Lowry Air Force Base was located in Denver, Colorado. For over 50 years, it prepared service members from all branches of the U.S. and Allied Forces for operations that were applied during World War II, the Korean War, the Cold War, and the Vietnam War. Its base population reached 20,000 during World War II and remained active in training missile technology specialists during the 1950s. It served as President Dwight Eisenhower’s Summer White House, and serving as the home of the United States Air Force Academy from 1955 to 1958.[1] It closed in 1994 after having graduated more than 1.1 million students, but despite this remarkable legacy, it also played a significant role in exposing countless Air Force veterans and civilians to asbestos.
The History of Lowry Air Force Base
Named for a Denver native who was killed in action during World War I, Lowry Air Force Base began as Lowry Field at its original location and was relocated to another in 1937 following the allocation of funds by President Franklin D. Roosevelt. Established as a training base, as World War II loomed it was expanded to train bomber aircrews as well as other technical specialists.[2]
After World War II, the base continued to be used to train technicians for all branches of the military. The 59,814-acre Lowry campus included a bombing range that was used by the Navy, the Air Force, and the Air National Guard for practicing bombing and strafing missions and for demolition of unusable munitions. Lowry also served as home to the 3415th Technical Training Wing’s Guided Missile Department, growing to provide training for over 1,000 trained missile specialists annually.[2]
From 1953 to 1955, Lowry served as the Summer White House for President Dwight D. Eisenhower, and in 1955 the United States Air Force Academy made its home at Lowry Air Force Base while its official facilities were being constructed in Colorado Springs. In 1958, Lowry was selected to be the first Titan I ICBM base as a result of its proximity to Titan I manufacturer Martin Company’s (now Lockheed Martin) headquarters. Underground facilities for the project were built of reinforced concrete and structural steel with steel-lined tunnels, with the first missile complex being completed in 1962. Eventually, these programs were discontinued and the last missile was removed from Lowry in 1965.[2]
Missile training continued to be an integral part of Lowry Air Force Base’s mission, but in 1966, flight operations at Lowry ceased. In 1976 the US Air Force Accounting and Finance Center moved to new facilities on the base, and in 1980, Lowry supported training for strategic missiles by providing maintenance and repair training for the Peacekeeper IM reentry vehicle. In 1986, an undergraduate space training program was initiated at Lowry, and the Maintenance Officer’s Nuclear Munitions Course was also conducted there. [2]
In 1993, the Air Force announced that Lowry Air Force Base would be closed as part of cost reduction measures. Though Lowry continues to be an active Air Force base, it is now an administrative center and home of the Reserve Personnel Center providing services and administration for the men and women of the Air Reserve.[2]
How Was Asbestos Used at the Lowry Air Force Base?
Lowry Air Force Base is a sprawling campus. Its oldest buildings were constructed in the 1930s and construction and renovations continued through the 1980s, a period when asbestos was at the height of its use. The carcinogenic material was used in the construction of all types of buildings and infrastructure, including barracks, training sites, mess halls, medical facilities, and administrative structures. Asbestos was a component of floor and ceiling tiles, drywall and adhesives, insulation, paint, cement, and other building materials. Additionally, the material was part of brake linings, gaskets, valves, and pumps that were parts of the vehicles, aircraft, and missile equipment being tested, stored, and trained for on the site. These heavily contaminated parts put those performing repairs and maintenance at risk, and so did the materials used to fortify fireproofing and safety equipment and supplies.
Asbestos was used in all of these applications because of its characteristic strength and ability to insulate against fire, heat, and sound. Though it was invaluable for these purposes, its use also exposed countless trainees, civilian employees, and service members to deadly asbestos dust and fibers that they inhaled, putting them at significant risk for asbestos-related diseases that would only begin to manifest symptoms in the distant future.
Asbestos-containing materials used at Lowry Air Force Base included:
- Adhesives
- Aircraft
- Aircraft Brakes
- Automobile and truck brakes
- Cargo bay insulation Adhesives
- Caulking
- Ceiling tiles
- Cement foundations
- Drywall
- Electrical wiring
- Epoxies
- Fireproofing materials
- Floor tiles
- Gaskets
- Heat shields for aircraft engines
- Heating systems in the cockpit
- HVAC systems
- Insulation materials
- Paint
- Pipes
- Plumbing
- Roofing
- Roofing adhesives
- Sealants
- Vinyl floor tiles
- Wallboard
Who Was at Risk of Asbestos Exposure at Lowry Air Force Base?
Lowry Air Force Base operated for nearly sixty years, and during that time almost every service member and civilian employee who worked on the base was at risk of asbestos exposure. The material was used throughout the base, from the construction of its buildings to the brake linings of base vehicles. Those who worked at construction jobs or in the repair and maintenance of vehicles, infrastructure, and aircraft were particularly at risk of exposure to asbestos fibers when they worked with asbestos-containing parts and materials.
Though the use of asbestos was discontinued in the 1980s, the asbestos contamination of Lowry Air Force Base spanned the full range of the years that the base was operational. Those at particular risk of exposure during those years included:
- Sheet Metal Workers
- Welders
- Electricians
- Contractors
- Construction Workers
- Airmen
- Boiler Workers
- Pipefitters
- Machinists
- Aircraft mechanics
- Construction Workers
- Carpenters
In addition to these workers, family members of those who served or worked at Lowry Air Force Base were also at risk of secondary asbestos exposure from asbestos carried home on their loved ones’ clothing, hair, or skin. There have been many personal injury lawsuits filed by victims of this type of exposure who have been diagnosed with asbestos-related diseases.
Beyond those who worked or served at Lowry Air Force Base, asbestos-contaminated soil has been discovered on land that previously belonged to the Air Force Base, causing concern for communities being constructed around or near the original site. Cleanup and remediation of these sites is continuing.[3]
Help for Lowry Air Force Base Asbestos Victims
Asbestos-related diseases like malignant mesothelioma, asbestos-related lung cancer, COPD, and asbestosis can take years to reveal themselves and often appear decades after the victim was exposed to asbestos. If you or someone you love worked or served at Lowry Air Force Base and has been diagnosed with an asbestos-related disease, an asbestos attorney can help you identify the source of your exposure and help you navigate the challenges that lay ahead.
There are many resources available for those sickened by asbestos at Lowry Air Force Base. Veterans are eligible to apply for disability benefits and can receive specialized care at VA Medical Centers. They can also be referred to non-VA medical centers for high-level treatment. Victims may also be eligible to file claims with any of the asbestos bankruptcy trust funds that have been set up by the asbestos companies whose products exposed them to asbestos, and may also file personal injury lawsuits against those responsible.
