The Newark Air
Force Base Newspaper "On Target" served the employees and
families of the Base as their unofficial communication source for over 30 years.
The tabloid began its publication three years after the base, or group as it was
known then, officially opened. The newspaper provided a bi-monthly and
sometimes weekly accumulation of stories about people, functions, happenings and
events. It was characterized for so many years by its homespun format of
articles and newsprint illustrations, photographs, neighborhood gossip and
advertising. It became a most sought after commodity as each succeeding
issue was released.
The newspapers originating editor,
Leonard Waite, served as organizer and editor for over 20 long years with the
help of Virginia DeWalt and the Public Relations Staff. The newsheet had
two publishers during it lifetime, the Ace News Co. owned by the Gainers of
Heath, Ohio and the Utica Herald owned by Nelson A. Smith of Utica who assumed
the publication roll in November 1984. About that same time David B.
Levingston replace Leonard Waite as Public Affairs Officer and Sandy Layman took
over as Managing Editor along with B. J. Seitz as Editorial Assistant.
This arrangement continued until September 1993 when Mike Wilson, a former
writer, became Editor and continued until the publication terminated due to the
Base inactivation and closure that occurred in September 1996.
A total of 859 issues of "On Targets" were published and distributed during the over 30 years of operation. Comprised of over 12 thousand pages of newsprint that contained stories prepared by literally hundreds of authors who reported significant events that occurred. The dozen or so pages of each issue contained a host of stories and photos of individual employees and groups, photographs and illustrations of major events, awards, presentations and the many distinguished individuals that visited. When the installation experienced extensive build up during the 60s, 70s and 80s as well as the traumatic experience of downsizing and closure of the 90s On Target was there to document these important events.
Today the base newspaper, On Target, represents a legend and becomes a remaining depository for history and artifacts regarding this great "Center of Excellence" There are but a few remaining complete libraries of On Targets left in existence today. However, our web site has had the good fortune to have such a set along with many of the original photographs which were taken by the On Target publication staff. In addition a video-cassette documentary covering the history of the base newspaper "On Target" is now available and often shown at former employee reunion events.
A great deal of the material taken from "On Target" you will find in a variety of Home Pages along with other illustrations as you browse the site. However, this Home Page entitled "On Target" has been reserved to share some of those unusual incidents, some trivia as well as people type stories that were so popular. So again we ask you to visit the site and the page frequently; perhaps you'll find yourself or the favorite story you've long been searching for.
Because of the
volume, a group of selections will be added to the page frequently.
Perhaps a photograph or story involving yourself will be selected. Maybe
some incident occurred that you remember appeared in the paper will be shown.
If you have any thoughts or suggestions of past "On Target"
topics let us know. But, regardless we ask that you visit the site as
frequently as you can to view the new material that will be added.
Thanks so much for visiting with us and if this is your first visit you
can begin your reminiscent experience by clicking the ICON . . . "On
Target".