Near Lewistown in Fergus County, Montana — The American West (Mountains)
Operations and Alert Building
Photographed By Barry Swackhamer, August 18, 2019
1. Operations and Alert Building Marker
Inscription.
Operations and Alert Building. . Planning and scheduling of the training missions took place in this one-story T-shaped building during an eleven- month period in 1942-1943. After November 1942, when the first of the four-engine B-17 bombers roared down the airfield, they filled the skies over Central Montana. Despite the secrecy and censorship surrounding activities at the airfield, the Army publicized and marked off practice bombing ranges because the use of live ammunition and bombs made public safety a concern. One range in Blaine County was used for the high altitude precision bombing proven successful in Germany; another in northern Chouteau County served as a gunnery range. Two lines of Japanese “Zero Plane” silhouettes served as targets for strafing practice. The men frequently flew in precise formation under simulated battle conditions, “...when ships must be so spaced as to cover one another with guns.” Even routine training flights over Central Montana experienced casualties. One B-17 crashed near Fort Benton in September of 1942 killing all ten aboard; another crash in December of 1943 south of Musselshell claimed ten crewmen and a cook hitching a ride.
Planning and scheduling of the training missions took place in this one-story T-shaped building during an eleven- month period in 1942-1943. After November 1942, when the first of the four-engine B-17 bombers roared down the airfield, they filled the skies over Central Montana. Despite the secrecy and censorship surrounding activities at the airfield, the Army publicized and marked off practice bombing ranges because the use of live ammunition and bombs made public safety a concern. One range in Blaine County was used for the high altitude precision bombing proven successful in Germany; another in northern Chouteau County served as a gunnery range. Two lines of Japanese “Zero Plane” silhouettes served as targets for strafing practice. The men frequently flew in precise formation under simulated battle conditions, “...when ships must be so spaced as to cover one another with guns.” Even routine training flights over Central Montana experienced casualties. One B-17 crashed near Fort Benton in September of 1942 killing all ten aboard; another crash in December of 1943 south of Musselshell claimed ten crewmen and a cook hitching a ride.
Erected by The Montana National Register Sign Program.
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Air & Space
Location. 47° 2.826′ N, 109° 27.597′ W. Marker is near Lewistown, Montana, in Fergus County. Marker is on Terminal Drive (U-7103) near West Aztec Drive, on the left when traveling north. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Lewistown MT 59457, United States of America. Touch for directions.
More about this marker. This marker is located at the former Lewistown Satellite Airfield, now the Lewiston Airport.
Photographed By Barry Swackhamer, August 18, 2019
2. Operations and Alert Building and Marker
The Bombsite Storage Building is at the right rear.
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 109 times since then and 12 times this year. Photos:1, 2. submitted on December 15, 2019, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California.
