Wendover, Utah
10th and A Sts.
GPS coordinates: 40.7282,-114.0293
Take a photo of your rally flag with the above image.

The building of the Wendover Air Field and Air Force Range began in 1940 and quickly became the world’s largest and most recognized bombing and gunnery range. Heavy bombing crews came from all over the country to be trained here and then sent to overseas bases. Training included exercises in high-altitude formation flying, long-range navigation, target identification, and simulated combat missions. Wendover was also assigned research and development of guided missiles, pilotless aircraft and remote-controlled bombs.

Part of the gunnery training involved a mock city with life-size ships and airplanes, all made of salt from the nearby Bonneville Salt Flats. Many of the targets were illuminated for nighttime training. By 1943, nearly 20,000 military and civilian personnel worked at the base.

In all, there were 21 bomber groups and over 1,000 air crews that completed training at Wendover airfield. The crews participated in the strategic bombing of Germany, flew in support of D-Day, and conducted combat operations around the world. Three of the groups had Medal of Honor recipients.

Some of the aircraft included B-17s, B-24s and B-29s such as the “Enola Gay” that was armed with “Little Boy” on August 6, 1945. The bomb was dropped on Hiroshima and three days later the “Fat Man” bomb was dropped on Nagasaki.

After the war, the base was used to test captured enemy munitions.

Photo above is of the hangar used for the Enola Gay.

Bonus stops: If you're craving Mexican food, check out the 99c Ice Cream Store, next to the Motel 6. And visit the Bonneville Salt Flats on your way to or from Salt Lake City.