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Show HILL TOP TIMES 26 Page November 7, work Tlhe oirigonsaB has a few remaining scattered throughout the base years ago, Thirty-thre- e the comprised majority work force of Hill men civil service register as an mid-194- 1. pleted, Most of the original work of Distribution, Maintenance, and Materiel Management and are doing jobs from what they were originally hired to do. Other than its immense acreage, pay . working conditions. benefits, far-remov- ed conveniences, job op- portunities and the close association and rapport with top management are the biggest changes noted by the few remaining w original members. It was also agreed that Civil Service is a good system and is a very rewarding rareer. A military aircraft d and schematic blueprints drawings, roads, runways and utility lines were laid out and in a borrowed U.S. Army bulldozer, the beginnings of Hill AFB were roughed in. One of Mr. Filield s first jobs was Jo borrow a bulldozer from nearby Ogden Arsenal and start breaking boundary lines. Stakes were driven, and a year later, the chain link fence was erected. The same in- stallation consisting of rolling sand, no boundaries, fences, roads, security, planes or runways and horses, cattle, deer and other wildlife free and roaming over its vast acreage. This was the Hill AFB that Melvin .) Fifield hired into in October 1939. Reporting directly from the ;A-'- they were unloaded in darkness, escorted them back REMEMBERS Melvin J. Fifield remembers Hill AFB when there were no boundaries, fences, or roads and animals freely roamed the premises. one which still stands. Finally, a few airplanes started coming in. Then came the fateful Train tested First tests of a scries of four mobile Minuteman train tests originating from Hill Air Force Base began .June 20. im;o. Other tests were held on July ." and 2; and Aug. If. to test the mobility of trains Minuteman f Charm-Convenienc- Now e new renting hedrocm units, 2 hath, 1 lovely lare living room with fireplace deliKhtul with all ap kitchen SILVER AND LAPIDARY Expert Jewelry SERVICE Findings Handcrafted Jewelry-Sl- ab Gem Materia? & Silversmithing tools. Cut Gems-Silv- er Repair-Jewe- lry 1910 Wash. Blvd. 394-910- 3 for refill and back again all through the At night. daybreak the job would be stopped until the next night. All this was accomplished after a work day for normal and the Mr. Fifield engineering crews. g During the long, cold, below-freezin- of winter, it was not uncommon for inches of snow to be temperatures 21-2- 2 carrying o work on all aircraft systems im- crews to the darkened runway. As the engineers were the only ones who knew where the roads were, they led the trucks to the runway, where missiles The plan was abandoned later and the Air Force decided to" base the missiles in silos. o and member of the engineering time-consumi- orkfoice 1941 mediately Hill Field,Utah was placed on alert. With the few planes standing on a very rough piece of runway, a revetment was ordered built around them as a security measure. So in the dark of night, about 350 men worked loading sandbags and gravel trucks, not knowing what they were going to be used for, why they were doing it, or where they would eventually end up. They were led by Mr. Fifield, or a and the skeleton framework of the fire station, base operations and a few barracks which had just been started. Total base population was not quite 200 people, and entrance was gained through Clearfield. Identification was a wallet-siz- e card showing your name and a fingerpirnt. Twa or three years later, it was a badge with your picture. With the advent of the gate guards,-yo- u showed both the badge and the wallet card, which was a process for the incoming workforce when they were entering the base. The WPA was still building the runway's, gasoline was brought through Weber Canyon and water wasobtain-efrom Military Springs and the nearby Ogden Arsenal. From a meager supply of force has already retired and the few remaining are scattered about the "big three" directorates December engineering aide, the total base consisted of buildings 15 and 120 which were com- AFB. Women did not begin to enhance its features until 1973 plunrev including di-- washer carpet, beautiful shag drapes. Private ra'io. roared carport, pe plenty of Morale ( ifivr t- arii shorping West. Rov churches. 4V.""S. schools. - piled around the apron. As there were no roads, it was for the very common engineering crews to meet the incoming work force and show them the way to the various places of employment. Many times, the vehicles would become stuck in snow or mud, so walking was the order of the day. Mr. Fifield clearly remembers the plane of Brig. Gen. Morris Herman, the first Hill AFB commander, catching fire in the runway. Currently assigned to the Directorate of Distribution in the Requirements and Control Branch. Mr. Fifield takes personal pride that even though he had no engineering degree, most of his own layouts, schematics for buildings and roads and utility lines are those he developed way back in the early days. Currently living in Clearfield with his wife, who works on base, the Fifields have three sons, two daughters and five grandchildren. lr) Call trSay 621-542- 9 THE HAPPY FAMILY but an earlier heaven. is -- - was accomplished by the mechanic himself. Monthly pay started at $50 and was later increased to a high of $120. Until Pearl Harbor, there were very few planes at Hill. and After that, the old rrv V B-1- 8, and 8 aircraft were a common sight. A day for Mr. Kingsford was when the cameinand had to first be serviced. 3" JS&I&S From yesterday t o now, Mr. sir iSt Kingsford believes the best e parking thing is the in close proximity privileges to the work areas. Assigned in the Tech Data Merle D. Branch of the Missile SM RECALLS Directorate of Kingsford recalls working for Division, a construction company Materiel Management. Mr. building roads and laying Kingsford believes that civil cement for runways prior to service is a good career to follow. hiring into Hill in 1)11. Living in Clinton, he and his As a young boy working for wife have seven children, five Strong and Grant Con- of which are married, and struction Company doing seven grandchildren. cement work on runways and hauling gravel for roads on a soon to be military installation. Merle D. Kingsford did not realize the massive One project aimed to changes that would be in store for Hill AFB. rehabilitate the Ogden Ordnance Depot, later to Officially hired on Dec. 1. 1941 as a mechanic learner. become part of Hill AFB. imwas the planting of 5,000 Mr. Kingsford was trees as a windbreak and mediately assigned to the Agricultural Colleee in Logan protection against the for strong winds from Weber training on aircraft Canyon. engines. The job w as completed in After completion of the 19:',R by a group of Civilian course, he was assigned to the Salt Iike Airport Conservation Corps CCC) where he worked until it youths. The depot was dedicated closed down upon completion in 1938 after two years of of Iheiour large maintenance work and expenditure of $3 hangars at the base. early model P-3- P-4- 7 B-1- 7, well-remember- E - on-bas- -- Trees check canyon winds sub-dep- Paperwork was minimal million. Bomb production at the and mechanics were relied upon to do the work. Electricians and instrument repairers were the only specialists, the rest of the '4 .... at "' ''; ... facility began in 1938. The depot became a part of Hill Air Force Base as the West Area Complex in 1955. ... Sir John Routing First Baptist Church 2025 West 5700 So. Roy, Utah 825 8434 PASTOR LOGAN M. M THOMAS, Th D Sunday "Services 10:55. m. and 7:30 p.m. All School :lS.m. T.U 1:30p.m. Auto Parts 210 EAST 200 SOUTH CLEARFIELD - PHONE monthly At SAVE 5 0 00) MOTEL376.3475 410 North Main - - REAL ESTATE Weber Canyon can be seen across a field that later became Hill AFB. On New Access Rood to Southwest Cote HAFB Check our Militory ond Civil Service Discount e Kltchonottos o 1 & 2 bedroom bedroom SAFETY c&w are Warmly Welcome LOW WINTER RATES NOW II In offoct weekly FARR-WES- T DEPENDABILITY Sunday Come Let Us Worship (1 OUAUTY Koysvillo 773-171- 1 or 773-171- 2 See ut first lor oil four Automotive needs. We ore here to pleose you. Our Customer. Open Mon. thru fri. 8 o.m. to 8 p.m. Sun. 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sot. 8 o.m. tto 6 p.m. Lt be found at the beautiful V Bratten's Cove in Bountiful v" SUPERB SEAFOOD & STEAIJS FAST, COURTEOUS SERVICE n O) AA k k. www mm 1 1385 S. 500 West Bountiful 22' . ' 'J Nkw. N- Atoo. rKrJ Sof. irA'M-IOP.- Ck4 Sundoys . Phone 295-238- 4 |