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Show 4D Lakeside Review South, Wednesday, Sept. 14, 1983 Background of Hill Air Force Base has come a long way from the wishful hope of a community hard-hi- t by the Great Depression. What out as a desolate strip of land in Clearfield has today be- come Utahs largest employer. The story of Hill Field is a colorful and historic one and bears retelling as those who remember the early days of the base grow fewer each year. When the Army Air Corps went looking for new base sites in 1935, Utah was considered because of its strategic location. Several sites were visited in the state by War Department officials and members of Congress. At the time, Utah was still in the midst of the great depression and the state, particurly the Og-- 't den Chamber of Commerce, sought the new base to provide an economic boost to the area. The proposed site in Davis County, seven miles south of Ogden and 25 miles north of Salt Lake City, had many distinct advantages. The' site of- fered excellent drainage, purchase of the acreage that would be used to build an air base on. On Dec.l, 1939, the War partment named the site Hill Field in honor of Major Ployer P. Hill who was killed on Oct. 30, 1935 while testing the model of the 7 Flying Fortress at Wright Field, Ohio. Because of his part in getting the air base here, Browning was given the honor of turning the first shovel g of dirt in a special ceremony on Jan. 12, 1940. As originally planned, the Ogden Air Depot was to be a major supplier and maintenance depot. It would be responsible for the receipt, storage and disbursement of spare parts and all other Air Corps supplies. According to plans for the project, all buildings on the site had to be completed or underway by Jan. 1, De-start- , is Colorful, Historic Hill AFB Hill began a storage program of surplus airplanes and overhaul and repair of the 7 Thunderbolt airplane in June, 1944. In the latter part of the war. Hill had personnel shortages due to the draft, employee P-4- until the Berlin Airlift operatioi in July, 1948. Hill supported thi airlift of supplies to 2.5 millioi discontent with living facilities' on base and general job insecurity with the impending end of the Germans with the providing o engines, equipment and miscel laneous accessories. Continued on Page 5L war. After J Day, depot activity greatly decreased. A decrease in V-- manpower at the basecontinued ground-breakin- 1942. Throughout the early part of World War II, the newly established air depot filled its function of supply and maintenance. So much materials and equpi-mearrived that the depot had to rent a building in Bountiful to handle the overflow. The Depot Maintenance Department developed slowly with the first few airplane mechanics arriving in the summer of 1941. During the war, planes were sent to Hill for repairs. A major nt excellent flight approaches from all directions and was accessable by highway and railroad. Its close proximity to the Ogden Arsenal was also noted by the visiting officials. Because of the interest displayed in the site, Ogden Chamber of Commerce chairman Frank Browning obtained options to purchase over 4,000 acres of land in Davis County. The Chamber kept the land in escrow until the government decided to purchase the land. Finally, in June, 1939 Congress passed legislation allowing the TO BUY A GREAT SMALL CAR THIS IS THE TIME. project for the maintenance shops was the winterization of planes for the Alaskian Theater. In early 1943, the depot began a rehabilitation program for used 4 bombers. Hill maintained a goal of one bomber reconditioned per day. MPG B-2- 11 Ifs Our Anniversary . WAS A TIME IF EVER THERE 2 42-6- 0 gas diesel SPECIAL SALE PRICE APR . . 30-4- We're celebrating with an Old Time Country Fair Cloggers & Square Dancers Most Unusual Pet Show Miss Layton Hills Country Queen Pageant Cake Baking Petting Zoo Cake Walk Fair Apron Making Contest Unusual Hair Styles Animal Fashion Show Talent Show Pie Baking Pie Eating Pony Rides September 19th 1983 CHEVETTE tilt wheel, doth seots, rodtol tires $5350 i2o 1983 arisa cloth seots 1983 CHEVETTE 4 speed, AM CHEVETTE DIESEL radio, 24th S 645 NO. MAIN. LAYTON . Air CHEVETTE conditioning C 1290 $6239 $14413 SM& LAYTON L 1442 $6374 $5563 12591 C 1983 544-12- 34 |