Kodiak Alaska Military History

• NAS Kodiak, Alaska - Patrol Squadron Home Pages, History, pictures and more!
• VS-70 operated OS2U Kingfisher aircraft here starting 26 September 1943.
• The Goat Locker, Chief Petty Officers site. See the Kodiak entries in their guestbook.
• National Vets Archive
• Fred's Place is THE meeting place for Coast Guard
• Navy Seabee Veterans of America Inc. Be sure to check out what they're doing to restore a Quonset hut at the Davisville Museum.
• Fleet Reserve Association, the professional non-profit organization representing the interests of the Enlisted members of the United States Navy, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard.
• Rutgers Oral History for Kodiak
• Paul Meyer was stationed at Kodiak, 215th Coast Artillery AA.
• Samuel E. Blum of New Brunswick, NY ran the meteorology station in Kodiak for a year
• Joseph Lerner did surveying in Kodiak during the war and talks about the Baptist Mission Link updated 12 May 2015
• Steven Hollenczer served in the 43rd US Navy Construction Battalion in Kodiak.

• Diary of a C&GS surveyor who worked around Kodiak 1919 and 1920. It gives a vivid picture of travels and living here during that period. The camp may be at Cape Kekurnoi on the south side of the Alaska Penninsula. NOAA photo search - pix of the camp - survey ship SURVEYOR.

  Captain William McCaslan Scaife USC&GS

• VFW Reunions Adak/Amchitka/Attu/Dutch Harbor/Kodiak Radiomen Receivers (1943-46): Bruno Campagnari (716) 372-1780

• Alaska Coastal Defense photos by Andy Rohde
• Sitka Coastal Defenses - Excellent web site with many pictures and maps created By Matthew Hunter
• Cabrillo National Monument near San Diego, Calif. has a nice presentation about coastal defenses.
• Fort MacArthur at San Pedro, California has reprint books for sale
• Puget Sound forts
• Fort Ebey on Puget Sound in Washington
• The Ghosts of Cape Spear National Historic Site. Is this WWII bunker haunted?
• Portsmouth Maine WWII towers includes great drawing of base-end-station plotting method, pictures of: 155mm gun, 60 inch Sperry Searchlight, 90mm AMTB gun, many base-end-stations around Portsmouth Maine.

Ships

	USCG Bouy Tender Ironwood. Click on the picture for a web page about its history and decommissioning.
	USCG Storis, WMEC38
	USCG Firebush, WAGL-393; WLB-393
	The St. Mihiel (san mee YEL) ferried many troops to Kodiak during WWII. The USS St. Mihiel, AP-32, 8213 tons, named for a French town (about 150 miles east of Paris, 20 miles South of Verdun, in Meuse) involved in World War I, was one of the ships used to evacuate wounded from the battle of Attu. This is from page 78 of The Forgotten War Volume Four. According to an article by Charles Gum in Alaska Geographic, World War II in Alaska, Vol 22, No 4 page 48, the St. Mihiel was a World War I liberty ship converted into a troop carrier. Mr. Gum arrived in Kodiak on the ship September 16, 1941. Prior to WWII she was an Army ship. John R. Fahey was a radioman aboard her. More on Navsource.
	US Navy Ship Kodiak LSM 161 wasn't named Kodiak until 1959. This picture was taken in the fifties and came from Tom V. (rogiv@ix.netcom.com). Click on the thumbnail for the full image (210,477 bytes). According to Jane's 1958-59 (page 407) this class displaced 743 tons beaching (1095 tons full load), 196.5 feet long at water line, 203.5 ft overall, 34.5 ft beam, 8.5 ft draft. They carried 2 - 40mm AA guns. Diesel 2 shafts, BHP 2800 = 12.5 knots. Complement 59. Could carry 5 medium tanks.
	SANTIAGO Beached near the VFW in Monashka Bay in 1941 because the soft iron riveted hull started leaking. Was used as an oil lighter. Also see photo of this ship at a dock in Womens Bay circa 1940. A map showing this dock is on our maps page.
	Catwalk leading to ALGONQUIN in Womens Bay, 27 Dec. 1940 NAS Kodiak (VFW collection) She was built in 1898 as a steam and sailing ship and converted during the war to navy ship YAG29. See page 248 Vol 2, The Forgotten War for more pictures. Algonquin (Cutter) - The former Coast Guard cutter Algonquin was chartered by Siems-Drake-Puget Sound and towed to Kodiak by the Patricia Foss following installation of a 1,200 kilowatt generator by the Puget Sound Bridge & Dredging Company serving as a generating plant there in connection with Air base construction. Gordon Newell, Maritime Events of 1940, H.W. McCurdy Marine History of the Pacific Northwest.
	Navsource has a page on her but if you search Navsource there are more images. Hauling out YP-73 on seaplane ramp, Womens Bay, 10 April 1941 NAS Kodiak (VFW collection) YP-73 was grounded and lost at Kodiak 15 January 1945.
	Shuttle boat at Long Island dock. (Dan Vesper photo)
	SS Tanana, Womens Bay (VFW collection)
	SS Mary D and SS Cordova, Womens Bay - 21 Nov 39 (VFW Collection)
	USF&WS Eider, circa 1939 (Norman Sutliff collection)
Photo of USNS Albert M. Boe from collection of Jean-Yves Brouard added 9 September 2015	The STAR of KODIAK (Originally the USNS ALBERT M. BOE, #248849, hull No. MC-3132) was the last one built in 1945. She was built on ways No. 10 at one of the shipyards, New England Shipbuilding Corp., South Portland Maine. The keel was laid on 11 July 1945. It was launched 26 September 1945 and delivered 30 October 1945. She is type Z-EC2-S-C5 which is a BOXED AIRCRAFT TRANSPORT. The Liberty was 441 feet long and 56 feet wide. Her three-cylinder, reciprocating steam engine, fed by two oil-burning boilers produced 2,500 hp and a speed of 11 knots. Laid up on 22 January 1954 in the Olympia National Defense Reserve Fleet in the Columbia River near Olympia, Washington. Sold 7 August 1964 to Zidell Explorations, Inc., Portland Oregon for $65,533 for non-transportation use. This ship was brought from Blaine, Washington in 1965 to serve as an Alaska Packers seafood processing plant after the 1964 tsunami washed out their shore-based plant. She is situated, firmly aground, next to the ferry dock in downtown Kodiak. On January 19, 1995, the Tyson Seafood Group bought her from All Alaskan Seafoods. She was originally named for Albert M. Boe (1916-1944), a merchant seaman killed in an explosion aboard "USAT FS-214" in 1944. Engine, (no longer aboard). List of Liberty Ships. [revised 27 Sep 2008]
	Tug Commissioner and barge William Muller, 24 May 1940 higher resolution 258k
	USAT U.S. GRANT, 10,352 tons, made several trips including 1124 men on 3 September 1941. (USN AP-29)
	USNS Frederick Funston, * ferried naval personnel and families to Kodiak. She was operated by the Navy's Military Sea Transportation Service, was built in 1942 at Tacoma, Washington, and is named in honor of Major General Frederick Funston, a medal of honor holder who served as a colonel in the Spanish-American War. A troop and dependent carrier, the Funston has a length of 492 feet, a beam of 70 feet, a weight of 11,969 gross tons, and a cruising speed of 16 1/2 knots. She is seen here in Seattle's Elliott Bay. Thanks to Judie Freeman for the photo and information. Also see Timothy Smith's page. The MSTS Frederick Funston is mentioned in many issues of the KODIAK BEAR in 1951.
	Chuck Roberts sailed on the USNS James O'Hara through Kodiak circa 1953.
	USS Wright, AV-1, visited Kodiak July 9, 1938 and issued a postal cover.
	USAT Brig. Gen. M.G. Zalinski at Army Dock Kodiak
	Casco, Seaplane tender for Fleet Air Wing FOUR Another FAW4 tender was USS Williamson
	USS Namakagon AOG-53 a Patapsco class gasoline tanker was homeported at Kodiak between 1947 and 1953. more
	Submarines Cusk, Rasher, Carbonero and Tunny in Kodiak 1958.
	USS Cusk (SS 348) arrives in Kodiak 1958.
	USS SPICA delivered Army personnel 6 July 1941
	The SS YALE, a retired ocean liner, was used as a floating hotel in Kodiak for defense contractors during WWII. She was never a US Navy vessel. more more

• May 27, 1942, Japanese submarines I-25 and I-26 launched aircraft reconnaissance of Kodiak. The fly-overs were from the Type 0 Small Reconnaissance Seaplane made by Yokosuka especially made for submarines. In the western world, they are know as E14Y1 "Glen". The Port Orford Lifeboat Station website has quite a bit more about this. They mention the sinking of the US submarine Grunion but see below.
• The submarine USS GRUNION, SS-216, was sunk on 31 July 1942 just after 6:00 AM while engaged with the Japanese cargo ship Kano Maru who was using her using her 8cm deck gun. Newspaper article May 2011. Grunion had been firing torpedos at Kano Maru but did not sink her. This action took place within 25 miles east of Kiska. [The Loss of USS Grunion, by Bradford L. Abele, THE SUBMARINE REVIEW July 2002 page 94, copy in museum archives.] The wreck and it's seperate bow section been located by the Lost 52 Project. "Loss of Grunion possibly explained", Submarine Review 72-74 April 1998 More - Photos.
• Submarine S-23 was repaired at Kodiak
• USS ARD-31 was a floating drydock. The KODIAK BEAR for May 30, 1952 has pictures. The article states the ship was in Kodiak starting September 1951. The CO was Lt. F.J. Huser, the Exec was J.L. Bartlett and the engineering officer was M.E. Townsend. Others shown in the article include Robert E. Landis, Howard Howe, Howard C. Rife, Julian E. Pourelle, Roger R. Haag and James A. Shea. During 1946 the ARD-31 loaded her first destroyer. 1947 found the ARD-31 holding another destroyer in Guam. The vessel is presently owned by Mar Com Inc. Marie Reece mariereece (at) cableone,net -- 03/27/03. Wife of Bill Rreece 1955 stationed on USS ARD-31. Son born there [Kodiak]. Joe Kirk stationed on ARD-31 and ARD-22 1951-52. ARD-31's keel was laid 1944 June 9 at Pac Bridge/Alameda, she was launched 1944 July 29, delivered to the navy 1944 August 19, stricken 1974 April 1.
• NOAA ship DISCOVERER. Womens Bay, Kodiak Island, 1940.
• The USS Mahopak ATA196, and LSU-778 were at Kodiak in the early 1950's. Paul Webb was there.
• USAT CLEVEDON delivered Army personnel 17 July 1941.
• CHIRIKOF delivered 218 Army personnel 27 September 1941, 777 on 30 May 1942.
• W.C. GORGAS arrived 28 February with 1586 troops of the 201st Inf.
• BRAZO(e)s, oil tanker, May 10, 1942.
• US Navy Oiler AO-3 CUYAMA carried men, cargo, and equipment to Kodiak, arriving 11 August 1942 and continued to operate in Alaska waters.

  ---

  Destroyers

• USS Hulbert (DD-342 / AVP-19 / AVD-6), sank the mail boat in 1942
• LAMBERTON (DD-119), high speed minesweeper, arrived in Kodiak 18 July 1942.
• KANE I (DD-235), a WW-I destroyer served in Alaska and called at Kodiak in 1941.
• LAWRENCE IV (DD-250) called at Kodiak 20 August 1942.
• GILLIS (DD-260) was serving at Kodiak when the war began.
• THORNTON II (DD-270) a seaplane tender operated around Kodiak in September and October 1942.
• PERRY III (DD-340) operated from Kodiak during 1942-1943.
• PREBLE (DD-345) helped lay a minefield around Kodiak in July 1942
• PRUITT (DD-347) arrived in Kodiak during the summer of 1942.
• COGHLAN II (DD-606 arrived Kodiak 13 October 1942 and left the Aleutians 25 August 1943.
• Destroyer index
• Tin Can Sailors The National Association of Destroyer Veterans

  ---

• Timothy Smith's page about Kodiak military ships.
• USS Wharton (AP-7), formerly known as the Southern Cross, carried Navy Construction Battalion 43 to Kodiak around New Years 1943. (Adm. Byrd had used her on trips to the Antartic.) Frank Smith, 43rd CB B4, was a passenger. In July 1946 Wharton was a support vessel for the atom bomb tests at Bikini. Roy J. Vehorn of Tryon NC (828) 859-6527 is the Wharton's reunion coordinator as of June 1997. More on Wharton.
• USAT NORTH COAST and SS WHITNEY simultaneously docked as the first ships at the new 902 foot pier 9 September 1943. Also see Timothy Smith's page.
• USAT DAVID W. BRANCH delivered troops 19 January 1943.
• US Navy Ship KODIAK YF-866, a covered lighter, was built in 1945, then spent 18 years in the Pacific Reserve Fleet. Starting in 1965 she performed harbor duties in Hawaii. She was scrapped in 1985 and was destroyed as a target 7/28/88. She is mentioned in DANFS.
• The medium harbor tug Panameta YTM-402 decommissioned 4/15/77 was sunk as a target 9/4/77. Jim Walker ENC(SS) RET jimw(at)cox-internet.com was Chief Engineer on her at Kodiak December 1961 - December 1962.
• BALCLUTHA - A full-rigged iron ship built in 1886, spent some time beached near Kodiak
• USS BRILL (SS-330) called at Kodiak in the fall of 1946.
• USS Wantuck (APD-125) using depth charges may have sunk a submarine near Kodiak in 1950.
• Japanese submarine I-180 Sunk 26 April 1944 off Kodiak, Alaska, by U. S. destroyer
• USCGC Sedge and Ironwood Historical Context and Statement of Significance
• USS John Paul Jones liberty ship hauled cargo to Kodiak for more than a year and became known as the KODIAK EXPRESS. This document is about 23 pages long just on liberty ships in the Pacific. See the link at the bottom for the index to more good reading.
• U.S.S. EUCALYPTUS, a net tender, laid magnetic loops in the Kodiak channels circa May 1942 Another URL for the same text. The same page has the OSS PATHFINDER researching Kodiak in 1967.
• USS CASE called at Kodiak just before the Japs occupied Attu and Kiska. This is a very nice history of the ship.
• Besboro carried cargo, and occasionally troops, between Seattle and Alaska from 14 October 1943 to 12 April 1946. Jay Hannah's uncle served on her out of Kodiak. Navsource has some specifications.
• AG-3 Nanshan made an emergency trip bringing food to Kodiak and the Pribiloffs in July 1919.
• AG-33 Kaula steamed for the U.S. Coast Guard to Ketchikan, Juneau, Seward, Kodiak, and Dutch Harbor in 1945.
• AKA-106 Union carried old ammunition from Kodiak to Seattle in 1947 .
• USS LST 205 called at Kodiak 25-Jul-43 and left on 27-Jul-43.
• YP-73 destroyed by grounding in Kodiak Harbor, Alaska, 15 January 1945.
• SS Aleutian, opulent 1929 passenger liner located in Uyak Bay. Peter E. Hess.
• PHYLLIS S Kodiak mailboat was sunk by collision with USN destroyer in December 1942.
• Princess Norah, aka Beachcomber

There are many large anchors around town. They measure six feet and seven inches wide at the widest part of the flanks. The harbor department has placed some of them as decorative items. They may have been left when the Navy departed. Does anybody have the true story on these? Some of the inscriptions read:

1 43      BALDT-52       US NAVY      PSF
231       PSF            A4901        8-48
              231             5      5

Oh, I have slipped the surly bonds of Earth

Main index

http://www.kadiak.org/ww2.html        This page updated 12 May 2015, 9 September 2015, 15 April 2016, 3 August 2017, 28 June 2019, 16 April 2020, 16 October 2020

www.ka diak.org