Scott's USAF Installations Page

All text and images created by Scott D. Murdock unless indicated otherwise.

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Trip Report: Vandyland

First published in 2009. Reformatted 2025.

This was one of those times when fate put a business trip to a cool location on my agenda. I had to spend two weeks working at Vandenberg Air Force Base. I opted to drive my own vehicle, tacking vacation days onto the front and back of the trip to allow some exploration time. Just a reminder PIN means Permanent Installation Number and ILC means Installation Location Code; I include these for Air Force properties when I know them.

Thursday, 4 June 2009

I managed to get on the road at 0530, since I had a long day ahead of me.

Utah Launch Complex UT. This Army installation in Green River was an important Cold War missile testing facility. It was an annex to White Sands Missile Range, built for the purpose of firing Athena missiles to White Sands under the Air Force's Advanced Ballistic Re-entry System program (ABRES, for short). So, while this was an Army property, it's primary use was for the Air Force! The Athena launches took place from 1964 until 1971, and the Army then used a separate area on the complex to launch Pershing I missiles from 1971 until 1975. Now, it sits abandoned and in disrepair, although apparently still owned by the Army. Union Carbide Corporation built a uranium concentrator facility in Green River in 1958 and operated it until 1961, about the time that the adjacent land was obtained by the Army for the launch complex. Some sources indicate that the concentrator buildings were reused by the Army when the launch complex was operational, so I've included them in this report. I revisited this installation on 21 June on my way back home, but I've included all the photos here in one place for convenience.
Support area
Support area
Support area
Support area
Support area
Support area
Uranium concentrator area
Uranium concentrator area
Uranium concentrator area
Uranium concentrator area
Uranium concentrator area
Uranium concentrator area
Uranium concentrator area
Magazine area
Magazine area
Magazine area
Meteorology area
Meteorology area
Meteorology area
Meteorology area
Athena area outlying facilities
Athena area outlying facilities
Athena area outlying facilities
Athena area outlying facilities
Athena area outlying facilities
Athena area outlying facilities
Athena area outlying facilities
Athena area outlying facilities
Athena area outlying facilities
Athena area outlying facilities
Athena area outlying facilities
Athena area outlying facilities
Athena area outlying facilities
Athena area outlying facilities
Athena area outlying facilities
Athena area blockhouse
Athena area blockhouse
Athena area blockhouse
Athena area blockhouse
Athena area blockhouse
Athena area blockhouse
Athena area blockhouse
Athena area blockhouse
Athena area blockhouse
Athena area blockhouse
Athena area launch pad 1
Athena area launch pad 1
Athena area launch pad 1
Athena area launch pad 1
Athena area launch pad 1
Athena area launch pad 1
Athena area launch pad 1
Athena area launch pad 1
Athena area launch pad 1
Athena area launch pad 1
Athena area launch pad 1
Athena area launch pad 1
Athena area launch pad 1
Athena area launch pad 1
Athena area launch pad 1
Athena area launch pad 1
Athena area launch pad 1
Athena area launch pad 1
Athena area launch pad 1
Athena area launch pad 1
Athena area launch pad 1
Athena area launch pad 1
Athena area launch pad 2
Athena area launch pad 2
Athena area launch pad 2
Athena area launch pad 2
Athena area launch pad 2
Athena area launch pad 2
Athena area launch pad 2
Athena area launch pad 2
Athena area launch pad 2
Athena area launch pad 2
Athena area launch pad 3
Athena area launch pad 3
Athena area launch pad 3
Athena area launch pad 3
Athena area launch pad 3
Athena area launch pad 3
Athena area launch pad 3
Athena area launch pad 3
Athena area launch pad 3
Athena area launch pad 3
Athena area launch pad 3
Athena area launch pad 3
Athena area launch pad 3
Athena area launch pad 3
Athena area launch pad 3
Athena area launch pad 3
Athena area launch pad 3
Athena area launch pad 3
Athena area launch pad 3
Athena area launch pad 3
Pershing area outlying facilities
Pershing area outlying facilities
Pershing area outlying facilities
Pershing area outlying facilities
Pershing area blockhouse
Pershing area blockhouse
Pershing area blockhouse
Pershing area blockhouse
Pershing area blockhouse
Pershing area blockhouse
Pershing area blockhouse
Pershing area blockhouse
Pershing area blockhouse
Pershing area launch site 1
Pershing area launch site 1
Pershing area launch site 1
Pershing area launch site 1
Pershing area launch site 1
Pershing area launch site 1
Pershing area launch site 2
Pershing area launch site 2
Pershing area launch site 2
Pershing area launch site 2
Pershing area launch site 2
Pershing area launch site 2
Pershing area launch site 2

Hurricane Supersonic Research Site UT, PIN 5286. This Air Force property featured a high-speed track used to test aircraft ejection systems. Just getting to the top of Hurricane Mesa was an adventure--the access road is barely one lane wide, and winds and climbs steeply along the side of the mesa. I stopped twice on this breathtaking ascent to let my overheating Subaru cool down. At the top, I stopped at the keep out signs posted by the current owner.
View from beginning point of access road
Access road winding up the side of the mesa
Elevated water storage tank visible on mesa
Elevated water storage tank visible on mesa
Observation tower visible on mesa
Keep out signs
Elevated water storage tank with modification
Observation tower
General view

I stopped for the night in St. George, Utah, after covering 706 miles in 13.5 hours. This was the longest driving day of the trip.

Friday, 5 June 2009

From St. George I headed southwest, passing through Nevada and Arizona before entering California.

Wheeler Ridge Communications Site GWEN 648 CA, ILC YVGP. This GWEN site had the typical 299-foot tower and was operational from the late 1980s until 1999.
Tower
Equipment shelters
Equipment shelters and access drive

Minter Field CA. This was an Army Air Forces flying school during WWII.
Vintage building
Vintage building
Vintage building

Shafter Gap Filler Annex CA, PIN 4438. This gap filler, known as P-59A, supported Boron Air Force Station from 1959 to 1961.
View from south
View from west

Shafter Communications Facility Annex No. 1 CA, PIN 7009, ILC VKRN. This ground-air transmitter-receiver site, known as R-10, supported Boron Air Force Station in the 1960s and 1970s.
View from south
View from west

Rankin Field CA. This WWII contract flying school was operated for the AAF by Rankin Aeronautical Academy.
Former entry gate
Flag pole
Hangar, east end
Hangar, west end
Historical marker
Historical marker
Building

This was an 11-hour day covering 553 miles. I stopped for the night in Tulare, California.

Saturday, 6 June 2009

I got an early start and headed north.

Madera Air Force Station CA, PIN 1417. This long range radar site, known as P-74, operated from 1952 to 1966.
Front gate
Gate house
Operations building
Operations building
Operations building
Dormitory
Buildings
Buildings
Buildings
Building
Building
Building
Building
Building
Building
Building
Building
Building

Eagle Field CA. This WWII contract flying school was operated for the AAF by Coast Aviation.
Gate
General view
Building
Building
Building
Building
Building and structure
Structure
Hangar
Hangar
Hangar
Hangar
Hangar
Hangar

Moffett Field CA. Built as a naval air station in 1931, this installation was an AAF basic flying school for a couple years in WWII, before transferring back to the Navy. Three extremely large dirigible hangars are the focal point of this base, which is now operated by NASA.
Dirigible hangar
Dirigible hangar
Building

Onizuka Air Force Base CA, PIN 7025, ILC WMSJ. This base had its start as Sunnyvale Satellite Test Annex, then Sunnyvale Air Force Station. One large building, dubbed the "Blue Cube" dominates the small installation. It became Onizuka AFB in the late 1980s, then was changed to Air Station then back to Air Force Station in the 1990s.
Building
General view

Salinas Army Air Base CA. This was an air support base and night fighter replacement training unit in WWII.
Hangar
Hangar
Hangar

Tonight's stopping place was King City, California, after driving 424 miles in 10 hours.

Sunday, 7 June 2009

From King City I headed south.

Santa Maria Army Air Field CA. This was built as a bomber base early in WWII but the mission was changed to P-38 fighter training. The intended bomber mission could explain what seem to be Norden bombsight vaults around the airfield. I revisited this installation on 10 June, but I've included all the photos here in one place for convenience.
Hangar
Hangar
Hangar
Hangar
First Norden bombsight vault
First Norden bombsight vault
First Norden bombsight vault
First Norden bombsight vault
Second Norden bombsight vault
Second Norden bombsight vault
Second Norden bombsight vault
Second Norden bombsight vault
Second Norden bombsight vault
Third Norden bombsight vault
Third Norden bombsight vault
Third Norden bombsight vault
Third Norden bombsight vault
Third Norden bombsight vault

Vandenberg Air Force Base CA, PIN 5569, ILC XUMU. Part of the Army's WWII Camp Cooke was acquired by the Air Force and designated Cooke AFB in 1957. A year later it was redesignated Vandenberg AFB, and remains active.
Minuteman Beach
Surf Beach with Space Launch Complexes in background
Surf Beach sign
Ronald W. Reagan Missile Defense Site
Ronald W. Reagan Missile Defense Site
Ronald W. Reagan Missile Defense Site
Ronald W. Reagan Missile Defense Site
Ronald W. Reagan Missile Defense Site

Vandenberg would be home for the next two weeks. This was a short driving day, only 227 miles in 6 hours. Total trip from Denver was 1,910 miles over 4 days.

Saturday, 13 June 2009

For my weekend I chose to head south to the Los Angeles area.

Oxnard Air Force Base CA, PIN 1489, ILC SQUA. This field saw limited Army use during WWII as Oxnard Flight Strip. It then served the USAF from 1951 to 1969 as an ADC base. I revisited this installation on 14 June on my way back to Vandenberg, but I've included all the photos here in one place for convenience.
ADC fighter alert hangar
ADC fighter alert hangar
ADC gate house
ADC gate house
Hangar
Hangar
Hangar
Hangar
Hangar
Hangar
Hangar
Hangar
Elevated water storage tank
Elevated water storage tank
Water storage tank
Water storage tank
Munitions storage igloo
Segregated storage magazine
Dormitory
Dormitory
Dormitory
Building
Building
Building
Building
Building
Building
Building
Building
Building
Building
Building
Building
Building
Building

Lookout Mountain Air Force Station CA, PIN 1019, ILC NQUH. This facility was built during WWII as a fighter control center. From 1946 to 1949 it was used by the Atomic Energy Commission, then it transferred to the Air Force as Lookout Mountain Laboratory. This was home base for the camera crews who filmed the atomic bomb tests, and the processing location for the films. In 1958 it was redesignated Lookout Mountain Air Force Station, and it was inactivated in 1969.
View from road
View from road

Grand Central Air Terminal CA. This airfield supported both a contract flying school, No. 2 British Flying Training School operated by Polaris Flight Academy, and also a Fourth Air Force sub-base during WWII.
Hangar with control tower
Hangar with control tower
Hangar with control tower
Hangar detail

Fort MacArthur Upper Reservation / Nike Site LA-43C CA. I enjoyed exploring and learning the different areas and uses of this installation. Battery Osgood-Farley had two 14-inch disappearing guns, as did Battery Leary-Merriam. Battery 241 had two 6-inch guns. Battery Barlow-Saxton had eight 12-inch mortars. I revisited this installation on 14 June, and have included those photos here for convenience.
Battery Osgood-Farley
Battery Osgood-Farley
Battery Osgood-Farley
Battery Osgood-Farley
Battery Osgood-Farley
Battery Osgood-Farley
Battery Osgood-Farley
Battery Osgood-Farley
Battery Osgood-Farley
Battery Osgood-Farley
Battery Osgood-Farley
Battery Osgood-Farley
Battery Osgood-Farley
Battery Osgood-Farley
Battery Osgood-Farley
Battery Osgood-Farley
Battery Osgood-Farley
Battery Osgood-Farley
Battery Leary-Merriam - LA-43C, Nike buildings superimposed on a former 14-inch gun position
Battery Leary-Merriam - LA-43C, Nike buildings superimposed on a former 14-inch gun position
Battery Leary-Merriam - LA-43C, Nike buildings superimposed on a former 14-inch gun position
Battery Leary-Merriam - LA-43C, Nike buildings superimposed on a former 14-inch gun position
Battery Leary-Merriam - LA-43C, Target Ranging Radar tower and Acquisition Radar pad
Battery Leary-Merriam - LA-43C, first story of this building was the HIPAR building
Battery Leary-Merriam - LA-43C, first story of this building was the HIPAR building
Battery Leary-Merriam - LA-43C, battery access tunnel, east
Battery Leary-Merriam - LA-43C, Nike buildings superimposed on a former 14-inch gun position
Battery Leary-Merriam - LA-43C, generator building
Battery Leary-Merriam - LA-43C, generator building
Battery Leary-Merriam - LA-43C, battery access tunnel, west
Battery Leary-Merriam - LA-43C, battery access tunnel, west
Battery Leary-Merriam - LA-43C, 14-inch gun position, west
Battery 241
Battery 241
Battery 241
Battery 241
Battery 241
Battery 155 - Fermin Point
Battery 155 - Fermin Point
Battery 155 - Fermin Point
Battery Barlow-Saxton
Support area
Support area
Support area
Support area
Support area
Support area
Support area
Support area
Support area
Support area
Support area
Support area
Support area
Support area
Support area
Support area
Support area
Support area
Support area

Nike Site LA-43L CA. This Nike launcher site was built on the White Point Military Reservation.
Missile assembly and test building
Missile assembly and test building
Missile assembly and test building
Missile assembly and test building
Missile assembly and test building
Warheading building
Warheading building
Warheading building
Warheading building
First launcher elevator
First launcher elevator
First launcher elevator
First magazine primary personnel entry
First magazine secondary personnel entry
Second launcher elevator
Second launcher elevator
Second launcher elevator
Second launcher elevator
Second launcher elevator
Second launcher elevator
Second magazine primary personnel entry
Second magazine secondary personnel entry
Building
Building
Sentry box
Sentry box
View of buildings from hill
View of first launcher area from hill
View of second launcher area from hill

Fort MacArthur Housing Annex CA, ILC HHEK. This was formerly the Fort MacArthur Middle Reservation, transferred from the Army to the Air Force in 1982. It had been declared surplus by the Army in 1977. Many Army buildings and structures remain, others (including a Missile Master building from the Nike years, and Battery Irwin that had two 14-inch railway guns) were destroyed to build new Air Force housing.
Flagpole at Patton Quadrangle
Cannon at Patton Quadrangle
Sign with cannon
Gazebo near former site of Battery Irwin
1918 building now used for lodging

Fort MacArthur Lower Reservation CA. The Army declared this property surplus in 1977; it was soon razed and dredged and is now Cabrillo Marina.
View from Fort MacArthur Housing Annex
View from Fort MacArthur Housing Annex

This was short day, only 248 miles in 9 hours.

Sunday, 14 June 2009

After a restful night I headed out on my return trip.

Battery Paul D. Bunker CA. My knowledge of coast defense locations is limited, so I was surprised when I looked up on the hill behind LA-43L on Saturday and saw this, which I recognized as a 16-inch gun position. So on Sunday morning I hiked up the hill to the battery, which was on the White Point Military Reservation.
View from Nike LA-43L
General view of both 16-inch gun positions from the access road
Front of first gun position
Front of first gun position
Front of first gun position
Front of second gun position
Front of second gun position
Front of second gun position
Area behind gun positions
Side view of gun position showing overhead protection
Interior of gun position
Interior of gun position
Interior of gun position
Interior of gun position
Rear of second gun position
Feature between gun positions
Rear of first gun position

San Pedro Hill Air Force Station CA, ILC UUMY. I didn't drive up the hill, but I saw the radomes of this former long range radar site in the distance from Fort MacArthur Upper Reservation ad also from Battery Paul D. Bunker. The Air Force operated this site from 1960 until the late 1980s, when the FAA took over full operation of the facility.
Distant view
Distant view
Distant view

Los Angeles Air Force Base Area A CA. From 1961 until a few years ago, this was one of two components (across an intersection from each other) of Los Angeles Air Force Base. Construction fences shielded most of the property from view, but I got some glimpses of new construction underway.
General view showing new development
General view showing new development

Ventura County Airport CA. This was a contract flying school in WWII, operated by Mira Loma Flight Academy for the AAF until 1944. At that time the Navy took over the base and operated it as NAAS Ventura County through the end of the war.
Hangar
Hangar

Then I headed back to Vandenberg AFB, making this a 9-hour day covering 223 miles. This weekend trip covered 461 miles.

Thursday, 18 June 2009

Santa Maria Airport CA. Another WWII contract flying school, this one was operated by Allen Hancock College of Aeronautics.
Hangar
Hangar
Hangar
Hangar
Hangar

Saturday, 20 June 2009

Essex Communications Site GWEN 871 CA, ILC GEKJ. A typical GWEN relay node site with 299-foot tower, operational from the late 1980s until 1999 and sometimes known by the name Fenner. I was pleased to note that it is located directly off the old Route 66.
Equipment shelters
Equipment shelters
Equipment shelters and access drive
Tower support
Tower
Tower
Tower

I made it as far as St. George, Utah, after driving 644 miles in 10.5 hours.

Sunday, 21 June 2009

The drive from St. George to Grand Junction, Colorado was 416 miles in 8.25 hours.

Monday, 22 June 2009

This was a short drive of 273 miles in 5 hours. The return trip from California to Denver was 1,333 in 3 days. The entire 19-day trip covered 3,992 miles.

Updated April 20, 2025



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