How to hide a huge airplane factory

Lockheed Air Terminal (before)

This airport, in the northwest corner of Burbank, was built in 1930. By 1934 the airport had become Los Angeles’ primary airport known as Union Air Terminal. During the1930’s Lockheed Aircraft Company, adjacent to the field, evolved into one the nation’s largest aircraft manufacturers, and in 1940 Lockheed purchased the airport. It was then renamed Lockheed Air Terminal and used to test and delivery Lockheed aircraft. It also remained Los Angeles’ primary civil airport and remained the area’s only civil airport throughout the war. During the war Lockheed built P-38 fighters, Hudson and B-17 bombers. The Royal Air Force’s Air Technical Services Command and US Army Air Forces Western Technical Training Command had operations at the field. The airport and the Lockheed plant were extensively camouflaged during the war. The main Lockheed plant and runways were made to appear as grain fields and houses, and the parking lot was covered over with netting to appear as alfalfa fields. In addition, an extensive smoke screen system was installed to hide the plant under smoke.

In 1947, when Mines Field was expanded to become Los Angeles’ primary airport, this facility became a secondary airport. In 1975 the cities of Burbank, Glendale and Pasadena bought the airport and renamed it Burbank Glendale-Pasadena Airport. Lockheed contin ued in operation at the field for many years.

source: The California State Military Museum

Sledovať reakcie pomocou RSS.

Musíš byť prihlásený, ak chceš pridať reakciu.