Quick facts for kids Alaska World War II Army Airfields
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| Part of World War II |
| Type |
Army Airfields |
| Site information |
| Controlled by |
United States Army Air Forces |
| Site history |
| Built |
1942–1944 |
| In use |
1942-Present |
| Garrison information |
| Garrison |
Eleventh Air Force |
During World War II, Alaska was a very important place for the United States Army Air Forces (USAAF). It was a key location for soldiers, planes, and airfields. These airfields helped send supplies to the Soviet Union through a program called Lend-Lease. This program allowed the U.S. to lend or lease war supplies to its allies.
Alaska was also where the Empire of Japan attacked and took over American land. Because of this, the USAAF fought actively against them in Alaska.
Important Airfields in Alaska During WWII
Airfields Used for Combat
These airfields were directly involved in fighting the Japanese forces.
- Adak Army Airfield, 51°52′40″N 176°38′33″W / 51.87778°N 176.64250°W / 51.87778; -176.64250 (Davis AAF)
- Located on Adak Island in the Aleutian Islands.
- Used from 1942 to 1945 during the war.
- Amchitka Army Airfield, 51°22′37″N 179°15′23″E / 51.37694°N 179.25639°E / 51.37694; 179.25639 (Amchitka AAF)
- Located on Amchitka Island in the Aleutian Islands.
- Used from 1943 to 1945. It is now abandoned.
- Alexai Point Army Airfield, 52°48′51″N 173°17′51″E / 52.81417°N 173.29750°E / 52.81417; 173.29750 (Alexai Point AAF)
- Located on Attu Island in the Aleutian Islands.
- Used from 1943 to 1945. It was closed and is now abandoned.
- Casco Cove Army Airfield, 52°49′52″N 173°10′29″E / 52.83111°N 173.17472°E / 52.83111; 173.17472 (Casco Cove AAF)
- Also on Attu Island in the Aleutian Islands.
- Used from 1943 to 1945. It is now a United States Coast Guard station, but the airfield can still be used for emergencies.
- Elmendorf Field, 61°15′00″N 149°48′00″W / 61.25000°N 149.80000°W / 61.25000; -149.80000 (Elmendorf AAF)
- Located in Anchorage, Alaska Territory.
- Used from 1940 to 1945. It became Elmendorf Air Force Base and is now part of Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson (JBER). This base is very important for U.S. defense in the Pacific.
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- Fort Glenn Army Airfield, 53°22′39″N 167°53′31″W / 53.37750°N 167.89194°W / 53.37750; -167.89194 (Fort Glenn AAF)
- Located on Umnak Island in the Aleutian Islands.
- Used from 1942 to 1947. It is now abandoned.
- Fort Morrow Army Airfield, 56°57′24″N 158°38′18″W / 56.95667°N 158.63833°W / 56.95667; -158.63833 (Fort Morrow AAF)
- Located in Port Heiden, Alaska Territory.
- Used from 1941 to 1945. It is now Port Heiden Airport.
- Fort Randall Army Airfield, 55°11′56″N 162°43′15″W / 55.19889°N 162.72083°W / 55.19889; -162.72083 (Fort Randall AAF)
- Located in Cold Bay, Alaska Territory.
- Opened in March 1942. It was part of a secret program called Project Hula. This program transferred U.S. Navy ships to the Soviet Navy and trained Soviet sailors.
- Shemya Army Airfield, 52°42′44″N 174°06′43″E / 52.71222°N 174.11194°E / 52.71222; 174.11194 (Shemya AAF)
- Located on Shemya Island in the Aleutian Islands.
- Used from 1943 to 1945. It was later renamed Eareckson Air Station to honor Colonel William O. Eareckson. He led important missions against the Japanese in the Aleutian Islands.
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Airfields for Support and Transport
These airfields helped move supplies and planes, and supported combat operations.
- Annette Island Army Airfield, 55°02′13″N 131°34′21″W / 55.03694°N 131.57250°W / 55.03694; -131.57250 (Annette AAF)
- Located on Annette Island.
- Built in 1941, it opened in 1942. It was used to refuel and service transport planes flying between Washington State and Elmendorf. The Royal Canadian Air Force also used it.
- Bethel Air Base, 60°46′29″N 161°43′24″W / 60.77472°N 161.72333°W / 60.77472; -161.72333 (Bethel APT)
- Located in Bethel, Alaska Territory.
- Construction started in 1941. It was an auxiliary airfield for Lend-Lease planes flying to Siberia. It is now a civil airport.
- Big Delta Army Airfield, 63°59′42″N 145°43′12″W / 63.99500°N 145.72000°W / 63.99500; -145.72000 (Big Delta AAF)
- Located near Fairbanks, Alaska Territory.
- Built in 1942 for the Air Transport Command. It was part of the Northwest Staging Route, which was used to ferry Lend-Lease aircraft. It is now Fort Greely.
- Cordova Airport, 60°29′31″N 145°28′32″W / 60.49194°N 145.47556°W / 60.49194; -145.47556 (Cordova APT)
- Located in Cordova, Alaska Territory.
- Construction began in 1941. It was a joint military and civilian airport. It helped refuel transport planes. It is now Cordova Municipal Airport.
- Gakona Landing Strip, 62°18′06″N 145°17′29″W / 62.30167°N 145.29139°W / 62.30167; -145.29139 (Gakona LS)
- Located in Gakona, Alaska Territory.
- This was an emergency landing strip built in 1943. It was abandoned after the war.
- Galena Airport, 64°44′10″N 156°56′04″W / 64.73611°N 156.93444°W / 64.73611; -156.93444 (Galena APT)
- Located in Galena, Alaska Territory.
- Built in 1942. It was used to refuel and service Lend-Lease aircraft going to Siberia.
- Gambell Army Airfield, 63°46′04″N 171°43′59″W / 63.76778°N 171.73306°W / 63.76778; -171.73306 (Gambell AAF)
- Located in Gambell on St. Lawrence Island.
- Built in 1943. It was used to refuel Lend-Lease aircraft flying to Siberia. It is now Gambell Airport.
- Juneau Airport, 58°21′20″N 134°34′29″W / 58.35556°N 134.57472°W / 58.35556; -134.57472 (Juneau AAF)
- Located in Juneau, Alaska Territory.
- Opened in 1941 as a civilian airport. It was used by the military as a refueling stop for transport planes.
- Kiska Army Airfield, 51°58′19″N 177°31′12″E / 51.97194°N 177.52000°E / 51.97194; 177.52000 (Kiska AAF)
- Located on Kiska Island in the Aleutian Islands.
- This was a Japanese airfield that was still being built when American forces captured it in 1943. U.S. Army engineers finished it, and it was used as an auxiliary transport airfield.
- Ladd Army Airfield, 64°50′15″N 147°36′51″W / 64.83750°N 147.61417°W / 64.83750; -147.61417 (Ladd AAF)
- Located near Fairbanks, Alaska Territory.
- Built in 1939. Before the war, it tested aircraft in cold weather. During the war, it became the main transfer point for Lend-Lease aircraft. U.S. pilots would fly planes here, and Soviet pilots would take them to Siberia. It is now Fort Wainwright.
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- McGrath Army Airbase, 62°57′10″N 155°36′18″W / 62.95278°N 155.60500°W / 62.95278; -155.60500 (McGrath AAF)
- Built in 1941 as a civilian airport.
- It was a sub-base of Ladd Army Airbase. It helped with Lend-Lease aircraft flying to Siberia. It is now a civil airport.
- Marks Army Airfield, 64°30′44″N 165°26′43″W / 64.51222°N 165.44528°W / 64.51222; -165.44528 (Marks AAF)
- Located in Nome, Alaska Territory.
- Built in 1942. It was used to refuel Lend-Lease aircraft that Soviet pilots flew to Siberia.
- Mile 26 Field, 64°39′55″N 147°06′02″W / 64.66528°N 147.10056°W / 64.66528; -147.10056 (Mile 26 Field)
- Located in Moose Creek, Alaska Territory.
- Built in 1943. It was an auxiliary airfield to Ladd Army Airfield for Lend-Lease aircraft.
- Moses Point Airstrip, 64°41′53″N 162°03′26″W / 64.69806°N 162.05722°W / 64.69806; -162.05722 (Moses Point Airstrip)
- Located in Elim, Alaska Territory.
- Built in 1943 as an auxiliary landing strip for Marks AAF. It helped service Lend-Lease aircraft. It is now a civil airport.
- Naknek Army Airfield, 58°40′36″N 156°38′57″W / 58.67667°N 156.64917°W / 58.67667; -156.64917 (Naknek AAF)
- Located in King Salmon, Alaska Territory.
- Activated in 1942. It was a transport and maintenance airfield for aircraft in Alaska. It later became King Salmon Air Force Base.
- Northway Army Airfield, 62°57′40″N 141°55′50″W / 62.96111°N 141.93056°W / 62.96111; -141.93056 (Northway AAF)
- Located in Northway, Alaska Territory.
- Built in 1943. Its job was to service Lend-Lease aircraft on the Northwest Staging Route. It is now Northway Airport.
- Ogliuga Island Army Airfield, 51°36′22″N 178°39′23″W / 51.60611°N 178.65639°W / 51.60611; -178.65639 (Ogliuga Island AAF)
- This was a forward airfield built on Ogliuga Island.
- It was used between 1943 and 1945 during the Aleutian Islands campaign. It had an emergency landing field and living quarters.
- Tanacross Air Base, 63°22′25″N 143°20′00″W / 63.37361°N 143.33333°W / 63.37361; -143.33333 (Tanacross APT)
- Located in Tanacross, Alaska Territory.
- Built in 1943. It was an auxiliary airfield to Ladd Army Airfield for Lend-Lease aircraft. It is now Tanacross Airport.
- Yakutat Army Airfield, 59°30′31″N 139°39′35″W / 59.50861°N 139.65972°W / 59.50861; -139.65972 (Yakutat AAF)
- Located in Yakutat City and Borough, Alaska Territory.
- Built in 1941 as a landing field for transport aircraft. It is now Yakutat Airport.
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Many smaller airstrips were also built for emergency landings. The main purpose of all these bases was to defend Alaska and the Aleutian Islands during the war. They also supported the Aleutian Islands campaign against Japan.
