- An effort to build the planned National Training Memorial at Historic Wendover Airfield is underway.
- The proposed memorial will honor over 15,000 who died in World War II training accidents.
- Efforts are also underway to designate the airfield itself as a national historic monument.
WENDOVER — At the Historic Wendover Airfield, the silence can feel heavy.
It's almost as if you can sense them.
"We feel that connection to those individuals who trained here," said Landon Wilkey, who is the museum curator at the Historic Wendover Airfield.
There are several places in the desert near the airfield where, if you look closely at the ground, you can still see pieces of what was left behind.
"So just scattered here through the salt flat, you've got .50-caliber bullets. We have small pieces of aircraft, aluminum gauges. We've even found a watch back out here, engraved," said Wilkey.
This spot near the airfield is where a B-24 crashed in training during World War II, killing the co-pilot.
He was one of about 135 training fatalities in Wendover during the war.
"And that kind of thing was happening at hundreds of bases all around the country every day of the war," said Wilkey.
In all, Wilkey said about 15,000 men and women died in training accidents across the country.
"They got sent home in a coffin. Their parents received a gold star still to hang in their window, but beyond that, they were not receiving the recognition and the remembrance that those who went to combat did, and that stands today," he said.
That's why he and others involved with the Historic Wendover Airfield are pushing for a World War II Army Air Force National Training Memorial to honor them.
The plans include a statue of an airman waving goodbye, not knowing it's his last mission.
"And then surrounding that will be granite pillars with the names of those over 15,000 killed," said Wilkey. "Tooele County has permanently designated this property for a memorial for this purpose. So, we're grateful for that and for their foresight to make this happen."
The memorial will be located next to the hangar where the Enola Gay was based.
The Enola Gay was the airplane that dropped the first atomic bomb during World War II.
Its crew was also based in Wendover, as well as thousands of other men and women.
"Wendover helped change the world," said Wilkey.
Along with the hangar, the site still has the original control tower, barracks and museum.
"Here in Wendover, we have the most original World War II Army Air Force training base remaining in the country. Of the original almost 700 buildings, there's over 80 still standing from the 1940s of every kind, from hangars to barracks to fire stations," said Wilkey. "It just is a glimpse at life. There's something about the power of place and having that tangible connection with history. It's not a textbook. They were here."
Because of that, there is also an effort underway to have the Historic Wendover Airfield designated as a national historic monument.
"And we certainly think that is a possibility for this one to be ranked up there as a federally recognized monument, as it should be," said Wilkey.
After 80 years, Wilkey believes the time is right.
"Now is the time. There's no reason it should wait," he said.
The Historic Wendover Airfield has set up a *funding page for donors to help raise money for the project.
*KSL.com does not assure that the money deposited to the account will be applied for the benefit of the persons named as beneficiaries. If you are considering a deposit to the account, you should consult your own advisers and otherwise proceed at your own risk.
