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Wendover Air Force Base's history began in 1940, when the United States Army began looking for additional bombing ranges. The area near the town of Wendover was well-suited to these needs; the land was virtually uninhabited, had generally excellent flying weather, and the nearest large city (Salt Lake City) was 100 miles (160 km) away (Wendover had around 100 citizens at the time). [1]
The Historic Wendover Airfield Foundation was established in 2001 after Jim Petersen visited the airport as part of a tour group. The following year he became airport manager. [3] The project began with the renovation of, and opening a museum in, the former operations building in March of that year. [4] [5]
[1] The 216th Army Air Forces Base Unit was formed at Wendover Army Airfield in Utah, where it supported the 72d Fighter Wing, a formation responsible for training pilots of P-47 Thunderbolts. The base covered 1,822,000 acres (737,000 ha), and was the largest bombing and gunnery range in the world. [2]
Wendover AAF was declared surplus in 1976 and on June 16 most of the field, including the water system, was turned over to Wendover, Utah, as a municipal airport. Beginning in 1980, the 4440th Tactical Fighter Training Group (Red Flag) at Nellis AFB, Nevada, used the field for exercises, but they were discontinued after 1986. In the late 1990s ...
Hangar of the Enola Gay on the former Wendover Army Air Field, January 2006. During World War II, the nearby Wendover Army Air Field (later known as the Wendover Air Force Base) was a training base for bomber pilots, including the crew of the Enola Gay. The Enola Gay was stationed here until June 1945. [7]
Operational airfield of Kearns Army Air Base (AAFTC) Now South Valley Regional Airport (FAA LID: U42) Salt Lake City AAB/APT, Salt Lake City, Utah; Joint Use USAAF/Civil Airport as freight terminal Now: Salt Lake City International Airport (IATA: SLC, ICAO: KSLC, FAA LID: SLC) Wendover Field, Wendover, Utah; Was: Wendover Air Force Base (1947-1965)
The Wendover Army Air Field was created in 1942 for research and training, with testing of Republic-Ford JB-2 (U.S. copy of the V-1 flying bomb) in 1945-1946, the Matador in the 1950s, and Minuteman motor testing and development in the 1960s.
The 453rd Bombardment Group was activated at Wendover Field, Utah on 1 June 1943 with the 732nd, [2] 733rd, 734th and 735th Bombardment Squadrons [3] assigned as its original elements. It then moved to Pocatello Army Air Field, Idaho, where it was brought up to strength and trained with Consolidated B-24 Liberators.