Okay, here’s a rewrite of the article, aiming for a more casual and engaging tone, while keeping the core information intact. I’ve also added some "flavor" to make it a bit more interesting.
Dutch Harbor Naval Operating Base, Alaska: A Look Back at a WWII Hotspot
Dutch Harbor, Alaska. Just the name conjures up images of rugged landscapes, icy waters, and maybe even a crab or two, thanks to shows like "Deadliest Catch." But beyond the fishing fame, Dutch Harbor has a rich and important history, particularly during World War II. Let’s dive into the story of the Dutch Harbor Naval Operating Base and Fort Mears – two military installations that played a vital role in defending the United States.
Location, Location, Location
First, where exactly is Dutch Harbor? It’s nestled on Amaknak Island, part of the larger Unalaska Island in the Aleutian chain. Imagine a place so remote, it’s about 1,000 air miles southwest of Anchorage. A bridge connects Unalaska (the town) to Amaknak Island, making it a strategic point in the region.
Building Up Defenses: A Response to a Growing Threat
Back in the late 1930s, tensions were rising in the Pacific. The U.S. Navy recognized the need for a strong presence in the Aleutians, a chain of islands that could serve as a potential pathway for an attack on the mainland. In 1938, the Navy Board gave the thumbs-up to the construction of a naval base at Dutch Harbor. Work began in earnest in July 1940. The goal was clear: prepare for a possible war with Japan.
From Empty Island to Bustling Military Hub
When the first Army troops showed up in May 1941, they found a spanking new Marine Barracks and what locals called Dutch Harbor’s "landmark" – a big brick house at the naval radio station. Over in Unalaska, a tiny town of about 300 people (mostly Aleuts), there was a U.S. Coast Guard station. Construction took off, and soon enough, the island was teeming with new buildings. The Army base got its official name – Fort Mears – on September 10, named in honor of Colonel Frederick Mears, a key figure in building the Alaska Railroad. Not to be outdone, the Navy built an air base in September 1941.
A Lay of the Land: Navy Base Meets Army Fort
The naval base took up the central part of Amaknak Island. It had everything needed to support air operations: a runway, aircraft hangars, munitions storage, barracks, a hospital (more on that later!), and even a bomb-proof power plant. South of the naval base was Fort Mears, primarily housing the troops who manned the coastal defenses. These defenses included gun batteries positioned on the high ground to the north on Ulakta Head and to the south on Mount Ballyhoo (which the Army called Hill 400 but is now known as Bunker Hill for the surviving bunkers). Other Army coastal defense installations popped up nearby, including Fort Schwatka, Fort Learnard, and Fort Brumback.
December 7th, 1941: The World Changes
When Pearl Harbor was attacked on December 7, 1941, Dutch Harbor was the only military installation in the Aleutian Islands. Talk about being on the front lines!
June 3rd, 1942: The Attack on Dutch Harbor
On June 3, 1942, the unthinkable happened: the Japanese Navy launched an aerial attack on Dutch Harbor. It was the first time the continental United States had been attacked by air. The attack was originally planned to coincide with the Battle of Midway, but Mother Nature had other plans, delaying Nagumo’s task force and pushing the attack forward by a day.
Early in the morning, despite the fog, Japanese planes took to the skies. At 5:45 a.m., Japanese fighters roared over the island, followed by bombers just five minutes later. Fourteen bombs slammed into Fort Mears, destroying five buildings and causing significant casualties: 25 soldiers killed and another 25 wounded. A second strike didn’t do any damage, but a third hit the radio station, killing one sailor and one soldier. The weather turned so bad that the Japanese had to call off the attack.
The next day, June 4, another wave of Japanese planes – nine fighters, eleven dive bombers, and six-level bombers – returned, this time focusing on Dutch Harbor itself. They hit the S.S. Northwestern, a 3,000-ton vessel that had been beached near the dock and was being used as housing for civilian workers. The ship went up in flames and was completely destroyed, along with a nearby warehouse. Bombs also destroyed four new steel fuel tanks, along with 22,000 barrels of oil – a month’s worth of supply for Dutch Harbor.
In total, 43 Americans and at least 10 Japanese died in the attack. Another 50 Americans were wounded. The Americans lost five Army aircraft and six naval Catalinas. The Japanese reported losing eleven planes.
Aftermath and Adaptation
The attack exposed the vulnerability of the base. Military planners quickly started housing people in smaller, scattered buildings like Quonset huts and Pacific huts to reduce the risk of mass casualties. The white barracks and other buildings were camouflaged with olive-drab paint, nets on the roofs, and even mud and water on the exterior. Some buildings were built into hillsides and covered with sod for extra protection.
Life on the Base: More Than Just War
At its peak, over 5,600 Navy personnel and almost 10,000 Army personnel were stationed on Amaknak and Unalaska Islands. The Naval Operating Base provided a naval air station and a deep-water port.
Most of the housing consisted of two-story dormitories, each housing 63 men. These buildings were modified with drying rooms, arctic entries, and blackout windows to cope with the harsh Alaskan climate. Civilian contractors lived on the S.S. Northwestern, which was also used to generate power.
Life wasn’t all work and no play. There were mess halls, theaters, officers and enlisted men’s clubs, and even beer halls for socializing. The United Service Organizations (USO) brought entertainers to boost morale. The 206th Coast Artillery Band, stationed at Dutch Harbor, often performed with these entertainers. Famous actors, comedians, and singers like Joe E. Brown, Bob Hope, Frances Langford, and Olivia de Haviland visited the Aleutian Islands to entertain the troops.
Chapels and military chaplains provided spiritual support, while morgues and cemeteries housed the dead. Other essential buildings included warehouses, repair shops, ammunition storage, bunkers, a powerhouse, hospitals, command posts, administrative buildings, training buildings, post offices, radio buildings, and hangars.
The Dutch Harbor Naval Operating Base, complete with its air station, submarine base, ship repair facility, and fleet provision facilities, was officially commissioned on January 1, 1943.
A Vital Role Throughout the War
Dutch Harbor remained a crucial strategic location throughout the war. The naval air station grew into a full-fledged naval operating base. It played a key role in monitoring the steady flow of Soviet ships passing through Dutch Harbor and the nearby Akutan Pass, heading to and from Siberia and the United States as part of the Lend-Lease program.
From Military Base to Commercial Hub
After World War II ended in September 1945, the U.S. military decommissioned Fort Mears and the Naval Operating Base. Locals scavenged abandoned building materials, canned goods, clothes, and ammunition to repair war damage to their homes, churches, and other buildings.
For decades, many of the buildings stood abandoned. But the rise of the king crab fishery in the 1970s brought new life to the area. Many of the old military buildings were repurposed as warehouses, bunkhouses, and even family homes.
In the late 1980s, the U.S. government finally funded a cleanup of the site. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers demolished most of the remaining military buildings, and the land was turned over for commercial use.
Today, Dutch Harbor remains a vital port, known for its fishing industry. The site stands as one of eight historic landmarks in Alaska commemorating World War II. It’s a reminder of a time when this remote island played a crucial role in defending the nation.
So, the next time you see Dutch Harbor on TV, remember that there’s more to this place than just fishing. It’s a place with a fascinating past, a place that played a significant role in a global conflict.