Near Lewistown in Fergus County, Montana — The American West (Mountains)

Armament Building

Lewistown Satellite Airfield Historic District

Photographed by Barry Swackhamer, August 18, 2019

1. Armament Building Marker

Inscription. Sand-filled “Blue Beetle” practice bombs with a five-pound black powder charge were loaded here for placement in the B-17s’ bomb bays. The practice bombs were later dropped in 1,000-foot circles during the daytime and on lighted targets at night. The bombing range was near War Horse Lake, 12 miles northwest of Winnett. The top secret Norden bombsight, later used to drop the uranium bomb “Little Boy” on Hiroshima from the B-29 Enola Gay, played a major role in the training at Lewistown. Navigators gained critical practice flying at night, invaluable experience since Montana’s few visual checkpoints mirrored conditions over blacked-out England in 1943. Gunners practiced working, loading, and un-jamming their guns in all conditions including freezing weather, day and night. As the war progressed, B-17s gained fuel capacity progressing from the E and F models to the ultimate B-17 G. Sixteen B-17 Gs and their crews trained at Lewistown from July 6 to October 6, 1943, then flew directly to the front in England.

Erected by The Montana National Register Sign Program.

Topics and series. This historical

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marker is listed in these topic lists: Air & Space • War, World II. In addition, it is included in the Montana National Register Sign Program series list.

Location. 47° 2.853′ N, 109° 27.49′ W. Marker is near Lewistown, Montana, in Fergus County. It is at the intersection of West Aztec Drive and Gulf Stream Drive, on the right when traveling west on West Aztec Drive. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 113 West Aztec Drive, Lewistown MT 59457, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in andspecifically entral Montana in Russell Country. It is also in the American Mountain West

and in the Lewis & Clark Corridor.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once Rupert’s Land

and also the Louisiana Purchase.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Crew Chief Building (within shouting distance of this marker); Recreation Building (within shouting distance of this marker); All Purpose Shop

Armament Building and Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Barry Swackhamer, August 18, 2019

2. Armament Building and Marker

(within shouting distance of this marker); Lewiston Satellite Airfield Historic District (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Hangar (about 300 feet away); Pre-War Hangar (about 400 feet away); Operations and Alert Building (about 500 feet away); Training Building (about 500 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Lewistown.

More about this marker. This marker is located at the former Lewistown Satellite Airfield, now the Lewiston Airport.

Credits. This page was last revised on December 22, 2019. It was originally submitted on December 15, 2019, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California. This page has been viewed 249 times since then and 12 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on December 15, 2019, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California.