Wendover Field - A near perfect World War 2 Airfield, N scale trains and an Atomic Bomb!

Back to the N scale train meet (FreeMoN) at Wendover Field in Utah. Wendover Field was home to the 509th Air Composite Group, America's Atomic Bomb Squadron.

Wendover Field is America's best preserved World War 2 airfield. The entire Flightline is intact, some of the hangers that once held B17s, B 24's, B 25's, P51's and many other aircraft during the war have been in continuous use. Much of the base is now a museum, however, the field is still used as an airport and Air National Gaurd base. The museum was host to the "FreeMoN" modular train meet.

Wendover Field sits right on the Utah - Nevada border at the western edge of the Bonneville Salt Flats. It was served by the Western Pacific Railroad AND was the eastern end of the Victory Highway and the junction with the Lincoln Highway, two of the named highways back when America's interstate highways were privately owned. The Bonneville Salt Flats are also a famied race track where thousands of land speed records have been set.

[davidmaslanka]

From 1952 to 1954 the Blue Angels flew a single Lockheed TV-2 Shooting Star for show support and VIP rides. This was a two seat trainer derived from the P-80/F-80 Shooting Star,

[thomasharroun]

The Blue Angels aircraft is a Canadair CT-133 Silver Star 3 based on the Lockheed T-33. The T-33 was used by the thunderbirds but not the Blue Angels. The Grumman F9F-2B Panther was the first jet the Blue Angles used starting in 1949

[robertweldon]

Thomas Harroun is correct, the air force flew that aircraft, well after WW2. I had the honor, while serving in the Navy, to meet the 1968 Blue Angles, when they visited North Island Naval Air Station.
The team used some of the ramp space of my squadron area (VS-41). The entire team were extremely nice to this AO-3, and talked with me (each of them) for a few minutes,
They were flying f11's at that time and went to F-4's the next year. Enough about me
The Wendover ARMY AIRFIELD is a wonderful piece of history, it's nice to see everything, great video. ;-)

[lifeisagift.cherisheverymoment]

The N Scale Free Mo looked awesome, but the history you went into detail for Wendover Army Air Field and the planes was excellent, thank you. Haven't yet found anything you share to be boring, keep up the great work.

[Mike-tgdj]

That book is priceless.
They couldn't pull off the flag being fake, who knows how flags were made with 48 stars.

[irish]

Dale & Karyn: My dad served in the South Pacific conflict theatre in 1944/45. He was in action as an Army infantryman in the Palau Group Islands Nation, and specifically on the island of Peleliu; in this south seas, Pacific Volcano raised coral reef island. One of his fellow 1937 Graduating Class of North Side High School, in Fort Wayne, Indiana, was a B-29 Bomber Captain flying missions over Japan's Transportation Resources on the coast of the main island, in Tokyo.

[mapexmac]

I have enjoyed (immensely) your two videos which cover our four man crew FreemoN display at Wendover. My coil car train is beautifully featured at 19:30! Thank you for sharing our layout on your channel. Wendover is a special place, and I can say with 100% certainty that the FreeMo community will be back in an annual showing.

By the way, FreemoN is the N-Scale expression of “Freelance Modular”, which is where the FreeMo moniker is derived. Freelance as in: build what you want, model whatever subject is of interest to the modeler, modular - well, self-explanatory.

The FreeMo concept can be found in the following scales: Z, N, HO, HOn3, F, S, O, and even G and recently O-Live Steam!

Mike P
Mojave FreemoN
Las Vegas, NV

[krissfemmpaws]

The first jets that the Blue Angles used were the F9F Panther, the jet in question looks to be a Lockheed T 33 or a Canadair that was basically a T 33.

I really enjoyed this video, the big band music in the background was fantastic. There is a lot of history at that air station. My Dad and Uncle both served in WWII neather one talked much about it over the years. I didn't understand why till I went in... there are some things best left in the past.

Seeing the flag hanging on the wall cause the hair on the back of my neck stand up... you are right it is "our" flag... but for those that fought and died for it, it will always be their flag.

[robertemmons]

I loved this episode for the history of Wendover and the air field. I'd love to go visit the old air field and just go nuts over everything there. I love history, so I'll feel like a kid in a candy store.

I have a partial Guillows balsa model kit of the Enola Gay. My ex father-in-law had picked it up from an outdoor flea market while staying at Quartzsite in Arizona. My kit is missing the fuselage parts and plans. Once I locate either a kit or another set of plans I'm going to finish building this model.

It is so cool that you have one of the pinball games from the old air base. Just imagine how many of the airmen from the A bomb mission had played on this game! And it still works! It must have been an honor meeting these guys!

At 19:55 my heart skipped a beat seeing the original flag from VE day and VJ day hung on the wall. To me it represents American patriotism and the sacrifices that our airmen had to make to carry out such an important and historic moment in time. It had brought a tear to my eye. I especially appreciate how you both had said that it is OUR flag, the American flag, E Pluribus Unum. I feel the same way.

I have one of my old 3X5 flags hanging in my front room that use to be in my front yard until it met its demise in a big wind storm. My daughter has one of my other old flags hanging in her room too. I'm proud to be an American, and I'm a proud son of a marine and proud grandson of an airforce vet and an army vet.

You had said earlier in the week that this episode would be a good one. You surely didn't disappoint! It was certainly a pleasure to watch this episode. Thank you both for bringing us a bit of history of the Wendover air field, and of course the model train show.

Thank you, and have a great day!

[normmcrae]

When I was in the RCAF (Royal Canadian Air Force), we flew into Wendover, and stayed overnight. We were amused as the Airport building was in Nevada, while our Helicopter (only 100 yards away) was in Utah. Someone pointed into the distance to a small building in the distance and told us that was the building that the Fat Man and Little Boy bombs were actually assembled prior to their delivery to Tinian. It was on the "Base", but far away from the rest of the buildings (for safety, obviously), although it still would have wiped out the whole base if one had exploded. Unfortunately, we never got to explore anything at all, as we were only there overnight. Very disappointed that we never got to check it out.

There was actually a backup plan to use RAF Lancasters to deliver the bombs if the B-29's didn't work out. The main wing spar of the B-29 needed to be completely redesigned because it went through the middle of the Bomb Bay, and the Bombs wouldn't fit. The Lancasters didn't have that problem, and could easily carry the 9, 000 lb atomic bombs - they REGULARLY carried 22, 000 lb Grand Slam (Earthquake) bombs in Europe. The modifications were successful, though, and the modified B-29's did the job.

[garyacker]

My dad worked in engine repair at Hill Airforce Base and got to ride in some of the airplanes that he worked on. He loved it. Thanks guys. Chuck Yeager said that some guys "requisitioned " a B 25 and flew to Salt Lake City for a beer run.

[thomashenderson]

The T33 Shooting star was NOT flown by Blue Angels it was the 2 seat trainor to the P80 Fighter of early Korean war. Fun plane to ride in.

[tgmccoy]

the C-54 on the fiels was Tanker 65 with TBM/Butler I was a co-pilot on DC-7's for them.
It was based mainly in California. Here's a video from Firepirates

[scootosan]

Great video filled with historical view to our past. And respect to the Greatest generation.... if only our youth would come to understand what was then. As always I enjoy your videos (Thumbs UP ) and salute.

[robertnielsen]

If memory serves the aircraft in Navy Blue is a T 33.TheT33 was a starched out version the P80, later to be redesignated F80 in 1948 when the USAF came into existence, and was used as a trainer.

[iannarita]

Interesting video. Well presented as always.

[scottdunkirk]

Many of the buildings are in work, one barracks is completed. Our group (the Arizona ground crew) is restoring a squadron building on the flightline.

[pauljaronsik]

Saw the Enola Gay a few years back at Smithsonian Air & Space Museum (Udvar-Hazy Center annex) near Chantilly, VA. Many, many wonderful aircraft at this museum

[jeffbangkok]

My dad was in the 8TH in Europe but uncle training as a gunner in a B 25 when the war ended. Maybe he was one that trained there. Can't believe your collection.

[BNSF]

How neat both the Free mo and extended base tour! Interesting note there’s a B-29 “Doc” I contributed to the restoration of it in Wichita KS will be visiting the base on May 9-12.