The mission of Ogden Air Logistics Center (Hill AFB) is to provide quality products and services that equip, maintain and sustain operational forces as they execute national defense policy around the world. The 75th Air Base Wing provides base operational support for the Ogden Air Logistics Center, the 388th and 419th Fighter Wings, and numerous additional tenant units. We deliver superior support anytime and anywhere while focusing on exceeding customer expectations of service, quality, timeliness and value. The 388th Fighter Wing provides dominant combat airpower and world-class test and training opportunities to fight and win any conflict. The 419th Fighter Wing provides a combat capable force that can be sent to fight anywhere in the world when called to active duty during a national or global emergency.
Hill Air Force Base has enjoyed a long and colorful history. The base traces its origins back to the ill-fated Army Air Mail "experiment" of 1934, during which time the idea originated for a permanent air depot in the Salt Lake City area. In the years that followed, the Army Air Corps searched the region for an ideal location for its permanent western terminus. Several sites in Utah were considered, with the present site near Ogden emerging as the clear favorite.
In July 1939 Congress appropriated $8 million for the establishment and construction of the Ogden Air Depot. In December of that year the War Department named the site "Hill Field," in honor of Major Ployer Peter Hill, Chief of the Flying Branch of the Air Corps Material Division at Wright Field in Dayton, Ohio. Major Hill had died as a result of injuries received from the crash of the Boeing experimental aircraft Model 299 at Wright Field, the prototype of what would later become the famous B-17 Flying Fortress.
The official groundbreaking ceremonies for Hill Field were held on January 12, 1940, although actual construction of the base had already begun. The first Commander of the Ogden Air Depot, Colonel Morris Berman, arrived at Hill Field on November 7, 1940, marking the beginning of official operations at the field.
During World War II Hill Field was a vital maintenance and supply base, with round-the-clock operations geared to supporting the war effort. Battle weary A-26, B-17, B-24, B-29, P-40, P-47, P-61, and many other types of aircraft depended on the men and women of Hill Field for structural repair, engine overhaul, and spare parts. Peak wartime employment at Hill was reached in 1943 with a total of over 22,000 military and civilian personnel. These dedicated men and women rehabilitated and returned thousands of warbirds to combat.
In 1944 Hill Field became responsible for the long-term storage of surplus aircraft and support equipment. PT-17, B-24, P-40, P-47, B-29, and many other types of aircraft were eventually prepared and stored at the base. By the end of 1947 more than $200 million worth of aircraft had been preserved in near perfect condition for possible future use. During the massive demobilization that followed World War II, Hill Field also reclaimed scores of surplus aircraft, which were disassembled and some parts put back into the supply system.
On September 26, 1947 the Army Air Corps became the United States Air Force, ending an association with the Army that had lasted 40 years. Following an Air Force-wide pattern of renaming "fields" as "bases," Hill Field became Hill Air Force Base on February 5, 1948.
When North Korea invaded South Korea in 1950, Hill AFB was assigned a major share of Project Holdoff, the Air Materiel Command's logistical effort to support the war. Hill personnel quickly removed needed B-26s and B-29s from storage, renovated, and added them to the active Air Force inventory.
Also in the 1950s, the Ogden Air Materiel Area, the ranking activity at Hill, began support of jet aircraft, such as the F-84F Thunderstreak, F-84G Thunderjet, RF-84J Thunderflash, F-89 Scorpion, F/RF-101 Voodoo, F-102 Delta Dagger, B-47 Stratojet, and B-57 Night Intruder. OOAMA also assumed prime maintenance responsibilities for the SM-62 Snark, IM-99 Bomarc, SM-73 Goose, and SM-64 Navaho missile systems, as well as the MB-1 Genie rocket system. OOAMA entered into ballistic missile support with the SM-65 Atlas ICBM in 1958 and the SM-80 Minuteman ICBM in 1959.
In the 1960s, OOAMA was assigned support and system management duties for the USAF F-4 Phantom II, Titan II/Titan III missiles, and the AGM-65A Maverick missile. Hill AFB also supported the war in Southeast Asia by direct airlifts of hundreds of tons of airmunitions via C-124, C-130, C-133, and C-141 aircraft. The base also picked up maintenance responsibilities for B-58 Hustler and F/RF/FB-111A Aardvark landing gear components.
Hill began managing certain components of the F-15 Eagle in 1971. That same year field testing began at Hill on the UH-1H Iroquois helicopter. The following year saw the production of the first version of the Short Range Attack Missile (SRAM), delivered from Boeing Air Force Plant 77 at Hill AFB.
The Ogden Air Logistics Center also became system manager of the F-16 Fighting Falcon, the Advanced Intercontinental Ballistic (M-X) Missile System, and the A-10 Thunderbolt II in the 1970s. OOALC had logistics responsibility for Alaska, western Canada, Idaho, Montana, North and South Dakota, Wyoming, Utah, Colorado, Arizona, and New Mexico.
The 1980s saw the assignment of repair responsibilities for the BGM-109G Ground Launched Cruise Missile (GLCM) to Hill. During Fiscal Year 1980 Hill AFB also had the busiest single runway of any airfield in the free world. Airfield traffic totaled 145,243 takeoffs and landings. The OO-ALC Directorate of Distribution then managed an inventory valued at $2,039,195,215. The base was also assigned repair projects for the OV-10A Bronco and C-130 Hercules aircraft.
In August 1990 OOALC and Hill began support of Operation Desert Shield by helping to sustain the U.S. deployment to Southwest Asia. All shifts and work hours were extended to support the various aircraft involved in the mission. The 388th Fighter Wing, a Hill tenant, also deployed its 4th and 421st Fighter Squadrons to Southwest Asia.
When Desert Shield became Desert Storm in 1991 Hill AFB personnel at home and abroad continued to support the mission in Southwest Asia. In 1993 Hill was awarded contracts for the modification, corrosion control, and painting of 244 Navy F/A-18 Hornet fighters and the maintenance and repair of landing gear on various USAF, DoD, and allied aircraft.
From modest beginnings, Hill AFB now ranks as Utah's largest employer. The $960 million payroll and presence of the installation injects tremendous growth into the Utah economy. The current value of the base acreage, buildings, equipment, and inventories exceeds $4.5 billion.
See the Hill Air Force Base web page for additional information at: https://www.hill.af.mil/
Hill Air Force base is located in Davis County which is located in northern Utah. It is bordered on the east by the Wasatch mountains approximately 30 miles north of Salt Lake City. The surrounding communities of Clearfield, Clinton, Kaysville, Bountiful, Layton, Sunset, Roy, Riverdale and Ogden are some of the wonderful communities that support Team Hill. The city of Salt Lake is a short 45-minute drive away and also has many entertainment and cultural activities available for everyone. The area is military friendly and is a great community to call home. If you are someone who enjoys the outdoors this is the perfect place to live. The "Greatest Snow on Earth" is one of the many things these majestic Wasatch mountains are known for as well as providing great opportunities for skiing, hiking, camping, fishing, hunting, biking, operating off-highway vehicles and so much more!
Hill Air Force Base has three gates. The primary entrances are the South and West Gates. For purposes of these directions, the South Gate is used. It is recommended that newcomers arriving at Hill Air Force Base for the first time should use the South Gate.
Getting to Hill Air Force Base is very easy. The base is located adjacent to I-15, approximately 30 miles north of Salt Lake City.
Driving Directions
If arriving at Hill Air Force Base by air, you will fly into the Salt Lake City International Airport. The airport is serviced by 15 airlines so it is generally easy to get a flight in or out. There are rental cars, buses and taxis and limo zine available at the airport if transportation to the base is needed. Driving directions from the airport are below.
From the Airport
Exit the airport and take the left ramp onto I-80 East toward Ogden/Provo. Take Exit #117 onto I-215 North toward Ogden. I-215 North merges onto I-15 North. The Legacy Parkway is also available; take Exit #28 off of I-215 onto Legacy Parkway. Follow it until it merges back into I-15. Continue north to exit 331 for Hill Field Road. Turn right at the light at Hill Field Road and continue approximately 3 miles until you arrive at the south gate of Hill Air Force Base.
From the East
Follow I-84 West to Exit #87 South toward Salt Lake City. Proceed south on US-89 to Hwy 193, (Hill Air Force Base exit). Follow Hwy 193 West for approximately 4 miles. The South Gate will be on your right.
From the West
Follow I-80 East to I-215 North toward Ogden. I-215 North merges onto I-15 North. The New Legacy Parkway is also available; take Exit #28 off of I-215 onto Legacy Parkway. Follow it until it merges back into I-15. Continue following I-15 North to Exit #331, Hill Field Road. Turn right at the ramp exit (Hill Field Road) and proceed straight to the South Gate of Hill Air Force Base, approximately 3 miles.
From the North
Follow I-15 South to Exit #334, turn left at the ramp exit onto Hwy 193. Follow Hwy 193 for about 2 miles to Hill Field Road. The South Gate will be on the left.
From the South
Follow I-15 North to Exit #331, Hill Field Road. Turn right at the ramp exit (Hill Field Road) and proceed straight to the South Gate of Hill Air Force Base, approximately 3 miles.
Sample Distances:
- Cheyenne: 433
- Denver: 527
- Los Angeles: 710
- Las Vegas: 443
- San Francisco: 754
- Spokane: 698
Utah Transit Authority has bus services that stop in surrounding communities including Ogden, Clearfield, Layton and West Roy. The FrontRunner, a state-of-the art commuter train, provides rail service with stations in Salt Lake City, Woods Cross, Farmington, Layton, Clearfield, Roy, Ogden and Farr West. FrontRuner stations have connections to the bus system and park and ride lots. UTA also provides information and a ride-matching database for residents who want to carpool. For more information and to see fares, schedules and routes visit the Utah Transit Authority's web page at Utah Transit Authority (rideuta.com)
