Blizzard of 1949 - Casper Army Air Base Operations

Blizzard of 1949 - Casper Army Air Base Operations

The Charles "Chuck" Morrison Collection are open for research use and may be reproduced following repository policy. The family expressed that the materials in the collection be made available to the public. The repository will digitize and make materials created by Morrison available to as wide a range of users as possible. It will observe its Publication and Fees policy until it moves these records to the Public Domain on 2061-05-14.

1949

Photograph of a convoy, one of hundreds, led by an Army bulldozer struggling down the drift-choked Brooks Road to bring food an fuel for both men and animals on ranches marooned by the blizzard. In January 1949, one of the worst recorded blizzards in southeastern Wyoming buried many areas in and between Casper, Douglas, Laramie, and Cheyenne in 10-12 feet of snow. Large numbers of wild and stock animals were lost and hundreds of people were stranded in their homes, businesses, and cars. Several people died or were injured from exposure or accidents in the below freezing temperatures. The Casper Army Air Base launched operations "Operation Hay-lift" and "Pitchfork" in an effort to use planes and other military vehicles to deliver 300 tons of hay and fodder to the remaining starving animals during the following six weeks. The Casper Army Air Base along with several other out-of-state military forces also assisted in digging out roads with the overburdened highway department crews, as well as contributing to relief and evacuation efforts.

Photographs from this collection can be found in the Charles "Chuck" Morrison Collection accessible through the Casper College Western History Center. The Charles "Chuck" Morrison Collection includes hundreds of photographs, articles, correspondence, and other documentary items pertaining to Wyoming history from 1920-1980 and Chuck Morrison's life, career as Wyoming State Representative, writings, photography, and military service in WWII.

Image

Charles "Chuck" Morrison Collection, NCA 01.v.1998.01 WyCaC US. Casper College Archives and Special Collections.

NCA 01.v.1998.01_Blizzard1949_68

JPG

Casper College Archives and Special Collections (Western History Center)

Photographic print