Specialized education played an important role at the Hill Field during and after World War II- Building 295 provides particularly vivid images of training processes that supported the repair and maintenance of aircraft, a crucial component of Hill Field's overall mission to support Pacific and European theaters of military operation during World War II. In addition, this building contributes to a deeper understanding of the early development of the U.S. Army Air Corps, a branch of the Army which eventually became the U.S. Air Force. History: Building 295 originally housed the Post School and Training Facilities for both enlisted and civilian personnel.
It contained hands-on workrooms where students practiced new skills on aircraft bodies, engines, and other parts that were stored inside the hangars of Building The base held a strong and steady demand for new workers throughout World War H, and again during the Korean conflict of the early Since most of the initial labor force was untrained in the repair and maintenance of aircraft, buildings like this one were essential to successful Base operations. Hill Field, Post School Training Facilities HAER No. UT-85-Y Page 2 Before they entered a training program, new workers were tested to determine their aptitudes, which facilitated the most efficient assignment of all personnel. Continuous training was conducted, since the demand for workers in specific areas shifted over time.
Technicians that were proficient in certain tasks often were retrained for new jobs in order to meet the changing needs and technology of the aircraft repaired on the Base. Prior to the completion of Building 295 in local schools and universities provided training facilities for the Ogden Air Depot. In the U.S. Army Air Forces tested high school students in the area and selected 150 to be trained for highly technical repair jobs at the new Hill Field installation. Students trained in classes such as propeller repair, engine repair, and instrument mechanics. These classes were offered at West High School in Salt Lake City.
The first class consisted of 10 men, who graduated after six weeks and were assigned to the Instrument Repair Building (Building A second training program was coordinated between the Ogden Air Depot and the Utah State Department of Vocational Education in mid-1941. Vocational School credit was granted to students for courses that were customized to prepare workers for jobs on the Base. During the first months of World War II, all students were trained in many different aspects of general aircraft repair. In later months, educational techniques were modified to accommodate the specialized labor and production line methods that had become widespread among individual repair shops.
Rather than being instructed in general aircraft repair theory and multiple applications, students were trained thoroughly in single (and often very small and repetitive) tasks. This newer curriculum greatly accelerated the rate at which trained workers could be assigned to the repair shops, since they did not need to understand the entire aircraft engine in order to perform smaller, specialized tasks. In Building 295 became a Vehicle and Ground Powered Equipment Repair Building. Military education became even more specialized and educational facilities were moved to other buildings. Hill Field, Post School Training Facilities HAER No. UT-85-Y Page 3 General Description: Building a double hangar, was built in two parts.
The north hangar, which has a gable configuration, was completed in January, The south hangar, which has a segmentally arched configuration, was completed in October of the same year. The two hangars are joined to each other by a one-story section that originally contained a boiler room and classrooms. This center spine has been remodeled several times to meet the changing needs of the base. Both hangars have steel frame doors with ten leaves. The gable end walls are clad with wood shingles, while the roof is covered with corrugated metal. In a large concrete annex to the west was built for the Test Squadron. This 67,000-square-foot addition contains laboratories, an engine shop, drone maintenance, an assembly area, and offices. Hill Field, Post School Training Facilities HAER No.
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