Kodiak Alaska Military History
Gibson Cove and Deadman's Curve
These facilities are part of Fort Greely, Harbor Defenses of Kodiak Alaska.
They were in support of gun battery number 3 at Buskin Hill, site 8, which consisted of
four 155mm guns on Panama mounts.
The guns had a range of 19,100 yards, which is just a little past Long Island,
or to the far side of Kalsin Bay.
The Base End Station, site 9, was designated B1/3 S1/3 and the instrument was at a
height of 228 feet. The land, a half-acre, was procured 28 October 1939.
This pillbox is at 57 46' 33" north, 152 27' 16" west (NAD27) on topo map D2 SE.
This OP was completed on 17 November 1943 and was equipped with an M1 DPF, class 3.
Beside the pillbox, there was a Yakutat hut 160 feet back down the approach road
to the southwest. There is no 1998 evidence of the Yak.
The companion BES, B2/3 S2/3, was 4406.45 yards on
an azimuth of 43.28 degrees, at Mansfield Ridge.
(Artillery bearings start at SOUTH for zero degrees bearing!)
The Mansfield Ridge station is the most intact example of a BES in Kodiak and is
the hardest to find.
The searchlights, No. 12 & 13, also part of site 9,
were on a 34 acre site obtained 28 October 1939.
Judging by the completion dates, these facilities were probably built by
US Navy CB-43, the Seabees.
Click on a picture for a bigger version.
Map from Tiger server showing location of Gibson Cove.
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The DEC and searchlight bunkers are within the city limits.
Many years ago, they were rendered uninhabitable by the city.
The roofs were substantially destroyed.
This was to prevent summer campers from living in them.
As of 1998 there was still quite a lot of trash around these.
The Base End Station is outside the city limits.
It is in very good condition as of May 1999.
The state is widening the highway during the summer of 1999.
Quality Asphalt Paving of Anchorage is the contractor.
Already the west DEC bunker has been destroyed by this project.
The project calls for burying or filling-in the Base End Station.
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1998
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1998
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1998 The searchlight station is just past the quarry, uphill of the highway.
It is almost completely obscured by the trees.
The west DEC (now gone) is visible as a dot just at the far edge of the quarry entrance.
This view is from near the Base End Station.
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1998 Concrete building floor.
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1998 Electrical power wires.
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1998
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1998 Searchlight bunker with big hole in roof.
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1998 Searchlight bunker.
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1998 Searchlight bunker.
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1998
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1998 Searchlight bunker.
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1998 Searchlight bunker.
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1998 Searchlight bunker.
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1998 Searchlight bunker, hole in roof.
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1998 East DEC.
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1998 This Base End Station (BES) is just above the sharp turn at Dead Man's Curve.
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1998 Base End Station. These were larger than a DEC and had sleeping facilities for two.
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1998 Cable vault in floor, BES.
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1998 Window tracks, BES.
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1998 Telephone board supports, BES.
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1998 Windows have inch thick steel shields on tracks. BES.
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1998 Base End Station. Heavy steel plate shutters over windows.
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1998 Base End Station. Rear wall that once hosted two bunks.
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1999 Base End Station. From below on Gibson Cove Road.
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1998 Base End Station. View from Pillar Mt. October 1998
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June 1999 highway work
by Quality Asphalt Paving
photo by Stevens
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June 1999 highway work
by Quality Asphalt Paving
photo by Stevens
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1998 West Distant Electrical Control bunker. Was destroyed 1999.
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1998 West DEC bunker.
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1998 West DEC bunker.
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1998 West DEC bunker.
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1998 West DEC bunker.
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1998 West DEC bunker.
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1998 West DEC bunker.
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1998 East DEC.
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1998 East DEC.
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1998 East DEC.
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