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The airfield was used as a transit base by USAAF/RCAF for the defense of Dutch Harbor.
The airfield was used as a transit base by USAAF/RCAF for the defense of Dutch Harbor.


⚫
American forces made an unopposed landing on Amchitka on January 12, 1943, although the destroyer {{USS|Worden|DD-352|3}} grounded and sank with the loss of 14 lives. Despite facing difficult weather conditions and bombing from the Japanese, the airfield was usable by February 16.<ref name="conn">{{cite book |last=Conn |first=Stetson |title=Guarding the United States and its outposts |publisher=U.S. Army Center of Military History |year=2000 |id=CMH 4–2, Library of Congress no 62–60067 |url=http://www.army.mil/cmh-pg/books/wwii/Guard-US/ch10.htm |accessdate=2006-10-09}}</ref> The Alaska Command was now {{convert|80|km|mi|0|abbr=on}} away from their target, [[Kiska]].<ref name="cmh72_6">{{cite book |last=MacGarrigle |first=George L. |title=The Campaigns of World War II: Aleutian Islands |publisher=U.S. Army Center of Military History |year=2003 |month=October |id=CMH Pub 72–6, paper, GPO S/N 008-029-00232-9 |url=http://www.army.mil/cmh-pg/brochures/aleut/aleut.htm |accessdate=2006-10-07}}</ref> The military eventually built numerous buildings, roads, and a total of three airstrips on the island,<ref name="doe_lm_facts">{{cite web |url=http://www.lm.doe.gov/documents/sites/ak/amchitka/factsheet/amchitka.pdf |title=Amchitka, Alaska, Site Fact Sheet |publisher=Department of Energy Office of Legacy Management |accessdate=2006-10-07|format=PDF}}</ref>some of which would later be renovated and used by the [[United States Atomic Energy Commission|Atomic Energy Commission]].<ref name="aec_environ">{{cite web |url=http://www.osti.gov/energycitations/product.biblio.jsp?osti_id=4019027 |title=Environmental Statement Cannikin |publisher=Atomic Energy Commission |accessdate=2006-10-11}}</ref> At its peak, the occupancy of Amchitka reached 15,000 troops.<ref name="doe_lm_facts" />
American forces made an unopposed landing on Amchitka on January 12, 1943, although the destroyer {{USS|Worden|DD-352|3}} grounded and sank with the loss of 14 lives. Despite facing difficult weather conditions and bombing from the Japanese,

⚫
the airfield was usable by February 16.<ref name="conn">{{cite book |last=Conn |first=Stetson |title=Guarding the United States and its outposts |publisher=U.S. Army Center of Military History |year=2000 |id=CMH 4–2, Library of Congress no 62–60067 |url=http://www.army.mil/cmh-pg/books/wwii/Guard-US/ch10.htm |accessdate=2006-10-09}}</ref> The Alaska Command was now {{convert|80|km|mi|0|abbr=on}} away from their target, [[Kiska]].<ref name="cmh72_6">{{cite book |last=MacGarrigle |first=George L. |title=The Campaigns of World War II: Aleutian Islands |publisher=U.S. Army Center of Military History |year=2003 |month=October |id=CMH Pub 72–6, paper, GPO S/N 008-029-00232-9 |url=http://www.army.mil/cmh-pg/brochures/aleut/aleut.htm |accessdate=2006-10-07}}</ref> The military eventually built numerous buildings, roads, and a total of three airstrips on the island,<ref name="doe_lm_facts">{{cite web |url=http://www.lm.doe.gov/documents/sites/ak/amchitka/factsheet/amchitka.pdf |title=Amchitka, Alaska, Site Fact Sheet |publisher=Department of Energy Office of Legacy Management |accessdate=2006-10-07|format=PDF}}</ref>some of which would later be renovated and used by the [[United States Atomic Energy Commission|Atomic Energy Commission]].<ref name="aec_environ">{{cite web |url=http://www.osti.gov/energycitations/product.biblio.jsp?osti_id=4019027 |title=Environmental Statement Cannikin |publisher=Atomic Energy Commission |accessdate=2006-10-11}}</ref> At its peak, the occupancy of Amchitka reached 15,000 troops.<ref name="doe_lm_facts" />
Known USAAF units assigned to Amchitka AAF were:
* 343d Fighter Group (July 25, 1943 – January 22, 1944)
* 54th Fighter Squadron (March 12 – October 18, 1943) (343d FG)

* 21st Bombardment Squadron (February 18 – July 1943) (28th BG)
* 73d Bombardment Squadron (1942–1943) (28th BG)
* 36th Bombardment Squadron (June 4, 1942 – May 1, 1943) (28th BG)
* 404th Bombardment Squadron (June 4, 1943 – February 28, 1944) (28th BG)
* 77th Bombardment Squadron (September 11, 1943 – February 11, 1944) (28th BG)


The [[Battle of the Aleutian Islands|Aleutian Islands campaign]] was successfully completed on August 24, 1943.<ref name="cmh72_6" /> In that month, a strategic intercept station was established on the island, which remained until February 1945.<ref name="nsa_pre_1952">{{cite web |url=http://www.nsa.gov/cch/cch00005.cfm |title=Pre-1952 Historical Timeline |publisher=National Security Agency |accessdate=2006-10-07}}</ref> The Army abandoned the site in August 1950.<ref name="doe_responsib">{{cite web |url=http://www.osti.gov/bridge/servlets/purl/758922-sfDXiQ/webviewable/758922.pdf |title=Amchitka Island, Alaska: Potential U.S. Department of Energy site responsibilities (DOE/NV-526) |month=December |year=1998 |publisher=Department of Energy |accessdate=2006-10-09|format=PDF}}</ref> The site later hosted an Air Force weather station in the 1950s, a [[White Alice Communications System|White Alice]] telecommunication system in 1959 to 1961, and a temporary relay station in the 1960s and 1970s.<ref name="doe_lm_facts" />
The [[Battle of the Aleutian Islands|Aleutian Islands campaign]] was successfully completed on August 24, 1943.<ref name="cmh72_6" /> In that month, a strategic intercept station was established on the island, which remained until February 1945.<ref name="nsa_pre_1952">{{cite web |url=http://www.nsa.gov/cch/cch00005.cfm |title=Pre-1952 Historical Timeline |publisher=National Security Agency |accessdate=2006-10-07}}</ref> The Army abandoned the site in August 1950.<ref name="doe_responsib">{{cite web |url=http://www.osti.gov/bridge/servlets/purl/758922-sfDXiQ/webviewable/758922.pdf |title=Amchitka Island, Alaska: Potential U.S. Department of Energy site responsibilities (DOE/NV-526) |month=December |year=1998 |publisher=Department of Energy |accessdate=2006-10-09|format=PDF}}</ref> The site later hosted an Air Force weather station in the 1950s, a [[White Alice Communications System|White Alice]] telecommunication system in 1959 to 1961, and a temporary relay station in the 1960s and 1970s.<ref name="doe_lm_facts" />

==See also==
==See also==
* [[Alaska World War II Army Airfields]]
* [[Alaska World War II Army Airfields]]

Revision as of 12:01, 30 December 2009

Amchitka Army Airfield
Part of Eleventh Air Force
Amchitka, Alaska
Coordinates51°22′37″N 179°15′32″E / 51.37694°N 179.25889°E / 51.37694; 179.25889
TypeMilitary Airfield
Site information
Controlled byUnited States Army Air Forces
Site history
Built1942
In use1943-1944
Battles/warsAleutian Islands Campaign
Amchitka Army Airfield is located in Alaska
Amchitka Army Airfield
Amchitka Army Airfield
class=notpageimage|
Location of Amchitka Army Airfield, Alaska

Amchitka Army Airfield is an abandoned airfield located near Amchitka, in the Rat Islands group of the Aleutian Islands in southwest Alaska.

History

The airfield was used as a transit base by USAAF/RCAF for the defense of Dutch Harbor.

American forces made an unopposed landing on Amchitka on January 12, 1943, although the destroyer Worden (DD-352) grounded and sank with the loss of 14 lives. Despite facing difficult weather conditions and bombing from the Japanese, the airfield was usable by February 16.[1] The Alaska Command was now 80 km (50 mi) away from their target, Kiska.[2] The military eventually built numerous buildings, roads, and a total of three airstrips on the island,[3]some of which would later be renovated and used by the Atomic Energy Commission.[4] At its peak, the occupancy of Amchitka reached 15,000 troops.[3]

Known USAAF units assigned to Amchitka AAF were:

  • 343d Fighter Group (July 25, 1943 – January 22, 1944)
  • 54th Fighter Squadron (March 12 – October 18, 1943) (343d FG)
  • 21st Bombardment Squadron (February 18 – July 1943) (28th BG)
  • 73d Bombardment Squadron (1942–1943) (28th BG)
  • 36th Bombardment Squadron (June 4, 1942 – May 1, 1943) (28th BG)
  • 404th Bombardment Squadron (June 4, 1943 – February 28, 1944) (28th BG)
  • 77th Bombardment Squadron (September 11, 1943 – February 11, 1944) (28th BG)

The Aleutian Islands campaign was successfully completed on August 24, 1943.[2] In that month, a strategic intercept station was established on the island, which remained until February 1945.[5] The Army abandoned the site in August 1950.[6] The site later hosted an Air Force weather station in the 1950s, a White Alice telecommunication system in 1959 to 1961, and a temporary relay station in the 1960s and 1970s.[3]

See also

References

Public Domain This article incorporates public domain material from the Air Force Historical Research Agency

  • Maurer, Maurer (1983). Air Force Combat Units Of World War II. Maxwell AFB, Alabama: Office of Air Force History. ISBN 0892010924.
  • Mauer, Mauer (1969), Combat Squadrons of the Air Force, World War II, Air Force Historical Studies Office, Maxwell AFB, Alabama. ISBN 0892010975
  1. ^ Conn, Stetson (2000). Guarding the United States and its outposts. U.S. Army Center of Military History. CMH 4–2, Library of Congress no 62–60067. Retrieved 2006-10-09.
  2. ^ a b MacGarrigle, George L. (2003). The Campaigns of World War II: Aleutian Islands. U.S. Army Center of Military History. CMH Pub 72–6, paper, GPO S/N 008-029-00232-9. Retrieved 2006-10-07. {{cite book}}: Unknown parameter |month= ignored (help)
  3. ^ a b c "Amchitka, Alaska, Site Fact Sheet" (PDF). Department of Energy Office of Legacy Management. Retrieved 2006-10-07.
  4. ^ "Environmental Statement Cannikin". Atomic Energy Commission. Retrieved 2006-10-11.
  5. ^ "Pre-1952 Historical Timeline". National Security Agency. Retrieved 2006-10-07.
  6. ^ "Amchitka Island, Alaska: Potential U.S. Department of Energy site responsibilities (DOE/NV-526)" (PDF). Department of Energy. 1998. Retrieved 2006-10-09. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |month= ignored (help)
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