Wyoming
Wyoming History: Casper Air Base Was Last Stop For WWII Bomber Crews Heading To War
The day Casper Army Air Base activated Sept. 1, 1942, the banner headline in the Casper Tribune-Herald read “Rommel Launches Offensive.”
The World War II German general nicknamed the “Desert Fox” had launched his North Africa campaign in an escalation of World War II.
But in Casper, the first of nearly 1,800 10-man bomber crews would soon be arriving to cycle through the base’s 10- to 12-week training. They were preparing to head for Europe, Africa and the Pacific in B-17s to challenge Rommel and other forces of German-Japan Axis.
Wyoming Veterans Memorial Museum Director John Woodward said the central Wyoming air base located where Casper/Natrona International Airport now sits was the last stop for World War II Army air crews headed overseas.
The base was built quickly that year to train the bomber crews for combat, and it became the training ground for a dominant part of America’s fight for freedom from the air. By the end of the war, an estimated 16,000 to 18,000 had trained there.
The Role
Plans developed by the Army Air Force called for the base to house an entire bombardment group that would typically house four squadrons of 18 heavy bombers in each squadron.
“Think of it as this is where the band got together,” Woodward said. “They had learned their instruments elsewhere, but this is where they were learning to work and fight as a team.”
Initially, the base operated as an operational training unit (OTU), and the 331st Bombardment Group trained pilots on B-17s and other members of the crew worked to keep their skills sharp. Crews would get assigned at the base and together would be sent overseas to fly as a team.
In early 1943, as the war progressed and air groups suffered heavy losses, the air base mission changed to being a replacement training unit (RTU). The base also transitioned to B-24 aircraft in April 1943. As an RTU, the needs overseas dictated whether the crews would stay together once deployed overseas or be assigned individually to existing crews that had lost men.
Bomber crews consisted of 10 that included the pilot, co-pilot, navigator, bombardier, flight engineer, radioman and gunners.
Creating the base was no easy task. As the summer of 1942 approached, the Army Corps of Engineers was given a budget of $10 million to get the base operational by Sept. 15, 1942. That figure in today’s dollars would be more than $191 million.
-
A B-24 combat crew in training at the Casper Army Air Base, ca. 1944. Enlisted man Ernest Reynolds, of Thermopolis, Wyo., top left. One hundred forty Casper Army Air Base aviators perished in 90 plane crashes in training. Many more died later in combat. (Wyoming Veterans Memorial Museum via Wyohistory.org) -
A B-24 flies over the Casper Army Air Base in 1944. (Wyohistory.org) -
A view of downtown Casper during World War II, when the city was home to an air base that trained thousands of bomber crews. (Courtesy Western History Center at Casper College)
Infrastructure
In addition to runways and associated road infrastructure for the base, needs called for a railroad spur, warehouses, hangars, administration building, base chapel, barracks, dining hall and more.
With the need to build a base quickly, troops stationed there soon learned their barracks did not do well coping with the dust driven by Wyoming’s famous wind. The structures also didn’t optimally handle the snow and frigid temperatures of the winter.
“Soldiers regularly found thick layers of dust on their clothes, blankets and bunks,” a display at the museum relates. “Snow replaced dust during the rest of the year. … Some soldiers called the conditions ‘fighting the Battle of Casper.’”
Visitors to the Veteran’s Museum will learn that the base used specially trained civilian firefighters to deal with aircraft mishaps, and there were many. There were 90 crashes that occurred while the base was in operation.
“Those are major crashes that resulted in a fatality or near fatality,” Woodward said. “Smaller incidents that would have happened, like a crushed nose gear along the flight line or (an accident that) wasn’t significant, we do not have records of those. Just the ones that resulted in the loss of aircraft or the loss of life.”
Among the crashes was one in Mills and another on Casper Mountain.
In all, 140 men died in 90 crashes while training in Casper.
Female Mechanics
Members of the base fire department were not the only non-military personnel who worked on the base. A repair facility at the air base employed 800 civilians, mostly women, and they performed basic as well as more complex repairs to the aircraft, included replacing wings or tails.
As a training base, there also was a need for places where aircraft gunners and bombardiers could keep their skills sharp.
An air-to-ground gunnery range near the border of Fremont and Natrona counties gave crews about 55 square miles of space to send down painted ammunition that allowed trainers to help crews gain expertise.
The air base also had four bombing ranges that offered bombardiers big bullseyes for a target.
“Each practice bomb was a thin metal shell filled with sand and included a small explosive ‘flash’ charge in the nose,” according to a museum display. “Bombardiers relied on their specialized Norden Bombsights during training. These specialized, mechanical computers allowed crews to be very precise in dropping their bombs.”
Bob Hope Visit
Newspaper accounts show that after only a few months of operation, a special visitor arrived at the base. Comedian Bob Hope stepped out of a B-17 as part of a morale tour for troops stationed at the base.
An army air base newspaper called Slip Stream quoted Hope quipping about the B-17s: “It’s a Flying Fortress and that should be saying enough about that. They are as good as their reputation. I rode in every position on the plane and I like the ball turret best. It’s good for a hangover.”
As the war progressed, in March 1944, the 211th Army Air Force Base unit assumed command of the air base and training needs. The base’s last training class graduated Feb. 23, 1945.
Woodward said there are still an estimated 85 buildings from the time that remain standing in their original location. The museum building was once a club for enlisted men. All of the four hangars that once housed the heavy bombers still are in use at the airport.
“There are more (buildings from the base) that exist in Casper that were moved in the 1950s,” Woodward said. “And there are others that are scattered about central Wyoming that were sold to ranchers and farmers.”
Casper Army Air Base was officially deactivated March 7, 1945, just two months before Germany and its allies in Europe surrendered May 8, 1945. Personnel at the base were transferred to other military facilities. Victory over Japan would come Aug. 14, 1945.
“The county assumed operational control for the air base grounds in 1949,” Woodward said. “The base was officially deeded over in 1952, and before that was done the federal government did a sale and donation to different groups around Casper.”
Dale Killingbeck can be reached at dale@cowboystatedaily.com.
If you’re planning on visiting Wyoming, for a truly authentic experience, you must include at least one of the state’s awesome downtowns in your travel plans. Positioned at the southern end of the 60-mile-long valley known as Jackson Hole, the character-rich town of Jackson is one such place to consider. A wonderful place to explore on foot, Jackson’s unique downtown, with its Old West vibe, spreads out from the intersection of Broadway and Cache Street. While it consists of just a few blocks, it is jam-packed with fun things to do, no matter what time of year you visit. Its impressive elk arch makes for an excellent photo opportunity, while the charm of its Old West heritage exudes from the historic buildings, cowboy-themed bars, and art installations across town. The wild past also comes to life in Jackson during the Jackson Hole Shootout at the Town Square, a tradition that has endured since 1957.
Town Square And The Elk Antler Arches
Though Jackson’s Central Park is officially known as George Washington Memorial Park, locals and visitors alike prefer to call it Town Square. Dedicated in 1934, this centrally located public space occupies the block at Broadway and Cache and is famous for the elk antler archers set at each of its corners.
Made entirely from naturally shed elk antlers, the first arch was erected by local Boy Scouts and Rotary Club members in 1953, with the other three added a few years later. Each consists of around 2,000 antlers collected from the nearby National Elk Refuge and is among the most photographed landmarks in Wyoming.
For a truly memorable experience, try to time a visit to coincide with ELKFEST. Held in May, this community-wide celebration attracts visitors from across the country for events like the Mountain Man Rendezvous, a reenactment of the state’s early fur trading years.
The main event, though, is the highly anticipated Elk Antler Auction. Bidders from far and wide turn up at Town Square to purchase antlers, which are then used to make everything from furniture to jewelry (proceeds going back to the Elk Refuge).
Jackson’s Cowboy Heritage
From Memorial Day through Labor Day, Town Square becomes the backdrop of the famous Jackson Hole Shootout. This fun (and free) mock gunfight has been entertaining visitors since 1957 and includes several costumed outlaws and lawmen shooting it out (with blanks, of course). You can add to the experience by hopping aboard the Jackson Hole Stagecoach, a ride aboard a century-old coach that loops around downtown.
The Old West theme is evident in other spots around the downtown core, too. Steps from Town Square, the Million Dollar Cowboy Bar has been around since 1937 and is set in what was once the town’s first bank in the late 1890s. Highlights include its hand-carved bar top with silver dollars embedded in it, as well as its cool saddle barstools. Live music is regularly scheduled on the stage that has seen such legends as Willie Nelson and Hank Williams Jr. perform.
The Wort Hotel is another downtown landmark you’ll want to include in your Jackson itinerary. A local fixture since 1941, it’s here you’ll find the famous Silver Dollar Bar with its custom-made S-shaped counter inlaid with 2,032 uncirculated (and therefore rare) 1921 silver dollars. You’ll also want to check out its priceless collection of original Western art.
Other Fun Stuff To Do In Downtown Jackson
In addition to its iconic bars, downtown Jackson also boasts a world-class food scene. Highlights include Persephone Bakery, its old-fashioned stone hearth turning out delicious baked goods, including croissants and artisanal bread. Also yummy, Cafe Genevieve occupies an old log cabin and serves breakfast and lunch with a Southern-inspired menu.
Jackson’s art scene is also worth a mention. Art galleries are plentiful in the downtown area, with establishments like Astoria Fine Art and Mountain Trails Galleries, both on Town Square, featuring works by local, national, and international artists. The Center for the Arts is another cultural high point and features performance spaces, visual arts studios, and an outdoor sculpture park.
Snow King Mountain
Another unique feature of Jackson’s downtown is its proximity to some of Wyoming’s best (and certainly most accessible) ski hills. The base of Snow King Mountain is just six blocks from Town Square and has been in use since 1936, and really took off when Wyoming’s first chairlift opened here in 1946.
Dubbed the “Town Hill” by locals, Snow King now consists of 500 skiable acres, 41 named runs, three chairlifts, an eight-passenger gondola, and night skiing. In warmer months, the action shifts to a thrilling Cowboy Coaster, a zipline, a treetop adventure ropes course, and an alpine slide.
The Snow King Observatory and Planetarium is another excuse to head for the hills from downtown Jackson. Located at the summit of Snow King Mountain, in addition to its large telescope, this must-see attraction features a planetarium theater and a rooftop observation deck boasting incredible views over Jackson and the Jackson Hole Valley.
Explore Jackson’s Not-So-Wild Side
Downtown Jackson has so much to offer visitors seeking an authentic slice of Wyoming life. From its unique elk antler arches to its art galleries and cowboy culture, as well as its unique position steps from the ski hills, few towns in the USA’s Mountain Region can match the long list of fun things to do in Jackson’s downtown core.
The expansion would open the spigot for 550,000 barrels per day of crude, the company says. Although the crude would mostly pass through eastern Wyoming, the venture opens opportunities for Wyoming oil producers in the region for more transportation access to U.S. refineries and shipping ports, according to Bridger and local industry officials.“It would be the biggest project in our history, if it comes to fruition,” Bridger Pipeline spokesperson Bill Salvin told WyoFile on Friday. “We are, however, in the really early stages of the project. But we’re very excited about it.”Industry trade groups speculate the Bridger Pipeline Expansion is part of a competitive scramble to fill a gap left by TC Energy’s Keystone XL project. That company, in 2021, abandoned the controversial project in the face of major opposition and protests. It would have transported Canadian tar-sands oil into the U.S. market via a route extending through Montana, South Dakota and Nebraska. Among many challenges for Keystone XL was acquiring new rights-of-way easements. Though the Bridger Pipeline Expansion proposal requires some new rights-of-way, that’s not the case for the 210-mile Wyoming segment, according to Salvin.“All of that distance is within, or parallel to, existing pipeline corridors,” Salvin said.
TNCMS.AdManager.render({region: ‘fixed-big-ad-middle-asset’, slot: 1, fold: “span”});
The Wyoming segment would pass through Crook, Weston, Niobrara, Goshen and Platte counties.Bridger Pipeline, a subsidiary of Casper-based True Companies, submitted a notice of intent to the Montana Department of Environmental Quality in January and noted it will formally initiate environmental applications to the agency. Salvin told WyoFile he’s uncertain about the full spectrum of regulatory requirements in Wyoming.However, the company regards the Cowboy State as a great fit for the project, he said. “This [project proposal] just highlights how important the region is and how Wyoming is a very good place for energy projects like this.”Reached for comment, the Petroleum Association of Wyoming said the proposed pipeline only stands to benefit Wyoming producers and the state.“Investments like these, along with continued growth in areas like the Powder River Basin, show Wyoming will continue to play an important role in the nation’s energy markets,” PAW Vice President and Director of Communications Ryan McConnaughey told WyoFile. “Connecting in Guernsey allows product to be transported to refining hubs like Cushing, Oklahoma.” WyoFile is an independent nonprofit news organization focused on Wyoming people, places and policy.
#placement_821454_0_i{width:100%;margin:0 auto;}var rnd = window.rnd || Math.floor(Math.random()*10e6);var pid821454 = window.pid821454 || rnd;var plc821454 = window.plc821454 || 0;var abkw = window.abkw || ”;var absrc=”https://ads.empowerlocal.co/adserve/;ID=181918;size=0x0;setID=821454;type=js;sw=”+screen.width+’;sh=”+screen.height+”;spr=”+window.devicePixelRatio+”;kw=’+abkw+’;pid=’+pid821454+’;place=”+(plc821454++)+”;rnd=’+rnd+’;click=CLICK_MACRO_PLACEHOLDER’;var _absrc = absrc.split(“type=js”); absrc = _absrc[0] + ‘type=js;referrer=” + encodeURIComponent(document.location.href) + _absrc[1];document.write(“‘);
LARAMIE — Nasir Meyer converted a three-point play with 35 seconds remaining to give Wyoming Cowboys men’s basketball the lead for good, and Wyoming held Air Force Falcons men’s basketball scoreless over the final two minutes to secure a 66-62 victory Saturday night.
The win marked the 13th home victory of the season for Wyoming, which improved to 16-13 overall and 7-11 in conference play.
“Air Force deserves all the credit and let’s talk about a team that has every reason not to fight, but thats why they are Air Force and the cadets and I have a lot of respect for them,” Wyoming coach Sundance Wicks said. “They were not going to quit, and I didn’t drive that message home enough and hats off to Air Force because they deserved to win. We snuck away with a win. Adam Harakow showed when we need him and he was massive for us. Simm-Marten was made big plays and Naz was clutch for us late.”
Advertisement – Story continues below…
University of Wyoming sports coverage
in Southwest Wyoming is supported by these great sponsors:
Wyoming shot 35% from the field and went 7 of 28 from 3-point range, making just two from beyond the arc in the second half. Air Force shot 49% overall and 44% from 3, hitting eight shots from long distance. The Cowboys made 13 of 16 free throws (81%) and scored 22 points off 15 Air Force turnovers while holding a 39-36 edge in rebounding.
Damarion Dennis led Wyoming with 16 points and three assists, going 7 of 8 from the free-throw line. Meyer finished with 14 points and tied a career best with eight rebounds. Adam Harakow added 14 points off the bench on 5-of-6 shooting, his first double-figure scoring game since the first meeting with Air Force. Simm-Marten Saadi had nine points in 13 minutes, and Kiani Saxon grabbed seven rebounds.
Air Force opened with back-to-back 3-pointers to take a 6-0 lead. Meyer scored Wyoming’s first basket, and Leland Walker added a 3-pointer to make it 8-5 with 16 minutes left in the first half.
Wyoming responded with a 9-0 run over nearly four minutes, with Saadi and Harakow each connecting from beyond the arc to give the Cowboys an 11-8 lead with under 14 minutes remaining. Air Force regained a 12-11 advantage as Wyoming went scoreless for more than two minutes.
Harakow’s second 3-pointer pushed the lead to 22-16 with nine minutes left in the half, and Wyoming used a 6-0 run while holding the Falcons without a field goal for more than four minutes to build a 28-18 lead with six minutes remaining. The Cowboys closed the half on a defensive stand, keeping Air Force scoreless for the final two minutes to take a 35-25 lead into the break. Wyoming scored 15 first-half points off turnovers.
The teams traded 3-pointers early in the second half, and Air Force cut the deficit to 40-31 with under 17 minutes left before trimming it to seven 90 seconds later. Walker answered with a 3-pointer to make it 43-33 with 15 minutes to go.
Air Force used a 9-0 run during a stretch in which Wyoming went more than 3 1/2 minutes without a point to pull within one with nine minutes left. The Falcons later tied the game at 51-51 with 5:30 remaining after forcing six straight missed shots.
A pair of free throws by Meyer and a basket from Saadi gave Wyoming a 57-53 lead with under four minutes to play. Air Force answered with three consecutive 3-pointers from Kam Sanders to take a 62-59 lead with two minutes left.
Meyer scored with 90 seconds remaining to cut the deficit to one. On the next trip, he converted an and-one to give Wyoming a 64-62 lead with 35 seconds left. The Cowboys added late free throws to close out the 66-62 win.
Sanders led Air Force with 16 points and nine rebounds, going 4 of 5 from 3-point range. Eli Robinson added 12 points on 5-of-7 shooting.
Wyoming closes its home schedule Tuesday against Nevada Wolf Pack men’s basketball at 8 p.m. as part of a doubleheader with the Cowgirls.
2 Smoothie King employees fired for refusing to serve customer in Trump hoodie
Massachusetts man awaits word from family in Iran after attacks
Minnesota sues to block Trump administration’s withholding of Medicaid funds
Why Rebels are keeping pace for Mississippi State CB commit Brandon Allen Jr
Missouri Lottery Powerball, Pick 3 winning numbers for March 2, 2026
Florida High School Football Rankings: Top 25 teams – Oct. 21
Cleary's 21 help Le Moyne down Central Connecticut State 69-64 in OT
How old is Bo Nix? What to know about Oregon quarterback ahead of 2024 NFL Draft
99th annual Pony Swim held in Virginia
Indiana Members Credit Union announced as new anchor tenant at Bottleworks District
Trump sends official notification to Congress on strikes against Iran
Unexpected birth brings hope to near-extinct Amazon tribe
Supreme Court blocks redrawing of New York congressional map, dealing a win for GOP
Map: Earthquake Shakes Central California
Gas prices could jump as Middle East tensions threaten global oil supply
-
World5 days agoExclusive: DeepSeek withholds latest AI model from US chipmakers including Nvidia, sources say
-
Massachusetts6 days agoMother and daughter injured in Taunton house explosion
-
Denver, CO5 days ago10 acres charred, 5 injured in Thornton grass fire, evacuation orders lifted
-
Louisiana1 week agoWildfire near Gum Swamp Road in Livingston Parish now under control; more than 200 acres burned
-
Technology1 week agoYouTube TV billing scam emails are hitting inboxes
-
Politics1 week agoOpenAI didn’t contact police despite employees flagging mass shooter’s concerning chatbot interactions: REPORT
-
Technology1 week agoStellantis is in a crisis of its own making
-
Oregon4 days ago2026 OSAA Oregon Wrestling State Championship Results And Brackets – FloWrestling