Scott's USAF Installations Page

Trip Report: Wendover

First published in 2008. Reformatted 2025.

This trip satisfied two major objectives. First, I've wanted to visit Wendover for many years. The excellent condition of many of the WWII buildings is almost legendary among my circle of research geek friends. Plus, this would let me check off Idaho and Utah on my list of states visited. 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.

Saturday, 24 May 2008

I flew from DEN to SLC. My rental car was not what I expected--they were out of smaller cars and gave me a Mercury Marquis as a free upgrade. I pointed the car west and enjoyed the scenery as I headed for the Utah-Nevada border.

Wendover Air Force Base NV. A small corner of the flightline extends west across the state line into Nevada, and this small piece of property carried a separate installation code.
View from west, looking east

Bonneville Salt Flats International Speedway UT. I was expecting fences and gates and Keep Out signs, but the sign read "Enjoy the area"!
View from the parking area of the long track on the salt flat
On the salt flats

I stopped for the night on the west side of Salt Lake City, after spending 7.75 hours on the road covering 278 miles.

Sunday, 25 May 2008

Fort Douglas UT
View from the parade ground
Gazebo on the parade ground
Flagpole on the parade ground
Chapel building
Another chapel building
Buildings
Building
Building

Hill Air Force Base UT
Hill Aerospace Museum
WWII chapel on the museum grounds
WWII chapel support building on the museum grounds

Air Force Plant No. 78 UT
General view of plant

Pocatello Air Force Base ID
General view
WWII hangar
WWII hangar
WWII building
WWII building
WWII 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!

I tackled the 214 miles in 4.25 hours, including time to enjoy the mountain scenery from a coffee shop in Draper. This weekend's adventure put a total of 823 miles on the rental car.

Updated April 20, 2025

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