Adak Update Hiking

A view of Downtown Adak, overlooking Sweeper Cove

Historic Guide Introduction | World War II Historic Resources | Downtown Historical Markers

Remote Commemorative Site Markers

9. Adak National Forest
(Marker on Hillside Blvd near intersection with Bayshore Hwy)

Adak National Forest sign The cluster of 33 trees at this site is the most visible remnant of a formal tree planting program undertaken from 1943 through 1945. The project was initiated at the direction of Army General Buckner in an effort to boost morale. The single sign that reads "Enter and Leaving the Adak National Forest" was placed here on a whim by local residents in 1962 or 1963. Two large surviving groves from this World War II era planting program are located in the sheltered ravines of Nurse Creek and Hospital Creek.

10. The Memorial
(Marker on southeast side of Bayshore Hwy, 1/4 mile northeast of Hillside Road intersection)

The flag pole and stone marker with plaque at this site commemorates the memory of those who died defending American in the Aleutians. It was dedicated i May 1988. The memorial marks the site of the cemetery that was located on Adak until all of the bodies were transported back to the lower 48 states.

11. Underground Hospital
(Marker on the west side of Clam Road, 3/4 mile north of the Bayshore Hwy intersection)

This marker commemorates an underground hospital constructed by the Seabees. The actual site of the facility is approximately one mile to the west (off limits, not safe to enter). Under the most arduous of conditions, a small and devoted staff of Naval doctors and nurses operated this facility through World War II, Until the decommissioning of the Naval air base. This facility was one of several critical facilities constructed underground fro protection from expected enemy air strikes. The commanders on Adak could only assume that the Japanese with 8,000 men on the island of Kiska would mount an attack after they became aware of the large force stationed on Adak.

12. Hangar Ruins
(Marker on a dirt road that connects former NSGA site with Lake Andrew)

In the winters of 1943 and 1944, Lake Andrew froze to a depth of 18 inches. In response to the sever cold, several large wood hangars were built by the 32nd Naval Construction Battalion to make conditions for repairing the aircraft more bearable. The hangar structure at this site was last used as a sand barn and withstood the extremes of both cold and high wind for over fifty years, until the last standing remains were flattened by strong winds during the winter of 1995/6. It is a reminder of how essential the "can do" spirit of the Seabees has been to the continuity of Naval operations.

13. Albert E. Mitchell Field
(Marker along east shore of Lake Andrew)

In early spring of 1943, the Navy established facilities for the operation of 12 PBY amphibious aircraft at the southeast shore of Lake Andrew. These operations required berthing, messing, and dispensary facilities for 30 officers and 300 enlisted men, including plane crews and ground support personnel. By the summer of 1943, plans for the overall enlargement of the airbase were approved and implemented. Two permanent runways were constructed between Lake Andrew and Clam Lagoon and facilities to support 120 officers and 2,000 enlisted men were erected. "Catalina" and "Kingfisher" seaplanes (PBYs) and "Ventura" PV-1 light Naval bombers made up the complement of aircraft. Approximately 350 men of the 32nd Naval Construction Battalion took part in this construction work. This air station served throughout the war. Upon its decommissioning in January 1950, aircraft operations were relocated to the site of Davis Army Airfield (related marker 3) and the command was joined with the Naval Operating Base at Sweeper Cove and recommissioned as Naval Station Adak.

14. Radio City
(Marker along Clam Road, near Gladding Road)

Radio City, 1944 In September 1942, the U.S. Navy had established its initial communications station on Adak in a small tent (later a Quonset hut), in Navytown. This operation was conducted by a small detachment of radiomen using tow transmitters and several receivers powered by a 7-kilowatt generator. As of September 1943, all communications assets were relocated to Clam Lagoon. These facilities, along with two High Frequency Direction Finding buildings at Zeto Point (see related marker 18), augmented the operations of the newly formed Naval Communications Supplementary Activity, located in the area around this marker. The area was affectionately know as "Radio City" until October 1951, when it was renamed "Naval Communications Station, Adak." It remained as a separate command (recommisssioned as Naval Security group Adak in 1977) until operational closure in 1995.

15. World War II-Era Aircraft Wreckage(Marker off-road on slope of Mt. Adagdak)

Strewn over several acres of tundra around this site are the remains of at least three aircraft which met their untimely demise while attempting to clear this ridge of Mount Adagdak. The unforgiving combination of low altitude fog and the high winds of Adak was a nemesis to aviators from the beginning of air operations on this island. The airbases constructed on Adak launched hundreds of sorties against the Japanese occupied islands of Attu and Kiska using the U.S. Army Air Corps' B-17, B-24, B-25, and B-26 bombers and the U.S. Navy's PV-1 and PBY bombers. This marker commemorates the valiant efforts of the aviators and flight crews, who shall be remembered as vital contributors to winning the war in the Aleutians.

16. Special Operations/SISS Zulu Site
(Marker along Clam Road near Lake Shirley)

In mid-1962, a specially-designated detachment of communications technicians, from the Naval Communications Station, Adak, augmented an operation within a small hut on this site. This activity became known as "SPECOPS." It was moved to Zeto Point where it was renamed "SISS ZULU." After moving to an improved site on the east side of Clam Lagoon, the operation was known as "Classic Wizard." The last facility complex to house this operation is located due north of this marker at North Lake. From its initial inception, this operations served to provide extremely valuable support service to the Navy's tactical fleet units in the Norther Pacific Ocean region, as well as national intelligence authorities.

17. World War II-Era Seaplane Wing Wreckage
(Marker along east side of Clam Lagoon)

During the Spring of 1989, the "Clam Lagoon Cleanup" wing wreckage of a PBY was unearthed at this location and later removed. Sometimes due to enemy fire, but more often due to the sever weather conditions, many planes never returned from their missions or crash landed on Adak or other islands. Nevertheless, the overall success of the Naval Air Base can never be questioned. This site commemorates the selfless sacrifice and dedication to duty of the many men who served on Adak as U.S. Naval aviators.

18. Initial Radio Direction Finding Site
(Marker along Zeto Point Road, near Candlestick Bridge)

Initial Radio Finding Site, 1944 In February 1943, Radio Direction Finding operations began in two small buildings near Zeto Point. This marker is situated approximately 500 meters due east of the first building site and 100 meters due south of the second building site. These sites used an AN/GRD-6 high/low band antenna. They were instrumental in the establishment of an extremely valuable source of baseline signals intelligence for both on-island and norther Pacific fleet units.

19. Zeto Point
(Marker along east spur of Zeto Point Road, near Lake Shirley)

Panama Mount, 1995 At the top the hill above this marker are the remains of a joint Army/Navy Harbor Control Defense Point. During Work War II, it consisted of three 155-mm coastal artillery guns on "Panama" mounts (concrete pads with ironrails and pintles). These guns had a range of 17 miles and covered the approaches to Sitkin Sound and Kuluk Bay. The gun mounts are still in place along with scattered ruins of underground shelters, machine gun bunkers and wooden stairs.

20. Patrol Torpedo Boat Docks/Submarine Net
(Marker along Finger Bay north shoreline)

Patrol Torpedo Boat, 1944 At this site on Finger Bay in mid-1943, docking and replenishment facilities were constructed to accommodate several U.S. Navy PT boast and a small number of submarines. Within this safe harbor these operations (under the control of Naval Operating Base Adak) maintained and supported fast attack craft. These boats were the main line of defense against the seemingly imminent encroachment of enemy warships. A few hundred yard to the southwest is a remnant pile of metal anti-submarine netting that stretched across the mouth of Finger Bay.