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Show Editors Note: This in a two-pa- rt is the second part look back at the early years of Hill Air Force Base. By TOM HARALDSEN When groundbreaking cere- monies for Hill Field finally ended that January, 1940, the two years that followed saw building go at an excellerated pace on the depot property. One of the first buildings on the site was the Quartermaster Commissary and Warehouse, along with a garage and shops. Construction on those buildings began in earnest that March, as the winter thawed, and both were completed by December. mid-Apri- . 104-ma- were held in the base chapel for the first time. It has since become one of Hill Field's most recognizable landmarks. Built of wood and simple in design, the chapel was dedi 350-se- at cated November 1, 1942. But on May 11, 1945, a fire destroyed the interior of the building. High winds blowing down from the bell tower caused the dossel curtain to touch a lighted candle on the altar. The in terior and furnishings were destroyed. The building was eventually fully restored (the bells were not restored for 10 years), and continued in use until early last year, when a l. y n new education building was finished. It was set for demolition, but because of its importance as a center of base social and religious activity, that plan has been scrapped. The Hill Air Force Base Heritage Program has received permission to move the chapel to a site adjacent to the new base museum, and restore it to World War 11 condition. If there remained any question as to the bases longevity, World War II answered them quickly. Its location made supplying forces in the Pacific easier, and after the bomoing of Pearl Harbor, the Army Air Corps transferred many planes to Hill from the West Coast as a precaution against possible Japanese attacks. The base began storing and re- But Hill Field had yet to experi- Later that year, workers began building railroads and spurs, a radio transmitter building, fire and non comguardhouses, missioned officers quarters, and a capacity barracks. Sup- two-famil- and in January, the depot received its first shipment of supplies. Material overflowed the Depots storage space, so employees trucked the excess to a building in Bountiful that had been leased for that purpose. The first enlisted men came to Hill Field on January 20, 1941. Civilian work forces also increased, growing from six in supply at that time to 32 by The Air Corps later became so impressed with the training program Berman set up that it transferred personnel from other depots in and out of Hill for training. ence something youd expect from an air depot, a landing. As is often the case, the first-evoccurrence of something is rarely recognized for its significance. Such is the story behind Lieutenant Bill Gibsons first touch down at Hill. er as well as pairing For the next four years, until victory over Japan was accomplished. Hill Field became an element in the U.S. Defense program. years, During the next Hill Field, which officially became Hill Air Force Base in 1948, would 41-pl- ...under Bermans command the new air depot took off. It became a vital element in the nations defense system. I jfe C Field as it appeared in December. Once the hub for checking in and out of civilian workforce personnel, it is one of several early buildings set for demolition. Crews are razing the building this week, in preparation for a new building to be put on the spot in 1988 or 1989. BUILDING 500 AT Hill see ups and downs, as defense spending fluctuations led to rumors and half truths. But it has endured, through World War II, Korea and Vietnam. It remains the single largest employer in Davis Cftunty, and it serves as testimony to the busiforesight of those Ogden-are- a an saw in the who 1930s nessmen opportunity to bring such an operation to the county. tl .r t port facilities such as a chemical storage building, and a paint and oil warehouse were also begun and completed shortly after New Years 1941. i In July of 1940, paving began on four 7500 x runways and taxiways. By September of 1941, the work on those runways was completed at a cost of $ .3 million. Work also began on an operations hanger and annexes, as well as Depot Supply Building One. 150-fo- ot 1 Hill Field gained its first com- mander in November of 1940. Colonel Morris Berman, 49, came to Hill directly from the position of Chief of the Personnel Branch at Wright Field (now i i f t i Wright-Patterso- n AFB). The base history says Berman was selected by his superior officers for the challenging post to assist in directing expansion of Air Corps personnel resulting from the impact on the United States of the war in Europe... Few could have known at that time how close we were to entering that war. Under Bermans command the new air depot really took off. Repair shops for aircraft engines and other facets of the craft were begun, and suddenly, Hill Field became more than just another supply depot. An Aircraft Reclamation Building was begun as 1940 ended, In May of 1941, Lt. Gibson, stationed at Salt Lake City, flew a to Hill Field. The governor never made it for the occasion, and there were no military officials on hand to greet the crew. Not even the base photographer made it to the landing strip. Nevertheless, B-1- Gibson became the first of thousands of pilots that have landed at Hill during the next 45 years. On Memorial Day, 1941, Gibson was called by an Army Corp of Engineers captain who was in charge of the runway construction at Hill. He called about eight in the morning and told me the runway had just been completed and they wanted somebody to christen it, d Gibson explained. The and Lt. Colonel found a took off for the desolate field. It wasnt anything momentous, he recalls. Just a big airfield with one runway and a couple of buildings along the side. One irony about that flight was that Gibsone aircraft was the same type of craft in which Maj. Ployer P. Hill was killed during a test flight. Hill Field is named in his honor. When Berman took command of Hill in 1940, the base had no organow-retire- co-pil- ot nized Chaplain section or chapel . It was not until August 1942 that Hill Field had a genuine religious program. One month later, services LTHE HILL AIR Force Base chapel is one of the bases most recognizable landmarks. Built in 1942, then rebuilt i after a fire in 1945, the chapel was in regular use until j last year. It will soon be moved to a site near the planned : base museum on the west side of Hill. :r THIS ENGINE TEST building, the second one constructed at Hill Field, was on line in 1942. evidence of the increased role the base was beginning to play in the nations defense program. It was THE CIVILIAN WORK force at Hill Field has always been significant to its mission. These employees are preparing to checkout, of the base after finishing their daily shifts in the 1940s. Tens of thousands of jobs have been held at Hill since its inception. f |