The story of Gowen Field, where B-17s once blackened Idaho skies

Gowen Field’s Transformation from Sagebrush to Bomber Training Base

In 1940, a patch of Idaho sagebrush got big news. The U.S. Army told Boise’s mayor they would build an air base there.

By early 1941, workers turned empty land into a $2 million military site with 120 buildings. They named it for Paul Gowen, a local pilot who died in a crash.

After Pearl Harbor, the base got B-17 Flying Fortresses and soon became a key training ground. Thousands of airmen learned to fly, shoot, and drop bombs before heading to war in Europe and the Pacific.

The Idaho Military History Museum now tells this story of how Gowen Field helped win World War II.

Boise Got Lucky When the Army Came Knocking

In December 1940, the U.S. Army told Mayor James Straight they wanted to build an air base in Boise. They liked Idaho’s good weather and flat land for flying.

The military planned to spend over $2 million to turn empty sagebrush into an air base. This was part of America getting ready for possible war as fighting spread across Europe and the Pacific.

Workers Turned Desert Into an Airfield in Record Time

Construction started on January 21, 1941, and moved quickly. Workers changed bare sagebrush into a working military base in just months.

About 120 buildings went up, including sleeping quarters, plane hangars, and other needed buildings.

The project created hundreds of jobs and brought money to local businesses. Locals watched as empty land turned into a busy military base.

A Local Hero’s Name Lives On at the Airfield

On July 23, 1941, the Army named the new base after 1st Lieutenant Paul R. Gowen, who grew up in nearby Caldwell.

Gowen went to West Point but died in a B-10 bomber crash in Panama in 1938. Military leaders and proud Idaho folks came for the naming event to honor their local hero.

Old Planes Quickly Made Way for Newer Models

The base first got some outdated B-18 Bolo bombers that didn’t stay long. Faster B-26 Marauders soon took their place as the Army got better planes.

Pilots learned to fly over Idaho’s mountains, valleys, and deserts. Mechanics worked hard to keep the planes running well despite not having many spare parts.

The War Hit Home After Pearl Harbor

Everything changed when Japan bombed Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941. Gowen Field put armed guards at all gates to check everyone coming or going.

Training got longer and tougher as America joined the war. The base filled with new people as thousands signed up to fight.

The training mission suddenly became much more urgent.

Big Bombers Rolled Into Town and Changed Everything

In January 1942, the first B-17 Flying Fortresses landed at Gowen Field. These huge four-engine bombers needed ten men to run each one.

The base quickly grew to handle these bigger planes and all the new people. Repair teams had to learn complex new systems.

The B-17s, with their unique look and heavy guns, became common in Idaho skies.

The Army Turned Gowen Into a Bomber Crew Factory

The military soon made Gowen Field focus on training complete bomber teams. Instead of teaching single jobs, they built whole crews that worked together.

Teams faced harder and harder challenges. Teachers who had fought in Europe shared tips that could save lives.

The base got known for training that gave crews the best chance to survive real combat.

B-24 Liberators Joined the Training Fleet

B-24 Liberator bombers came to Gowen Field, adding more options to the training. Crews learned special jobs as pilots, map readers, bomb droppers, radio users, and gunners.

The Army set up shooting ranges in empty parts of Idaho where gunners could practice hitting moving targets. Pilots spent hours learning to fly in tight groups for better protection against enemy fighters.

The Base Became a Small City Almost Overnight

Thousands of airmen came through Gowen Field during the war years. The base kept growing with new sleeping buildings, eating halls, and places to relax.

Famous stars came to put on shows and boost spirits. Boise folks welcomed the military men with dances, home cooking, and friendship.

Many local women took jobs on base as office workers, nurses, and helpers.

Trained Crews Headed Straight Into Combat

After finishing training, crews got orders to join bombing runs in Europe or the Pacific. Their final tests included long-distance flying that checked everything they’d learned.

Teachers made them practice emergency steps until they could do them without thinking. Goodbye parties filled their last nights in Idaho before heading to war.

Many never came back, dying during bombing missions over Germany and Japan.

Gowen Field Found New Life After the War Ended

The Army handed Gowen Field back to Boise in early 1946 after the war ended. But the story didn’t end there.

Idaho’s Adjutant General asked Lt. Col.Thomas G. Lanphier to set up an Idaho Air National Guard unit at the old base.

This started more than 75 years of military presence that continues today.

The Idaho Military History Museum now shows off artifacts, photos, and stories from Gowen Field’s wartime days, keeping the memory alive for new generations.

Visiting Idaho Military History Museum, Boise

The Idaho Military History Museum at 4692 W. Harvard St.next to Gowen Field shows how this former sagebrush patch became a major WWII bomber training base.

You can visit Tuesday-Saturday from 12-4pm for free, though donations help.

The exhibits have photos and artifacts from when thousands of B-17 and B-24 airmen trained here before heading to combat in Europe and the Pacific.

There’s also a small gift shop with military items.

This article was created with AI assistance and human editing.

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