Guarding the Goose’s nest
Regarding “For sale: an expanse of aviation history” (Aug. 7):
I retired from the Hughes Aircraft Company after 35 years, so I remember the huge hangar well. It was known as the Cargo Building.
Because it was the largest wooden building in the world, Hughes was very fearful of fire. He built a 40,000-gallon underground reservoir on the hill above to provide pressurized water to the fire hydrants surrounding the building.
He also insisted that we maintain an entire fire department on duty 24/7. Later, when the large metal engineering buildings were erected nearby, sprinkler systems were installed on the roofs to prevent melting in case the Cargo Building burned.
Eugene F. Burns
La Habra
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