At the peak of construction, there were 15,500 people employed here. The base was constructed in 270 days, contained 498 buildings, over 50 miles for roadway, covered over 2500 acres, and cost S56 million. The largest drill halls were 600 feet long and 120 feet wide. The base closed in May of 1946 after training 411,000 sailors.

During the Korean War the land was converted to the Sampson Air Force Base and over 300,000 airmen received their basic training here from November 1950 until April 1956. In 1960 the land was transferred to the State of New York for use as a State Park. Former military buildings, drill halls, parade grounds and roadways have given way to grasses, wildflowers, shrubs and trees on flat, rolling woodlands surrounding ravines.

Sampson served the U.S. Air Force as a recruit training base during the Korean War period of 1950-1956. Recruits at Sampson were drawn from all over the Eastern United States. Sampson AFB was also home of the largest USAF Hospital. The Base located in Seneca County in the Finger Lakes of New York, is now a State Park. Over a quarter million men and women were stationed there in the five and a half years of operation.

Originally built in 1942 as a Naval Training Station, closed at the end of WWII, Sampson was reactivated as a USAF Training Base and was alive with young Air Force Men and Women training to serve their country. During the period we believe over 300,000 men received their basic training and another 50,000 men and women were stationed here as permanent party.

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