The big hanger I was referring to was just before you got to the main building, on the west side of the entrance road, and just past the BX. And you are correct that the main door faced to the east. There was a door on the west the aircraft came in through but it was usually closed.

I have been in that pool many times. It was incredible. I saw a photo of it some years ago and it is a disgrace the way it has gone to seed.

A strange story... Once I was behind the main building and headed for the pool. There was a service road back there. Parked behind the dining hall was an ambulance, a Navy ambulance. This was the one that carried Kennedy to Love Field for his trip back to DC. I tried to tell the Navel guy I was with how historic thing was and he just blew it off. This would have been in the mid 60s. And I seem to recall it was a battleship gray Pontiac.

But someone did save it. Today it is on display at some museum where it shoud be.

I was not in the military but I had to spend some time on the base doing research on something. I did get to fly the C-130 simulator which I crashed on a regular basis.

I never went beyond the eastern edge of the main area. The flight line, and those hangers they built later, just south of Jefferson, were off limits to anyone who didn't need to be there.