To raise money for ongoing preservation projects, the foundation hosts an annual air show in September.Ī special guest at the show two years ago was Brig. In 2010, the hangar was stabilized after Jim organized a fundraising campaign that included a national Save America’s Treasures grant and private donations. “Jim is devoted to the historic air base, and now will have more time to raise funds for the final phases of restoring the Enola Gay hangar,” Lisa says. He flew it to drop the world’s first atomic bomb on Hiroshima in 1945. The airfield’s cavernous 50,000 square foot hangar housed a B29 Super fortress Bomber that Tibbets named after his mother-Enola Gay. In 1944, his crews secretly trained there to drop atomic bombs on Japan. chose it for one of the most important missions of the war. Exhibits emphasize the airfield’s importance as a heavy bombardment training base during World War II.ĭue to its remoteness, Col. She says she also backs Jim’s efforts to bring in thousands of visitors each year to the airfield’s museum. Lisa wants to help preserve buildings and equipment at the historic Wendover Airfield, Its recently renovated Service Club is a year-round venue for meetings, reunions, dances and receptions. While marketing the modern air service, Lisa says she also supports Jim’s work to promote the nearby historic airfield. “We want it to be here and in good shape for years to come.” “Once it’s done, we can market it to bring in more general aviation business,” she says. “Personnel from Hill Air Force Base and the National Guard and all branches of the military can use the airport for training runs and fuel stops,” she says.Īmong her duties, Lisa is supervising the remodel of the operations building. Lisa says she also would like to see an increase in military use of the airport’s four runways. “In summer, this could mean 10 to 15 additional flights here a month.” “Now, Wendover will be a fuel stop of choice for the company,” she says. crew did a wonderful job of bringing electricity to a part of the airport where there hadn’t been any power before.” A once bustling military air base that housed the Enola Gay in World War IIīefore the fueling station was installed at the airport, air ambulance helicopters typically stopped only to pick up patients.
“It’s a big deal for us because Trans Aero helicopters will stop here for fuel now,” Lisa says. She worked for 15 years as president of XTRA Airways, where she had a carrier providing flights to casinos throughout the United States, including West Wendover.Īs the new airport director, one of her first major projects was overseeing completion of a helicopter fueling station in January. Lisa was familiar with northern Nevada before becoming director. “Plus, the nearby air base has such historic significance.” “For a small airport, it has an amazing number of passengers and celebrities,” Lisa says. She says the airport has always been dear to her heart. “After I started, he stayed on for six weeks to help provide a smooth transition,” says Lisa. A year later, he replaced the retiring airport director and began managing the airport’s modern jet service, while also overseeing preservation projects at the airfield. He established the nonprofit foundation in 2001 to preserve World War II buildings at the historic airfield adjacent to the airport. Last summer, Lisa replaced Jim Petersen, who retired to devote more time to the Historic Wendover Airfield Foundation. It was an incredible thrill, and made me want to be a pilot.”Įnamored with flight as a teen, she knew her career would involve aviation. “My parents had friends who were pilots, so they let me sit in the cockpit whenever they flew. “I was flying when I was 14, long before I ever got my driver’s license,” says the 52yearold who lived in Phoenix at the time. Photos by Sarah SpratlingĮven before she learned to drive, Wendover Airport Director Lisa Dunn was learning to fly.
She hopes Trans Aero helicopters will use the airport as a fuel stop.
ApDirector expands services while supporting restoration of historic airfield’s buildingsīy Dianna Troyer Wendover Airport Director Lisa Dunn oversaw the first helicopter fueling station at the airport.