Historic Wendover Airfield Barracks Restoration

Help Save a World War II Barracks


At 5:15pm on Monday, November 23, emergency services were dispatched to a barracks fire at the Historic Wendover Airfield. For several hours firefighters from Wendover City, the Wendover Airport, and West Wendover City battled the blaze and protected nearby barracks. By the end of the night the barracks was reduced to little more than ashes - a total loss.


Our mission at Historic Wendover Airfield is to preserve the history of the US Army Air Forces at Wendover Airfield. Thousands of airmen and civilians lived and worked in our buildings around the base during training here in the West Desert, finding themselves in combat soon after. The heartrending loss of one of our few remaining WWII structures emphasizes the urgency with which these buildings need to be stabilized and restored to ensure they last for future generations to learn about and experience this important period in American and World history.


Currently we have one completely restored barracks that was fortunately unscathed by the fire. To restore the rest of our remaining barracks will cost hundreds of thousands of dollars, meaning that is a long-term goal. In light of the recent fire, however, we want to restore another barracks as soon as possible to safeguard more of this history against similar circumstances.


We have a generous donor who will provide doors and a portion of the siding needed to restore one more barracks. We hope to raise the necessary funds to complete at least the exterior of one barracks. This restoration involves replacing the current worn siding for weatherproofing, removing the original Celotex fiberboard insulation which is a significant fire hazard and installing new doors for security.


A complete restoration of the single barracks will cost upwards of $30,000, but these funds raised will stabilize and protect this barracks, giving us more time to raise funds and complete the interior at a later date. 


We appreciate your support of Historic Wendover Airfield. These restoration efforts allow visitors to "walk where they have walked" and understand the sacrifices made by so many service members and civilians during the Second World War.