe