Unearthed Vegas: Overlooked WWII Artifacts Camouflaged in Open Spaces
Published on: February 28, 2025, 07:36 a.m.
Last updated on: February 28, 2025, 08:46 a.m.
Corey Levitan
Corey Levitan
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Expertise: Commercial Gaming, Entertainment, Expert Insight, Las Vegas, Restaurants, Las Vegas Myths
Commercial Gaming,
Touting the power of modern technology, have you ever wielded Google Earth to uncover hidden gems in your surroundings? You may have had subtle victories over countless hours spent searching for the perfect reading nook, a secluded campsite, or the perfect skydiving spot. But there's a location quietly tucked within the Mojave Desert that's as intriguing as it is unassuming – eight enormous earthen triangles that can only be discovered by glancing at satellite imagery.
Entertainment,
Out of the ordinary against the backdrop of sand and barren landscapes, these formations serve as a poignant ode to history. However, dwelling too close is strictly forbidden; the triangles are considered part of a small-arms shooting range nested within Nellis Air Force Base – and that's precisely how they've managed to evade our notice for so long. But these ancient WWII relics possess a profound history that goes beyond their militaristic designation.
The Gunnery School's Forgotten Triangles
Expert Insight,
Before the neon lights and slot machines came to be synonymous with Vegas, there was the Las Vegas Army Air Corp Gunnery School – a precursor to the modern-day Nellis Air Force Base. Established in 1941, the school trained thousands of soldiers to wage battles in the war's skies.
Las Vegas,
The school meshed harmoniously with the desert climate, providing exceptional flying conditions year-round. By using its generous supply of nearby mountains to shoot into and dry lakebeds for landings, the Gunnery School taught pilots and gunners the skills necessary to battle in combat.
Juxtaposed against the frenetic energy of the Las Vegas Strip, the gunnery school preserved virtually no signs of its existence. But just 20 minutes away lay the school's forgotten triangles, serving as a stark reminder of the past buried beneath the cacophony of the city's endless revelry.
Restaurants,
Ground Training & Machine Gun Ensemble
Gunnery students underwent rigorous training in the earthen triangles to hone their skills before taking to the skies. The triangles – reminiscent of schoolyards – were not solely designed for aeronautical purposes. Instead, they hosted a remarkable assembly of mock-up planes, temporarily mounted on Jeeps, and they served as targets as soldiers assigned to gunnery positions practiced operating their machine guns.
Las Vegas Myths.
Training inside the B-17 Flying Fortress bombers was a challenging proposition – the aircraft’s cramped quarters would test even the most erudite of gunners. However, the triangles provided training conditions that closely replicated those within the bombers, ensuring that soldiers could optimize their efficiency on the battlefield.
Scaling Up & Persons Unaware
In March 1945, the gunnery school converted to training the use of B-29 bombers – graver aerial assault weapons – intensifying the demand for aggressive training programs. Not surprisingly, the school’s enrollment swelled to nearly 5,000 students, mirroring the height of the world's war effort.
Surrounding vicinity held few structures. If there were any patients residing at the North Las Vegas VA Medical Center, they may have gazed out of their window unaware that the very spot upon which they trained stood unassuming underneath their gaze.
The War's Swansong & New Beginnings
The events that unfolded in Hiroshima and Nagasaki in 1945 brought a swift and violent end to the fiercest conflict the world had ever known. As the war came to a close, the gunnery school's focus shifted. Transitioning into the post-war era, it began processing thousands of servicemen who had returned from conflict.
However, like the earthen triangles themselves, much of the school's wartime legacy gradually eroded over time. In early 1947, the gunnery school was decommissioned – warfare's chapter in the Las Vegas desert drawing to a close so that the U.S. Army could focus on peace.
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Three years later, the U.S. Air Force was a fledgling force with an ambitious vision of a new era. The decommissioned gunnery school was revived as Nellis Air Force Base – changing destiny to embrace aerial warfare's frontier in the modern age.
The Legacy of Forgotten Triangles
Admittedly, these earthen triangles may appear as unassuming structures at first glance. But unearthing their significance reveals a rich tapestry of history. Seen through the lens of time, the triangles serve as concrete reminders of a bygone era. Where the Vegas Strip is ground zero for pleasure seeking, history and memorialization are placidly absent.
The military's presence in the area has grown exponentially – some of the country's most significant wartime and military aviation developments are clustered in this region. Still, the sprawling vastness of the desert ensures that these historic triangles remain concealed gems that only those with the right technology can seek out – a stark reminder of history's penchant for remaining hidden in darkness until illuminated by light.
If you are aware of other lost Vegas stories, share them with Corey Levitan.
And if you prefer to let your curiosity wander through unexplored territories, our team at Casino.org is always delighted to direct you to fascinating tales that entertain, educate, and enthrall.
- The article, published by 'Corey Levitan', discusses the discovery of WWII remnants in the form of earthen triangles hidden in the Mojave Desert using Google Earth.
- Surprisingly, these historical relics were located near the Las Vegas VA Medical Center, with the hospital's patients potentially unaware of their existence.
- Before becoming synonymous with casinos and entertainment, Las Vegas had the Las Vegas Army Air Corp Gunnery School, which trained soldiers for warfare. This school utilized the triangles for targeted practice and machine gun exercises, leaving little evidence of its presence despite its close proximity to modern-day Las Vegas.