Greater Utica Magazine Cover – June 2018 – Griffiss Air Force Base Rome NY – A Historic Look at a Cold War Military Powerhouse

The June 2018 cover of Greater Utica Magazine explores the history of Griffiss Air Force Base in Rome NY, a site that played a vital role in both World War II and the Cold War. Established in 1942 as the Rome Air Depot, Griffiss Air Force Base in Rome NY began as a key aircraft maintenance and supply hub supporting wartime operations.

In the decades that followed, Griffiss Air Force Base in Rome NY evolved into a major Strategic Air Command installation, hosting B-52 bombers and serving as a critical component of America’s nuclear deterrent. The base also became a center for advanced electronics research and air defense systems, contributing to national security during one of the most tense periods in global history.

Before its closure in 1995, Griffiss Air Force Base in Rome NY stood as one of the region’s most important military and economic institutions, leaving behind a lasting legacy in the Mohawk Valley.