Eareckson Air Station

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Eareckson Air Station
Eareckson Air Station tower.jpg
IATA: SYA – ICAO: PASY
Summary
Airport type Private
Operator U.S. Air Force
Location Shemya, Alaska
Elevation AMSL 97 ft / 30 m
Coordinates 52°42′44″N 174°06′49″E / 52.71222°N 174.11361°E / 52.71222; 174.11361Coordinates: 52°42′44″N 174°06′49″E / 52.71222°N 174.11361°E / 52.71222; 174.11361
Runways
Direction Length Surface
ft m
10/28 10,000 3,048 Asphalt/Grooved
Eareckson AS is located in Alaska
Eareckson AS
Location of Eareckson Air Station, Alaska

Eareckson Air Station (IATA: SYA, ICAO: PASY) is a U.S. military airbase located on the island of Shemya, in the Alaskan Aleutian Islands. It was Shemya Army Air Base during World War II.[1] Redesignated to Shemya Air Force Base on March 26, 1948, by Department of the Air Force General Order No. 10, it was later renamed Shemya Airport in 1954. It was again redesignated Shemya Air Force Station on January 1, 1959, by Department of the Air Force General Order No. 4 of January 20, 1959. The base was re-redesignated Shemya AFB in 1968.[1] On May 19, 1993, it was renamed Eareckson Air Force Station in honor of Colonel William O. Eareckson, an Army Air Forces combat commander in the Aleutian Islands. The base was redesignated to Eareckson Air Station January 24, 1994.

Contents

[edit] History

During World War II, Eareckson serverd primarily as a bomber base during the Aleutians Campaign [1] Known USAAF units assigned to Shemya were:

  • 28th Bombardment Group (February 26, 1944 – October 20, 1945)
  • 343d Fighter Group (October 5, 1945 – August 15, 1946)
  • 54th Fighter Squadron (October 18 – November 20, 1943) (343d FG)
  • 344th Fighter Squadron (June 25, 1943 – August 15, 1946) (343d FG)
  • 21st Bombardment Squadron (July 27 – September 19, 1943) (28th BG)
  • 404th Bombardment Squadron (February 28, 1944 – January 5, 1947) (28th BG)

Beginnining in 1976, the installation served as the host to many Defense Department "Cobra"-related projects including the Cobra Dane radar and Cobra Ball and other related RC-135 projects.[1][2] Additionally, in August 1988, at least one Aries rocket was launched, relating to the Queen Match program, for anti-ballistic missile testing.[3]

[edit] Facilities

Eareckson Air Station has one runway:

  • Runway 10/28: 10,000 by 150 feet (3,000 m × 46 m), Surface: Asphalt/Grooved, 28 is ILS equipped.

There is also an NDB, TACAN and a VOR on the island.

Two other runways on the west side of the island were constructed during World War II and have since been abandoned.

[edit] Incidents and accidents

On July 21, 1961, Alaska Airlines Flight 779 crashed at Shemya on a flight from Anchorage after the controller neglected to turn on the runway landing lights. All six onboard were killed in the crash.

[edit] Gallery

Satellite image of Shemya Island

Shemya Island and Eareckson Air Station

A 1986 image of a TACAN antenna on Shemya. Since the island currently has a VORTAC, this standalone TACAN may have been augmented or removed.

Cobra Dane and its predecessor the AN/FPS-17.

Operation Kernel Potlatch '87, January 1987.

[edit] See also

[edit] References

 This article incorporates public domain material from websites or documents of the Air Force Historical Research Agency.

  • Maurer, Maurer (1983). Air Force Combat Units Of World War II. Maxwell AFB, Alabama: Office of Air Force History. ISBN 0892010924.
  • Mauer, Mauer (1969), Combat Squadrons of the Air Force, World War II, Air Force Historical Studies Office, Maxwell AFB, Alabama. ISBN 0892010975
  1. ^ a b c d Fletcher, Harry R. (1989). Air Force Bases Volume I, Active Air Force Bases Outside the United States of America on 17 September 1982. Office of Air Force History. ISBN 0-912799-53-6. 
  2. ^ [1] Eareckson entry at GlobalSecurity.org]>
  3. ^ Aries

[edit] External links

United States Air Force portal
Search Wikimedia Commons Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Shemya Island
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