Fort Wingate Ordnance Storage Bunkers

Above, ordnance storage bunkers of Fort Wingate Army Depot. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

During our usual morning "breakfast club" group gathering at Denny's down at the Flying J, the conversation drifted to the subject of nearby Fort Wingate Army Depot.

I mentioned that I am currently trying to contact the "powers that be" of the Fort for a possible plaque dedication and clamp-out there next year.

Above, the main entrance sign to Fort Wingate Army Depot. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

One of the guys used to work at Fort Wingate and he told us of some interesting factoids of it. One, which still occasionally takes place, are missile launches. These generally involve missile tests from a launch site at the Fort to White Sands.

The other was amazing in a different way. The Fort was a storage facility of military ordnance. The ordnance were stored in bunkers (some are concrete and some earthen). He said that almost all ordnance in Viet Nam came from Fort Wingate. Many of them can be seen from Interstate 40 and old Route 66.

Above, ordnance storage bunkers as seen from old Route 66. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

But what got everyone's attention was the number of ordnance storage bunkers at Fort Wingate Army Deport. He said there's 800 of them. Eyebrows were raised at that number. A couple of us (including me) said that even just 100 bunkers would be impressive, but 800?!

In the meantime, I have made contact with a New Mexico historical society and the local congressman about the plaque project.