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 as a free upgrade. I pointed the big, white car west and enjoyed the scenery as I headed for the Utah-Nevada border.
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.)
(Barracks)
(Barracks)
(Barracks)
(Barracks)
(Barracks)
(Barracks)
(Barracks)
(Chapel)
(Fire station)
(Building)
(Hangar)
(Hangar)
(Hangar)
(Hangar)
(Hangar)
(Hangar used for the B-29 Enola Gay)
(Hangar used for the B-29 Enola Gay)
(Hangar used for the B-29 Enola Gay)
(Hangar used for the B-29 Enola Gay)
(Hangar used for the B-29 Enola Gay)
(Hangar used for the B-29 Enola Gay)
(Hangar used for the B-29 Enola Gay)
(Hangar used for the B-29 Enola Gay, interior)
(Hangar used for the B-29 Enola Gay, interior)
(Chimney with hangars in background)
(Operations building and control tower)
(Operations building and control tower)
(Control tower cab close up)
(Building foundations)
(Norden bombsight storage building)
(Norden bombsight storage building)
(Norden bombsight storage building)
(Norden bombsight storage building showing concrete section for the
vaults)
(Norden bombsight storage building showing concrete
section for the vaults)
(Norden bombsight storage building interior)
(Norden bombsight storage building interior)
(Norden bombsight storage building interior)
(Norden bombsight storage building detail of individual vault door)
(Norden bombsight storage building detail of individual
vault door)
(Atom bomb loading pit)
(Atom bomb loading pit)
(Atom bomb loading pit)
(Atom bomb loading pit)
(Museum diorama of atom bomb loading pit in use)
(Firing-in butt)
(Firing-in butt)
(General view of flight line)
(General view of hangars)
(View of hangars from the control tower)
(View of buildings from the control tower)
(Fence around weapon storage area)
(Security tower and buildings in weapon storage area)
(View of weapon storage area from security tower)
(Storage structure)
(Storage structure)
(Storage structure)
(Storage structure)
(Storage structure)
(Storage structure)
(Storage structure)
(Storage igloo)
(Storage igloo)
(Storage igloo)
(Storage igloo)
(Storage igloo)
(Storage igloo)
(Storage igloo)
(Storage igloo)
(Building)
(Building)
(Building)
(Building)
(Building)
(Building)
(Building)
(Building)
(Building foundation)
(Storage igloo vent close up)
(Row of storage igloos)
(Multi-cubicle storage magazine)
(Storage igloo with blast shield)
(Storage igloo with blast shield)
(Storage igloo with blast shield)
(Storage igloo close up)
Wendover AFB, Nevada
(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
(View from the parking area of the long straightaway on the salt flat)
(I was expecting fences and gates
and Keep Out signs, but the sign read "Enjoy the area"!)
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)
Hercules Plant UT (No photos)
AFP #81 UT (No photos)
Hill AFB UT
(Hill Aerospace Museum)
(W.W.II Chapel on the museum grounds)
(W.W.II Chapel support building on the museum grounds)
AFP #77 UT (No photos)
AFP #78 UT
(General view of plant)
Golden Spike National Historical Site UT
(Spike location)
(General view)
Pocatello AFB ID
(General view)
(W.W.II hangar)
(W.W.II hangar)
(W.W.II building)
(W.W.II building)
(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.
