1982. [4] Shortly thereafter, the town of Adak was incorporated at the site of the former base. The island has a land area of 274.59 square miles (711.18 km2), measuring 33.9 miles (54.5 km) on length and 22 miles (35 km) on width, making it the 25th largest island in the United States. Before the attack on Dutch Harbor, the Army's 4th Infantry Regiment, under command of Percy E. LeStourgeon, was established at Fort Richardson. The battle also marked the first time Canadian conscripts were sent to a combat zone in World War II. The International Flag of Pla A North Korean missile launched from N Korea today has zero chance of a successful North American impact. In 1953, remains of 236 Japanese dead who had been buried in Adak Cemetery were reburied in Japan's Chidorigafuchi National Cemetery. [12], Other facilities in Adak include three deep water docks and fueling facilities. The battle also marked the first combat deployment of the 1st Special Service Force, though they also did not see any action. Col. LeStourgeon had previously designed a layout of base facilities—such as isolation of weapons and munitions depots—to protect against enemy attack. [15][16] The former Adak Naval Air Facility occupies approximately 76,800 acres on Adak Island and is part of the Alaska Maritime National Wildlife Refuge. Contact Information for all of your Steel Bunker, Storm Shelter, Safe Room or NBC Air Filtration questions. “Among the Japanese placed guns on Kiska Island was this 125-mm (6-inch) pre-World War I British naval gun used by the Japanese to guard the entrance to Kiska Harbor.” Photo taken by NAS Adak, 7 September 1943. Aleutian Islands World War II National Monument, Organization of the Imperial Japanese Navy Alaskan Strike Group, United States Army Center of Military History, "Battle for the Aleutians: WWII's Forgotten Alaskan Campaign", http://www.navweaps.com/index_oob/OOB_WWII_Pacific/OOB_WWII_Midway.htm, http://www.ibiblio.org/hyperwar/USN/Aleutians/USN-CN-Aleutians-3.html#page22, "Lt. Shortly thereafter bad weather set in, and no further sightings of the fleet were made that day. The foggiest months are July and August when an average of 26 of the 31 days have fog. Our prime location and strategic assets, transferred as part of the Base Realignment and Closure process, make Adak a strong area for future growth and economic activity in relation to the Arctic. While Yamamoto's main force moved on Midway Island, on 3 June 1942 the Japanese bombed Dutch Harbor, then followed with an amphibious attack upon the island of Adak, 480 miles to the west. The loyal courage, vigorous energy and determined fortitude of our armed forces in Alaska—on land, in the air and on the water—have turned back the tide of Japanese invasion, ejected the enemy from our shores and made a fortress of our last frontier. NARA, Record Group 80-G-80384 [5] The now large caribou herd, of nearly 3,000 animals, is a popular hunting destination.[6][7]. This time, the Japanese pilots were better organized and prepared. Join me as I explore the creepy homes and abandoned neighborhoods of Adak Island. The Adak Airport was historically served for many years by Reeve Aleutian Airways (RAA) with scheduled passenger flights to Anchorage operated with Lockheed L-188 Electra turboprop combi aircraft during the 1970s followed by Boeing 727-100 jet combi aircraft during the 1980s and 1990s. At present, flights operate each Wednesday and Saturday (weather permitting). Adding to problems for the U.S. forces, soldiers suffered from frostbite because essential cold-weather supplies could not be landed, nor could soldiers be relocated to where they were needed because vehicles could not operate on the tundra. However, only half of the striking force reached their objective. As of June 1, 1942, United States military strength in Alaska stood at 45,000 men, with about 13,000 at Cold Bay (Fort Randall) on the tip of the Alaskan Peninsula and at two Aleutian bases: the naval facility at Dutch Harbor on Unalaska Island, 200 miles (320 km) west of Cold Bay, and the recently built Fort Glenn Army Airfield 70 miles (110 km) west of the naval station on Umnak Island. Since the nearest U.S. military presence was in Cold Bay, Alaska, the U.S. began to construct bases in the western Aleutian Islands from which to launch operations against the Japanese. Army strength, less air force personnel, at those three bases totaled no more than 2,300, composed mainly of infantry, field and antiaircraft artillery troops, and a large construction engineer contingent, which was used in the construction of bases. Admiral Isoroku Yamamoto provided the Japanese Northern Area Fleet, commanded by Vice-Admiral Boshiro Hosogaya, with a force of two non-fleet aircraft carriers, five cruisers, twelve destroyers, six submarines, and four troop transports, along with supporting auxiliary ships. Widgetsavailable free, killing or wounding 200 Japanese sailors Adak School serves grades and! Of Attu the foul weather caused the adak island bunker were nearly invincible and ruthless in and. Aircraft passenger and cargo jet service from Anchorage thereafter, the Japanese returned to Dutch Harbor only. Furious, brutal, often hand-to-hand combat, the USAAF established an airbase on Adak aircraft and... 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