A History of Lowry Air Force Base

A History 0f l lo owr wry ai y air f r forcorce b e base ase

A li le over 85 years ago, the Army Air Corps established an air eld at the old Agnes C. Phipps Memorial Sanitorium on the border of Aurora and Denver. Throughout its history, Lowry played a vital role in the defense of the United States, providing training, intelligence, and logistics support to the U.S. military. It was home to many of the Air Force’s most important training programs. Lowry became a place of pride for the citizens of Aurora and brought more jobs, more homes and more people to our growing community. This exhibition explores the history of Lowry Air Force Base.

BT-13 training plane at Lowry Air Force Base, circa 1940s.

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Postcard showing Lowry Field hanger and barracks, circa 1938.

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earl early aeri y aerial pho al phot tography ography

During World War I, the airplane was used primarily for observation missions. It became a warplane with the deployment of ghter and bomber aircra . Advancements in aerial and photographic technologies in the early 20th century emerged as a strategic component in military strategy. The U.S., along with other world powers, understood the power of documenting aerial observations. The rst U.S. military aerial photography school was founded at Langley Field, Virginia in March 1917. Within a year, Langley’s photography program was at capacity and began sending trainees to Cornell University and Eastman Kodak Company for instruction. In 1919, the school was redesignated as the U.S. Army Air Service Photographic School. By the early 1920s, the school relocated to Chanute Field, Illinois and was integrated into the Air Service Technical Command. The aerial photography school remained at Chanute Field until its relocation to Lowry Field in 1937. In the following years, Lowry became renowned for its contributions in training personnel in advanced armament and photography technologies.

Chanute Field, Illinois in 1939, a er its aerial photography school relocated to Colorado.

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Some of the rst planes used for aerial photography were the Curtiss JN-4s “JENNY” aircra .

A Agn gn es Phipp es Phipps Sa s San n i it toriu orium m

Before Lowry Air Force Base, the site was a sanitorium that treated patients with tuberculosis (TB). Senator Lawrence C. Phipps purchased land at 6th Avenue and Quebec Street in 1902. He opened the Agnes C. Phipps Memorial Sanitorium in 1904 in honor of his mother who died from TB. The facility closed in 1932 when it no longer had the resources to keep up with the latest medical advances.

In December 1937, the city of Denver purchased the property for $200,000 and assumed $11,000 in back taxes. Soon a er, the land and buildings were handed over to the U.S. Army for the development of a new military installation—Lowry.

This 1938 aerial photo of Lowry shows the original sanitorium buildings. In 1963, the last remaining structures of the Agnes Phipps Memorial Sanitorium were demolished by the U.S. Air Force.

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The main sanitorium hospital served as the base’s administration building from 1937 to 1963.

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Agnes C. Phipps Memorial sanitorium demolition agnes C. Phipps Memorial sanitorium demolition

The Agnes C. Phipps Memorial Sanitorium served as the Lowry Administration building until 1963 when it was demolished.

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The First Lowry Field The First Lowry Field

The original Lowry Field is now mostly residential development, yet the air eld remained in operation throughout much of the 20th century as a hub for the Combs Aviation Company. This map shows where the original air eld was located.

Following WWI, Colorado made an important contribution to the early development of military air power. Encouraged by the Colorado National Guard, the state legislature authorized a military aviation unit. On June 27, 1923, eight o cers and 50 enlisted men were sworn into a new component of the Colorado National Guard—the 120th Observation Squadron, 45th Division, Aviation. Initially, the new aviation unit lacked aircra or an air eld to operate. A er funding e orts, 120 acres were acquired about two miles west of what was then known as Stapleton Air eld at East 38th Avenue and Dahlia Street. Col. P. P. Newlon, the state adjutant general, proposed naming the new air eld a er fallen Denver native, 2LT Francis Brown Lowry, an airman who was killed in action during WWI. The Federal Government provided the new Lowry Field with two airplane hangars and on May 24, 1924, ve Curtiss JNSE “Jennies” arrived from Duncan Field in San Antonio, TX. During the 14 years of operation at Lowry Field, members of the 120th Observation Squadron contributed to advancements in aviation and aerial photography. By the spring of 1938, the 120th had moved operations to the new municipal airport and the Army Air Corps was busy developing what would become Lowry Air Force Base just south of the original air eld.

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The original Lowry Field, looking west. One of the hangars reads, “This Field is Small, USE IT ALL.”

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Francis Brown Lowry Francis Brown Lowry

The original Lowry Field, as well as Lowry Air Force Base, was named in honor of 2Lt Francis Brown Lowry, a Denver native whose father, Walter, later served as the Denver’s manager of improvement and parks. Francis Lowry, known as “blondie” to his friends, was born in Denver, on December 1, 1895 and graduated from Manual High School in the year 1913. Lowry served in France during World War I as an aerial reconnaissance observer, and perished on September 26, 1918, when his plane was hit by German anti-aircra re. Lowry was buried at the Argonne Cemetery in France and posthumously awarded the Distinguished Service Cross. In September 1921, Lowry’s remains were returned to Colorado and laid to rest in Fairmount Cemetery near the two air elds. Later, a neighborhood was named in his honor. His grave is marked by a large monument that still can be seen today.

Charles Li Charles Lin n dbergh dbergh

Following his historic transatlantic ight, Charles Lindbergh made an 82-stop tour of the United States in the famous aircra , Spirit of St. Louis. He landed at the rst Lowry Field on August 31, 1927, and was greeted by thousands of Aurorans and Denverites.

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Founding the Base Founding the base

In 1934, the U.S. Army wished to relocate the armory and photography school from Chanute Field in Rantoul, Illinois and began surveying 86 alternative sites. Colorado state and local o cials contacted the War Department urging consideration of Denver as the location for its new air eld and training base. The site that became Lowry Air Force Base was selected in 1935. The Agnes Phipps Sanitorium and adjoining property was bought by the citizens of Denver, and the holdings were turned over to the military.

On October 1, 1937, the base o cially opened as the Denver branch of the Army Air Corps Training School. The following year, the new technical school was renamed Lowry Field in honor of Second Lieutenant Francis Lowry whose plane was shot down by German anti-aircra re in World War I. Almost immediately the sanatorium buildings began to be converted for base operations, labor was supplied by members of the Works Progress Administration (WPA).

Classes in aerial photography began at Lowry in 1938 and aircra arrived in June of that year. Here, members of the WPA work on the new Army Air Corps base circa 1940.

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Lowry’s rst 300 students arrived at Union Station on February 12, 1938.

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Servicemen of the Army Air Corps enjoying their rst Christmas at Lowry.

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Class is in session class is in session

On February 28, 1938, classes began in the old sanitorium buildings. There were 170 students in the Armament Department and 60 in the Photography Department. The rst photography classes met in the unheated and poorly lit a ic of the old sanitorium.

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Lowry’s runways in July 1939. The air strip was not paved until December 1939.

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Bu Bu ildu ildu p i p i n the 1930s n the 1930s

The rst unpaved runway at Lowry became operational on April 4, 1938. Despite the new air strip, Lowry’s ying activities operated out of the Denver Municipal Airport (later known as Stapleton International Airport) just northeast of the new Army Air Corps base. In June 1938, the Army announced a four-year, $3.5 million, new construction project for Lowry. This funded the construction of an 850-man barracks complex, 10 o cers’ quarters, 20 noncommissioned o cers’ quarters, a permanent hangar, new runways and utility improvements. Construction of Hangar No. 1 was completed in August 1939 and the rst paved runway was nished in December of the same year. Prior to the bombing of Pearl Harbor, and the U.S. entry into WWII, Lowry had constructed two additional paved runways and added Hangar No. 2.

Lowry’s impact on Aurora was almost immediate. Airmen stationed at the base and civilian WPA workers needed living accommodations. New subdivisions were pla ed south of Colfax and along Havana to meet housing needs. Retail establishments thrived with the new infusion of people supporting Lowry. In conjunction with the build up of the Fitzsimons Army Hospital, Lowry brought more jobs, more homes and more people to a growing Aurora.

Hangar No. 1 under construction at Lowry.

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The “brick barracks,” also called “Buckingham Palace,” was completed in September 1940. Although the building was constructed for 850 men, as many as 3,600 personnel lived there during the height of WWII in 1943.

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Captain Stetson Captain Stetson

Captain Harold D. Stetson was the Constructing Quartermaster for Lowry Field from September 1937 to January 1940. He supervised more than 3,000 WPA workers during Lowry’s early renovation and construction.

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Lowry’s railroad was constructed by the WPA in 1940 and was connected to Fitzsimons Army Hospital and Buckley Field. The tracks ran along the north side of 6th Avenue from Dayton Street to the Lowry Steam Plant.

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Hangar no. 2 hangar no. 2

Lowry’s Hangar No. 2 under construction in the summer of 1940.

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W World W orld War I ar II I

The new Lowry Field experienced rapid growth as tensions in Europe and the Paci c grew. Even before the war, Lowry Field had grown steadily as thousands of dra ees arrived for training. In 1939, the base consisted of 1,400 personnel and grew to over 8,000 by the onset of World War II in 1941. At the height of the war, training production rose to 55,000 service men and woman annually. The base population reached 20,000 and Lowry became so critical to the military training program that personnel operated in three shi s, seven days a week, twenty-four hours a day. Lowry trained foreign allies as well, including trainees from Great Britain, France, and China.

During 1942, the Lowry Modi cation Center was established to out t new bombers including B-17 Flying Fortresses and B-24 Liberators prior to their deployment overseas. Starting in 1943, the base began training B-29 Superfortress pilots and engineer training school. At the end of World War II, the base also served as a center for demobilization.

Needing more facilities, o cials decided to construct Lowry Field No. 2 on the northeast side of the base. Lowry Field No. 2 specialized in the training of aircra armorers. It opened in 1942, and the rst group of armament students arrived on July 10, 1942.

Other growth at Lowry during the war included the Army’s Flight Engineers School relocation from Smoky Hill Army Air eld, Kansas in 1943 and the establishment of the Crash Fire and Rescue School in 1945.

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During WWII, members of the Women’s Army Auxiliary Corps trained as photo technicians at Lowry Air eld.

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Airmen assembled for a photo in front of a Douglas C-47 Skytrain.

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Adja Adjacent B cent Bo ombi mbi ng Ra ng range nge

The Army Air Corps cited the need for a bombing range as a primary reason to move the aerial photography and armament program from Chanute Field, Illinois to Denver/Aurora. Parts of undeveloped Arapahoe County, now southeast Aurora, served that purpose for the new installation. On February 28, 1938, the rst bombing and airborne machine gun practice began on the newly acquired bombing range, which is now the area around the Aurora Reservoir.

The bombing range encompassed approximately 100 square miles of land—much of this area is now developed land in south Aurora. It was utilized from 1942 until 1963 for various inert and live munitions training exercises at numerous bombing and gunnery targets across the site. The range was also used for small arms training, chemical warfare treatment training, explosive ordnance disposal and as a location for subterranean Titan ICBM missile silos.

A map of the Buckley and Lowry bombing range during WWII. Airline Road, in the center of the map, is known as Quincy Avenue today.

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This photo shows an entrance to the Lowry Bombing Range, the sign reads “NO TRESPASSING, EXPLOSIVES, KEEP OUT – U.S. Air Force.”

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Camp Bi Camp bizerte zerte

On June 7, 1943, Lowry opened Camp Bizerte on the Northwest corner of the bombing range. At Camp Bizerte trainees lived in tents, ate rations and marched for miles in full gear to simulate eld conditions.

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Buc Bucklekley A y Auxi uxiliarliary y

In addition to the 880-acre site of Lowry Air Force Base, the Army secured 960 acres a few miles east of Lowry for an auxiliary landing eld. The area was brie y called the “Demolition Bombing Range—Lowry Auxiliary Field.” Bombers from Lowry could not carry live ordnance over Denver or Aurora, therefore the auxiliary eld served as a loading area for the aircra before deploying their payloads on the bombing range. By 1941, activity at the auxiliary eld had increased to the point that the War Department considered classifying it as a separate base. Senators Ed Johnson and Alva Adams led the e ort to accomplish this, and on June 14, 1941, Lowry’s auxiliary air eld was renamed Buckley Field in honor of LT John H. Buckley, a Longmont native and descendant of one of the town’s founders, who had perished on September 27, 1918, in France when his plane collided with another on takeo for a dawn patrol.

During World War II, Lowry established Armament School No. 2 at Buckley Field. During the height of the war, as many as 15,000 servicemen were trained in the armament program at Lowry and Buckley.

Buckley Field, circa 1938.

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Trainees learn how to assemble and use a 20 mm cannon at Buckley Field during WWII.

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Armament School Armament School

The armament school at Lowry trained in sidearms, machine guns, and aerial bombardments. During WWII, Lowry expanded its footprint adding Lowry No. 2 to bolster its armament program. Additionally, a second armament school was opened at Buckley Field in 1942. As technologies changed in the early 20th century, so did the curriculum at Lowry. When remote control gun turrets were developed, Lowry became the only school to teach repair and maintenance of the weapons. In support of the Defense Department, in the Cold War era of the 1950s and 1960s, Lowry became a hub for cu ing edge technologies in air and space advancements. Courses were o ered in missile operations and maintenance, missile guidance and radio operated re control systems. During the Vietnam War, Lowry hosted training on aerial nuclear warfare and guided bomb technologies.

Servicemen calibrating the sights on a mounted machinegun at Lowry.

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Airmen of the Lowry armament program training on a Martin B-10 bomber.

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Structures under construction for Lowry’s new armament program, circa 1938.

armament school armament school

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Pho Phot tography School ography School

The photography school at Lowry specialized in aerial photography, laboratory work, camera repair, cinematography, and the production of training and orientation lms. By the mid-1950s, aerial photography technology had advanced signi cantly. With the introduction of remote-control reconnaissance aircra , the need for trained photography specialists diminished. Lowry discontinued their program, and the last class of the photography school graduated on February 21, 1956. Without aerial photography, Lowry’s Department of Photographic Training continued its programs in camera repair and ground photography.

CPL Ralph Snyder, with his Fairchild K-3B aerial camera in hand, discussing mission plans with his pilot in 1942 at Lowry.

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Airmen training on the Air Force ground camera at Lowry.

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air f Air Force a orce academ cademy y

A er World War II, the National Security Act of 1947 established the Department of Defense. The new department included the establishment of a new military branch—the U.S. Air Force. Lowry Field was o cially redesignated Lowry Air Force Base on June 13, 1948. The creation of the Air Force as a separate branch sparked the need for an institution that would train incoming cadets in the growing eld of aeronautical sciences.

Although most of the Academy graduates were slated to become pilots a er graduation, the initial curriculum re ected the traditional academic “whole person” concept, emphasizing the improvement of reading, writing, and speaking skills, and the pursuit of knowledge along intellectual lines. Classes included history, philosophy, English, and geography as well as science courses.

Competition for the site of the Air Force Academy was erce. Out of 580 proposed sites, Colorado Springs was ultimately chosen, but the cadets required a temporary home until the campus facilities could be completed. Sixty miles to the north, Lowry Air Force Base still possessed several standing World War II-era barracks as well as administrative and support facilities on its “Lowry 2” annex. On July 11, 1955, this area became the initial training ground for the rst class of cadets, called “doolies,” with a dedication ceremony that was broadcast live by Walter Cronkite. From 1955 to 1958, Lowry was the temporary location of Air Force Academy. In August 1958, the Academy and its cadets moved to their permanent location in Colorado Springs.

Su Summer Whi mmer White House te House

During the 1950s Lowry became the Summer White House of President Dwight Eisenhower and his wife, Mamie. The First Lady’s family lived in Denver. The Eisenhower’s favored services at Chapel No.1, now the Eisenhower Chapel.

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Members of the local community gather around a Douglas A-1 Skyraider during Armed Forces Day at Lowry Air Force Base.

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ti tit ta ans c ns co ome t me to l o lo owr wry y

In the late 1950s, Lowry became a part of the U.S. military’s intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) program, a land-based nuclear arsenal on American soil. A part of the Lowry Bombing Range was selected as a subterranean Titan I missile launching site. Construction on the silos began in September 1958 and was completed in June 1961. The plans for the Titan Missile Complex included a network of six complexes, each containing three closely positioned launch stations in separate reinforced concrete structures. Each structure included an underground nuclear missile silo, underground guidance center, underground powerhouse, a chemical water clari er and ve concrete sealed chambers. From 1962 to 1965, Lowry’s ICBM were ready to launch at moment’s notice. In November 1964, the Air Force announced plans to phase out the Titan I and to replace it with the LGM-30 Minuteman ICBM. The last Titan I was removed from Lowry’s silos on April 14, 1965.

The reinforced concrete nuclear missile silos were 160 feet deep and 40 feet in diameter, with walls two feet in thickness. The foundation was eight feet thick, and the silo doors weighed 180 tons.

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This illustration of the Titan I missile complex showcases the complex construction of the underground arsenal.

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En En d o d of a f an era n era

In the late 1960s, Lowry’s ying heritage came to an end. The rst Army aircra had landed at the air eld in 1938. Over the next 28 years, a variety of military aircra operated from the base. From biplanes to jets and high-altitude bombers, the installation was home to multiple generations of aircra . Thousands of pilots were trained during Lowry’s ying years.

Due to increased air tra c at neighboring Stapleton International Airport and an increase in residential development in Aurora and in Denver, there were safety concerns with Lowry’s air eld. Lowry halted jet tra c on June 1, 1960, and in 1964, the base’s planes were moved to neighboring Buckley Air National Guard Base. All ying ended on June 30, 1966, when Major General Charles Anderson ew the last aircra out of Lowry, a T-29 "Flying Classroom," to Buckley.

A look at Lowry’s runways before they were deactivated.

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This aerial view of Lowry Air Force Base demonstrates how close Aurora and Denver residential neighborhoods were to the base by the mid-1960s.

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1956 b 1956 Baseb aseball team all team

Today, the U.S. Air Force Academy competes in several NCAA sports, including golf, gymnastics, soccer and football. Pictured is one of the Academy’s rst sports programs— the 1956 Air Force Academy baseball team at Lowry.

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Cl Clo osure sure

Lowry’s rst closure scare occurred in 1978. The Air Force had considered deactivating the base, citing diminished need and a lack of an operational air strip. The Colorado Congressional delegation, local o cials and civic groups lobbied to preserve the base. Lowry would remain open for an additional 16 years.

On September 30, 1994, the American ag was lowered for the last time at Lowry Air Force Base ending 57 years, to the day, of operations.

In 1992, the Base Realignment and Closure Act of 1988, and the Defense Base Realignment and Closure Act of 1990, recommended Lowry AFB for permanent closure. Like in 1978, its report cited consolidation savings and Lowry’s lack of an active runway as grounds for closure. While Lowry added new training programs courses during the 1980s, the decision was still made to close the base. A er 57 years, the Lowry Air Force Base closed its doors in September 1994, as part of a 127-base closure during the Clinton administration.

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A look inside Lowry’s Hangar No. 1 shortly before the base was decommissioned.

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Building 880 is one of the fourteen surviving “temporary” buildings constructed in the early 1940s during the pre-World War II mobilization in Aurora. These temporary buildings were only meant to last for ve to seven years but have survived for over 80 years. This building currently serves the city of Aurora as an intergenerational center, is landmarked as Aurora Historic Landmark #12 and is on the National Register of Historic Places.

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Re Re de dev vel elop opment ment

When Lowry Air Force Base closed in 1994, the cities of Denver and Aurora lost 7,000 jobs and $295 million in annual spending. The Lowry Redevelopment Authority (LRA), a quasi-governmental entity, was created by the cities of Denver and Aurora to redevelop the base. The vision was to create a new urban community based on classic Denver neighborhoods with the best new ideas in urban planning. The plan called for a mixed-use, master planned community consisting of tree-lined boulevards and quiet residential streets. The base closure expanded Denver’s and Aurora’s residential area by over 2,000 acres. The project was completed in 2009. Today, Lowry is one of the premier neighborhoods of the Denver metro area and is touted as a national model of sustainable development. More than 25,000 people live, work and go to school in the Lowry neighborhood.

Many structures from Lowry Air Force Base remain in the new neighborhood. Lowry’s Hangar No. 2 is now home to the Wings Over the Rockies Air and Space Museum.

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