Near Lewistown in Fergus County, Montana — The American West (Mountains)
Camouflage Building
Lewistown Satellite Airfield Historic District
Photographed by Barry Swackhamer, August 18, 2019
1. Camouflage Building Marker
Inscription.
Camouflage Building. Lewistown Satellite Airfield Historic District. The United States Army Air Force (USAAF) trained its field maintenance crews in camouflage painting to make aircraft difficult to distinguish from the ground. Constructed in the spring of 1943, this building was designed for teaching and facilitating aircraft camouflage techniques. A catwalk, unique among Lewistown Airfields buildings, allowed students to lay out their designs and provided instructors a birds eye view to evaluate them. While American allies used elaborate camouflage, USAAF heavy bombers never widely adopted it. This building more frequently functioned as an auxiliary hangar for base utility aircraft shuttles that carried payroll and mail between Lewistown and the main base at Great Falls. It also may have housed the small twin engine AT-6 “tug” used in target practice. The plane towed a windsock-like target over the gunnery range north of Grass Range. The B-17 gunners fired painted, color-coded bullets so the instructor could determine who hit the target. Vintage pinup posters and calendars decorate the “camo” buildings main walls, colorfully recalling the years the building saw active use.
The United States Army Air Force (USAAF) trained its field maintenance crews in camouflage painting to make aircraft difficult to distinguish from the ground. Constructed in the spring of 1943, this building was designed for teaching and facilitating aircraft camouflage techniques. A catwalk, unique among Lewistown Airfields buildings, allowed students to lay out their designs and provided instructors a birds eye view to evaluate them. While American allies used elaborate camouflage, USAAF heavy bombers never widely adopted it. This building more frequently functioned as an auxiliary hangar for base utility aircraft shuttles that carried payroll and mail between Lewistown and the main base at Great Falls. It also may have housed the small twin engine AT-6 “tug” used in target practice. The plane towed a windsock-like target over the gunnery range north of Grass Range. The B-17 gunners fired painted, color-coded bullets so the instructor could determine who hit the target. Vintage pinup posters and calendars decorate the “camo” buildings main walls, colorfully recalling the years the building saw
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active use.
Erected by The Montana National Register Sign Program.
Location. 47° 2.913′ N, 109° 27.36′ W. Marker is near Lewistown, Montana, in Fergus County. It is on East Aztec Drive near Rimby Drive, on the left when traveling east. 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 Ruperts Land and also the Louisiana Purchase.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Quartermaster Warehouses (here, next to this marker); Training Building (within shouting
More about this marker. This marker is located at the former Lewistown Satellite Airfield, now the Lewiston Municipal Airport.
Also see . . . B17 Nose Art. Adults only. (Submitted on December 16, 2019, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California.)
Photographed by Unknown
3. Memphis Belle camouflage pattern
Photographed by Unknown
4. B17 Camouflage
Photographed by Barry Swackhamer
5. Blonde Bomber Nose Art
Credits. This page was last revised on December 22, 2019. It was originally submitted on December 16, 2019, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California. This page has been viewed 447 times since then and 20 times this year. Photos:1, 2, 3, 4, 5. submitted on December 16, 2019, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California.
