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 11th AF c1942 |
Location Umnak Airfield was located at the estern end of Umnak Island in the Fox Island Group (Fox Islands) in the Aleutian Island Chain (Aleutian Islands) in Alaska in the United States. Located at Otter Point and Deep Point near Umnak Pass and Unalaska Island to the east. The U.S. Army built airfield was known as Fort Glenn. Also known as "Fort Glenn Army Airfield" or "Fort Glenn Airfield", "Umnak Cape Airbase". Adjacent was Otter Point Naval Air Facility used by the U.S. Navy (USN) known as Otter Point Airfield, Otter Point Naval Air Facility (Otter Point NAF) or USNAAS Otter Point. Construction Built by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers built Fort Glenn a 102,062 acre base with four runways, taxiways, revetments, hangars with supporting Quonset huts, building, magazines and other facilities. The first runway was surfaced with marston matting (PSP), using a diesel engine to haul the heavy landing matt from the unloading point on shore to the airfield area. On September 18, 1942 construction for a U.S. Navy facility was approved. On September 25, 1942 Commanding General Alaska Defense Command assigned the required land. The U.S. Navy 8th Construction Battalion "Seebees" detachment built their facilities capible of accomidating 119 officers and 359 enlisted men with supporting buildings. Aviation facilities included 6,975 square feet for general stores & a 150-cubic-foot freezer. Buildings for aircraft included a kodiak-type hangar, 160' x 90', a squadron warehouse, and a terminal for air transport service. Administration offices were housed in 5 buildings with a total floor space of 3,850 square feet. Radio facilities included a transmitting station, a direction-finder station, and a radar station, all with separate power houses & with housing & messing provisions for personnel. The hospital, located in one small building, contained 8 beds with by three diesel-electric generators. Wartime History On June 3, 1942 during the Japanese attack on Dutch Harbor, Umnak was notified but got the message too late due to a communication failure. Used by U.S. Army Air Force bombers during the spring and summer of 1942 until the middle of 1943. Also used by the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF). Allied units based at Umnak Airfield (Fort Glenn, Otter Point) 343rd FG HQ Elmendorf September 1, 1942 - ? 28th Composite Group (28th CG), 77th BS (B-25, B-26) Adak October 3, 1942 28th Composite Group (28th CG), 404th BS (B-24) Elmendorf arrives August 24, 1942 28th Composite Group (28th CG), 36th BS (B-17E) Elmendorf 1942 - ? 28th Composite Group (28th CG), 21st BS (B-24) Adak arrives Nov 15, 1942–? 11th AF HQ arrives July 20, 1942 28th Composite Group (28th CG), 404th BS (B-24) arrives August 24, 1942 28th Composite Group (28th CG), 11th FS (P-40) Elmendorf arrives May 26, 1942 28th Composite Group (28th CG), 77th BS (B-26) Elmendorf arrives May 30, 1942 28th Composite Group (28th CG), 73rd BS (B-25) Elmendorf April 1, 43 343rd FG, 11th FS (P-40) ? - February 20, 1943 Adak 343rd FG, 344th FS (P-40) ? - May 23, 1943 Shemya 30th BG, 21st BS (B-24) USA Sept 3 1942 det operate Adak / Amchitka returns July 27, 1943 departs Shemya RCAF 14 Squadron ? - September 9, 1943 departs British Columbia Postwar Until the late 1940s, Umnak Airfield remained in use as a military airfield. Today Disused as an airfield. References Abandoned & Little-Known Airfield: Fort Glenn Army Airfield / Otter Point Naval Air Facility, Umnak Island, AK Contribute
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 Map 1942 |
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