Alaska Manual System Radar Sites: Difference between revisions
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The need for an air defense system in Alaska became clear in the late 1940s and early 1950s as the Soviet Union developed atomic weapons and the long range aircraft to deliver them to U.S. and Canadian targets. The proximity of Alaska to the Soviet Union made it very vulnerable to air and land attack. Construction of aircraft control and warning radar sites commenced about 1950 and the first sites were operational in 1951. | |||
The build out of radar sites continued throughout the 1950s under very adverse conditions. Just building the sites was a herculean task because of the remote locations and adverse weather conditions. Once built, the sites had to be manned and supplied. At many of the sites the only means of supply was from the air on short dangerous dirt airstrips. Personnel were assigned to the sites on a one year remote tour which meant there was a constant turnover of personnel and little continuity. Fire was a constant danger and several sites experienced multiple fires that destroyed mess halls, quarters and other facilities. | |||
Initially communication between the remote sites and with higher headquarters was via military radio equipment. This quickly proved inadequate and at some sites the radio exchanges were so garbled that they could not be relied on. Construction of the Alaska White Alice troposcatter communications network in the late 1950s solved most of the communications problems. The White Alice system remained in operation until the late 1970s when it was replaced by direct satellite links. | |||
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Revision as of 07:59, 26 May 2021
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The need for an air defense system in Alaska became clear in the late 1940s and early 1950s as the Soviet Union developed atomic weapons and the long range aircraft to deliver them to U.S. and Canadian targets. The proximity of Alaska to the Soviet Union made it very vulnerable to air and land attack. Construction of aircraft control and warning radar sites commenced about 1950 and the first sites were operational in 1951. The build out of radar sites continued throughout the 1950s under very adverse conditions. Just building the sites was a herculean task because of the remote locations and adverse weather conditions. Once built, the sites had to be manned and supplied. At many of the sites the only means of supply was from the air on short dangerous dirt airstrips. Personnel were assigned to the sites on a one year remote tour which meant there was a constant turnover of personnel and little continuity. Fire was a constant danger and several sites experienced multiple fires that destroyed mess halls, quarters and other facilities. Initially communication between the remote sites and with higher headquarters was via military radio equipment. This quickly proved inadequate and at some sites the radio exchanges were so garbled that they could not be relied on. Construction of the Alaska White Alice troposcatter communications network in the late 1950s solved most of the communications problems. The White Alice system remained in operation until the late 1970s when it was replaced by direct satellite links.
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