Quartermaster Warehouses

Quartermaster Warehouses. Lewistown Satellite Airfield Historic District. Caring for the squadrons of men who trained at the airfield was no easy task. It required a permanent host crew of approximately 150 to keep the base running smoothly. In addition to providing the actual training, members of the host crew assured that the plumbing functioned, the lights turned on, the bunks had sheets and blankets, the roofs did not leak, and the mess hall served up "three squares" each day. Key to an efficient operation was convenient access to necessary supplies. These two large warehouses were devoted exclusively to storing canned and dried food, construction materials, plumbing supplies, clothing, and almost everything else needed to meet the airmen's daily needs. Measuring 32-by-95 feet, the wood-frame buildings were more solidly constructed than most of the buildings on base. Heavy timbers provided the structural support necessary for a conveniently open floor plan and the placement of large garage doors in the buildings' load-bearing walls. The doors opened onto either side of two drive-through bays, making it possible for four trucks to pull inside the warehouses simultaneously, speeding up deliveries.