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

Hangar

Lewistown Satellite Airfield Historic District

Photographed by Barry Swackhamer, August 18, 2019

1. Hangar Marker

Inscription. The airfield’s immense hangar dominates the flight apron and appears much as it did when World War II vintage B-17s roared down the runway. Construction of the airfield began in July 1942. The original hangar plans were soon modified, increasing the height and length of the building, likely to accommodate the larger B-29s. Crews at Lewistown, however, trained exclusively on the various models of B-17s. Hangar construction crews laid out the lumber for the bowstring trusses on site, assembled them for fit, and then took them apart to cut the grooves and glue and spike the pieces together. The airfield accommodated one squadron in training at a time with nine B-17s to a squadron; five of the hangar’s six bays could accommodate five of the huge planes, stacked in like sardines. Before a training mission, the B-17 crews would line up outside the hangar to await the bombardier. Armed guards escorted him to the Norden bombsight shelter to retrieve the top-secret device and then escorted him to the hangar and the plane. The process was repeated upon the crews’ return.

Erected by The Montana National Register Sign Program.

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Topics and series. This historical 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. A significant historical year for this entry is 1942.

Location. 47° 2.836′ N, 109° 27.569′ W. Marker is near Lewistown, Montana, in Fergus County. It is on Terminal Drive (U-7103) near West Aztec Drive, on the right when traveling north. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: 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: Lewiston Satellite Airfield Historic District (here, next to this marker); Operations and Alert Building (within shouting distance of this marker);

Photographed by Barry Swackhamer, August 18, 2019

2. Hangar Marker

The marker is on the left, on the pillar.

Recreation Building (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Armament Building (about 300 feet away); Crew Chief Building (about 300 feet away); Bombsite Storage Building (about 400 feet away); All Purpose Shop (about 600 feet away); Pre-War Hangar (about 800 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.

Lewiston Satellite Airfield Hangar image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Barry Swackhamer, August 18, 2019

3. Lewiston Satellite Airfield Hangar

Photographed by Barry Swackhamer, August 18, 2019

4. Lewiston Satellite Airfield Hangar

Credits. This page was last revised on December 19, 2020. It was originally submitted on December 16, 2019, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California. This page has been viewed 249 times since then and 16 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on December 16, 2019, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California.