ARMY ,NAVY, AND AIRFIELD BASES BUILT IN ALASKA DURINGWORLD WAR II
compiled by Long Ngyuen
An American soldier prepared for battle in Alaska.
(Scanned photo from the archives of the
Anchorage Museum of History and Art)
Name/location/description:
Adak Naval Base - Advance bases for attacks against enemy at Kiskaand Attu, joint operations center based here in 1943, largestof Aleutian Army projects with 3 runways, hangars, housing for19,000 men, 500-bed hospital, 100 miles of roads, ship docks,lighterage docks, fuel storage, air station, radio station, Marinebarracks, motor torpedo boat base.
Amchitka Naval Air Facility/ Army Airfield- Advancebase for bombing missions against Japanese Kuriles and at Attuand Kiska,aircraft warning system for enemy surveillance, runways,housing for 8,000 men, lighterage dock,
seaplane ramps and facilities.
Atka Naval Air Facility/ Army AirField- Built forfighter and bomber operations enemy at Kiska, served as intermediateairfield between Fort Gleen and Adak,ship dock, housing for 1,060men, 50-bed hospital, naval air facility serviced seaplanes.
Attu Naval Air Station / Alexai Point Airfield, Attu Battlefieldand U.S. Army,and Navy Airfields- Built After Americans RetookIsland, 650 miles to the west, housing for 8,500 men, 400-bedhospital, 3 runways, hangars, shop and barge docks.
Dutch Harbor Naval Base/Fort Mears- Naval sectionbase established Jan. 1941, naval air station added June 1941,bombed by Japanese, June 3 and 4, 1942,designated naval operatingbase July 1942, included air station, submarine base, Marine barracks,radio station.
Fort Mears was Army headquarters, Hill 400 and Summer Bay.
Fort Glenn /Cape Field / Naval Air Facility- Armyairfield at Otter Point, east end of Umnak, built in secret toprotect Dutch Harbor naval base, 70 miles east, also naval airfacility, housing for about 10,580 men, hospital, fuel, bomb andammunition storage, 3 main runways with an additional 6 at satellitefields. Airfield named after pilot Lt.John Cape Jr., shot downby enemy in June 4, 1942 dogfight.
Fort Randall / Thornborough Army Airfield / NavalSection Base- Forward Air base with coastal defenses, built insecret to defend Aleutians and mainland, also Navy base to servicevessels and seaplanes, staging field for Attu invasion and airattacks on Kiska. Airfield named for pilot Capt. George W. Thornborough,who crashed in mission against Japanese after Dutch Harbor attack.
Fort Raymond / Naval Section Base- Army coastaldefense for Seward and railroad terminal, housing for 3,500 men,dock, fuel loading, storage, freight handling, ship haul out andrepair. Army fixed harbor defense garrisons around ResurrectionBay at Caines Head [Fort McGilvray] and Rugged island , searchlight,fire control and housing at Rocky Point, Topeka Point, Carol Cove,Chamberlain Point, Barwell Island and Alama Point.
Fort Richardson / Elmendorf Field - Fort Richardson: Armyheadquarters for Alaska Defense Command , central air base, groundgarrison and supply base for southern Alaska. Named for Brig.Gen.WildsP. Richardson, former head of Alaska Road Commission.
Elmendorf Field: Initial headquarter of Eleventh Air Force locatedon Fort Richardson, Planes patrolled lower Cook Inlet to Yakutatand rotated to forward bases, first commanding officer, Maj.EverettS. Davis, Feb. 1942, succeeded by Gen. William O. Butler. Captain.Hugh M .Elemendorf, killed in 1993 air crashed at Wright Field,Ohio.
Kiska Naval Facility / Army Airfield- Forward BaseBuilt after Americans reclaimed island, one runway, ship and bargedocks, 225-bed hospital, naval air facility included seaplaneramps and support services.
Kodiak Naval Operating base / Fort Greely -Principaladvance naval base at start of war, joint operations center directedAlaska operations early 1942-March 1943, it`s ships and submarinesplayed critical role in Aleutian campaign, included naval airstation, runways, seaplane ramps, submarine base, net depot, ammunitionand fuel storage, docks, piers, warehouses, Marine barracks, recreationalfacilities, first commander of Alaska Naval Sector at Kodiak,Capt. Ralph C . Parker. Fort Greely garrisoned for coastal defenseof Naval base, troops arrived April 1941.
Ladd Field- Alaska`s first Army airfield, builtfor cold-weather testing, became Air Transport Command headquartersand main staging base for Lend- Lease aircraft transfers to SovietUnion. Named for pilot Maj. Arthur K. Ladd, killed in 1935 aircrash in South Carolina.
Shemya Army Airfield / Naval Air Facility- Builtduring Attu battle as intermediate Army and Navy air base betweenAttu and Amchitka islands, advance Army base for attacks on Kuriles,housing for 10,000 men with 450-bed hospital,fuel storage, hangars,warehousing.
Sitka Naval Operating Base / Fort Ray / Fort Rousseau-Alaska`s first Navy air station and one of few prepared to protectNorth Pacific during first months of war, its seaplanes patrolledSoutheast and Gulf of Alaska for enemy activity, redesignatedas operating base in July 1942, made air station in March 1943,modern, well-equipped base with comfortable living accommodationsand ''magnificent'' views from every window, according to a Seabeein 1943.
GOBACK