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Show Dugway Monday, March 1 marks the 29th anniversary of Dugway Proving Ground installation. It's history dates back to 1942 following the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. At that time the United States Chemical Warfare Service, located at Edge-woo- d Proving Cround, Maryland, recognized the need for an additional large-sca- le testing area, and sent a group of personnel to the western United States to find a suitable location. Major John R. Burns, who retired as Brigadier General, a memlier of this group made the decision in January 1942 to select the region for what was to liecome Dugway to celebrate 29th anniversary Proving Ground. THE NAME Dugway was taken from the Dugway Mountains, the range west of the present installation. The range, in turn, received its name from the Mormon migrations, when prairie schooners and covered wagons were used to transport The abpersonal effects sence of roads and mountain passes made the pioneers use ingenious methods to get their wagons through. Their term "dugway" denoted a serpentine trench dug just wide enough to serve as a fur for the wheels on one side of the wagon. Oxen hitched at an angle to the wagon pulled towed and held the vehicle in its narrow rut. These dugway s were the cross-countr- y. easiest method of negotiating the route over the mountains and, thus, gave their name to these slopes. Major Burns was designated as the first Commander of Dugway Proving Ground and activation was annoiuiced on March 1, 1942. Initial construction of the installation began on March 5 of that year including plans for roads, buildings and utilities. A CCC Camp, built during the thirties at nearby Simpson Springs, was used as the original base of operations for the construction personnel liecause of the availability of water. The building site was called, at that time, Government Well. Hie area is presently known as Ditto Technical Center. THE AREA had its own history as the Pony Express, Overland Stage coaches and. the Lincoln Highway, the first highway all had routes now encompassed by area the through the installation. A limited scale testing program was underway at DPG by the summer of 1942. During World War II among the tests conducted was the dropping of incendiary bombs, used by the Air Force against enemy cities and production centers with great success. At Dugway experimental lomhing of life size replicas of German and Japanese dwellings, which had leen constructed on the installation were conducted. In other testing programs caves were dug into the mountains of the Proving Groimd in order that the effect of chemical mortar, flame munitions, throwers, and various high explosives could le studied. coast-to-coa- Dog area This was Dugway in 1943 as all of the administrative and housing was concentrated in what is now Ditto Technical Center, but until the 19fi0'i was called Dog Area. THE 4.2 INCH chemical mortar was modified and tested until it finally as the famous M2 mortar, the pride of the Chemical as known used with maximum effectand Corps, iveness in all theaters of operations during World War II. An independent installation during World War II, the Proving Ground was combined with the Deseret Chemical Depot in 1947 to form the Western Chemical Center. It was maintained basis until the outbreak on a stand-b- y of hostilities in Korea. Then in July, 1950, it was redesignated Dugway Proving Ground and placed on an active status as a Class II installation. All operations were resumed in the World War II facilities in Ditto Area. Plans were drawn for a new administrative and residential area, now known as English Village. In June 1952, Ware barracks One of the largest buildings constructed during the 1950's was the Ware Barracks. This building now houses the men of Headquarters Company, the M.P.'s, the Met Team, the Troop Mess, and the Civilian Post Central and Welfare Fund offices. Original resident? st The lonely sliecplirrdcr was the initial resident of the area now known as Dugway Proving Ground. The men grazed sheep on the land that tlien belonged to the Army Corp of Engineers and most likely never dreamed that the vast open spaces would one day become the site of numerous testing programs. -- st I j-- ii i ---- -- la . 7-- jS A '"jlj operations began to move into the new area and residents started moving into the housing area in December 1952. Additional units, such as the U. S. Army Hospital, Military Police Detachment and a Chemical Corp battalion were gradually added to the basic and original Technical Service unit. Dugway's mustangs Wild roamed frequently mustangs through the residential and administrative area of Dugway during the 1950'i. There are still approximately 60 of the wild animals that road freely in the expanses of the Ditto area. ' German village The special construction of enemv cities and villages during World War II highlighted one facet of the testing prothat during period. gram Among the tests conducted was the dropping of incendiary bombs used by the Air Force against enemy targets. By hitting Dugway's German and Japanese villages, the Air Force was able what determine effects to their bombs would have against similar architecture in Europe and the Pacific. Mess hall Construction boom From 1950 to 1952, the construction crews worked steadily to build the English Village area of Dugway Proving Ground. Until that time, all employees worked and lived in the Ditto Technical Area. Hie building now known as Finance and Accounting then housed the Post Cafeteria which was open to all personnel, while the present Non Commissioned Officers Club housed the Post Library. THE CHEMICAL Corps environmental test pmgram was transferred to Dugway in 1953 as well as the responsibility for meteorological research and development. In Octolwr 1958 the U.S. Army CBR Weapons Orientation Course ed to Dugway and remained here until frill SS I its deactivation January 1970. In 1962, under the President's Army Reorganization;!! Plan, DPG which hail lcen an element of the Chemical Corps Research and Development Command was assigned to the United States Army Test and Evaluation Command with Proving Headquarters at Alierdeen Ground. July 1, lfJfiS marked the merging of Dugway Proving Ground with lX'serct Test Center to form the present Hiis modern Mess Hall was found at Dugway during the 1940s. Who says that "those were the good old davs?" |