Trask River drains a mountainous, timber-producing area of the Coast Range into Tillamook Bay, about 57 miles (92 km) west of Portland and 52 miles (84 km) south of Astoria, Oregon. It is one of five rivers—the Tillamook, Trask, Wilson, Kilchis and Miami—that flow into the bay. The river is named for Elbridge Trask, who settled on the shores of Tillamook Bay in 1848.

Naval Air Station Tillamook was located along the Trask River, just south of Tillamook Bay. Active during the second world war, it was used primarily to house dirigibles, also known as blimps. The station was commissioned in 1942, decommissioned in 1948 and served as the base of operations for Squadron ZP-33, with a complement of eight K-ships.

Wartime rationing meant the hangars were built entirely of wood. Hangar B was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1989 and remains one of the world’s largest wooden structures. The hangar now faces an uncertain future, as costly repairs have yet to be made. Read more here and here. Explore more of Trask River and Tillamook Bay here: