This trip satisfied two major objectives. First, I've wanted to visit Wendover for many years. The excellent condition of many of the W.W.II buildings is almost legendary among my circle of base-visiting friends. Plus, this would let me check off Idaho (a "must see") and Utah (a "should see") on my list of states visited.
Saturday, 24 May 2008
The flight from DEN to SLC was full of interesting characters, and quite entertaining. But once we landed my thoughts focused on one thing: Wendover! My rental car was not what I expected -- they were out of smaller cars and gave me a Mercury Marquis at the compact car rate. I pointed the big, white car west and enjoyed the scenery as I headed for the western edge of Utah.
Wendover AFB UT (My thanks to James Morris, Fire Captain
with the Airport Fire Dept, for giving me a tour of the flightline and arranging
access to the storage area.)
Photo 01
(W.W.II Barracks)
Photo 02
(W.W.II Chapel)
Photo 03
(W.W.II Barracks)
Photo 04
(W.W.II Barracks)
Photo 05
(W.W.II hangar, used for the B-29 Enola Gay)
Photo 06
(Lone chimney with W.W.II hangars in background)
Photo 07
(W.W.II operations building and control tower)
Photo 08
(W.W.II Norden bombsight storage building, note the concrete section for the
vaults)
Photo 09
(W.W.II Norden bombsight storage building, detail of individual vault door)
Photo
10 (W.W.II Norden bombsight storage building, detail of individual
vault door)
Photo
11 (W.W.II Norden bombsight storage building, vault doors)
Photo
12 (W.W.II Norden bombsight storage building, interior)
Photo
13 (W.W.II Norden bombsight storage building, exterior)
Photo
14 (W.W.II Norden bombsight storage building, note the concrete
section for the vaults)
Photo
15 (W.W.II hangar, used for the B-29 Enola Gay)
Photo
16 (W.W.II hangar, used for the B-29 Enola Gay, interior shot)
Photo
17 (One of two Atom bomb loading pits on the flightline)
Photo
18 (One of two Atom bomb loading pits on the flightline)
Photo
19 (Firing-in butt on flightline)
Photo
20 (W.W.II hangar, used for the B-29 Enola Gay)
Photo
21 (View of hangars from the flightline)
Photo
22 (View of weapon storage area from security tower)
Photo
23 (Security tower and buildings in weapon storage area)
Photo
24 (Storage structure in weapon storage area)
Photo
25 (Multi-cubicle storage structure in weapon storage area)
Photo
26 (Typical storage igloo with blast shield)
Photo
27 (Typical storage igloo, closer view of front face)
Photo
28 (Fence around weapon storage area)
Wendover AFB, Nevada
Photo 01
(A small corner of the flight line extends over the state line into Nevada, seen
here looking east toward Utah)
Bonneville Salt Flats International Speedway UT
Photo 01
(View of the long straightaway on the salt flat, from the parking area)
Photo 02 (I was expecting fences and gates
and Keep Out signs, but the sign encouraged people to drive on the legendary
raceway)
I stopped for the night on the west side of SLC, after spending 7.75 hours on the road covering 278 miles.
Sunday, 25 May 2008
Fort Douglas UT
Photo 01
(View from the parade ground)
Photo 02
(Gazebo on the parade ground)
Photo 03
(Chapel building)
Photo 04
(Another chapel building)
Hercules Plant UT (NO PHOTOS)
AFP #81 UT (NO PHOTOS)
Hill AFB UT
Photo 01
(Hill Aerospace Museum)
Photo 02
(W.W.II Chapel on the museum grounds)
Photo 03
(W.W.II Chapel support building on the museum grounds)
AFP #77 UT (NO PHOTOS)
AFP #78 UT
Photo 01
(This is some remote countryside!)
Golden Spike National Historical Site UT
Photo 01
Photo 02
Pocatello AFB ID
Photo 01
(W.W.II Hangar)
Photo 02
(W.W.II building)
Photo 03
(W.W.II Hangars)
I spent the night in Pocatello. This was my first-ever visit to Idaho, making it the 46th state on my list. Four more to go! Today's drive took 9.5 hours and covered 331 miles.
Monday, 26 May 2008
Today was the easy day of the trip, just drive back to SLC and fly home!
Salt Lake City AAFld UT (NO PHOTOS)
I tackled the 214 miles in 4.25 hours, including time to enjoy the mountain scenery in Draper, UT. This weekend's adventure put a total of 823 miles on the rental car.
