Cold Bay Airport
Encyclopedia
Cold Bay Airport is a public-use airport
located in Cold Bay
, a city in the Aleutians East Borough
of the U.S. state
of Alaska
. It is owned by the state and is one of the main airports serving the Alaska Peninsula
.
is the fifth-largest in Alaska and was built during World War II
. Today, it is used by scheduled cargo flights (Alaska Central Express
and Evergreen International Airlines
), and is sometimes used as an emergency diversion airport for passenger flights across the Pacific Ocean
.
A common myth describes CDB as an alternate landing site for NASA Space Shuttles, but NASA has stated that CDB has never been so designated, and CDB is not within the entry crossrange capability of the shuttle for modern missions.
There is also a National Weather Service office (which sends up radiosonde balloons twice a day) colocated with the FAA Flight Service Station. The NWS ranks Cold Bay as the cloudiest city in the United States.
Air taxi
operators fly in and out of the airport daily.
paved runway
s: 14/32 is 10,415 by 150 feet (3,174 x 46 m) and 8/26 is 4,235 by 150 feet (1,291 x 46 m). For the 12-month period ending July 13, 2007, the airport had 3,794 aircraft operations, an average of 10 per day: 53% air taxi
, 35% general aviation
, 9% scheduled commercial
and 4% military
.
as Fort Randall Army Airfield during the military buildup of Alaska in secret beginning in 1941. Disguised as civilian employees of the Blair Canning and Packing Company, Army personnel in civilian clothes were shipped to Cold Bay. Although construction began in December 1941, the airfield was ready for operation by March 1942. Because of the foresight of Alaska's military commanders, the new airfield, along with another new secret airfield Cape Field
at Umnak
, was ready to contribute during the Battle of Dutch Harbor
in June 1942. The airfield at Cold Bay would continue to contribute throughout the war.
Known units assigned to Fort Randal AAF were:
Fort Randall AAF was also used by the United States Navy
during the Aleutian campaign. A two-gun 6-inch naval gun battery was located at Grant Point. One gun is on display near the town dump. A four-gun 155mm gun battery on Panama mount
s was located at Mortensen's Lagoon at Thin Point. The HECP bunker still exists at Pride Lake.
After the war, the airfield was named Thornbrough Air Force Base in 1948 for Captain George W. Thornbrough, a U.S. Army Air Corps B-26
pilot. Captain Thornbrough fought during the Battle of Dutch Harbor
in June 1942, bravely attacking a Japanese aircraft carrier that was launching strike aircraft at Dutch Harbor. Although his torpedo struck the carrier, it failed to explode. Captain Thornbrough returned to his airfield to refuel and rearm and then took off to rejoin the fight. The aircraft and entire crew were lost during their return from this mission, when they were unable to land back at Cold Bay. The wreckage of Captain Thornbrough's aircraft was found fifty miles from Cold Bay on the north side of the Alaskan Peninsula the following month.
It was redesignated from Army Air Base (AAB) to an Air Force Base
(AFB) on 28 March 1948 along with seven other Army Air Bases in Alaska. It's chief assets were a 10,000 ft. runway and a deep water dock. It was controlled by the 5024th Air Base Squadron, Alaskan Air Command
(AAC). It was logistically supported by the 39th Air Depot Wing at Elmendorf AFB. It's mission became supporting Military Air Transport Service
(MATS) transport flights along the Great Circle Route from Japan, as well as supporting the 7th (later 9th) Weather Group which provided support for WB-29 Superfortress flights of the 58th Weather Reconnaissance Squadron
at Eielson AFB which operated over the Northern Pacific and Bearing Sea. Both the runway and dock have continued in service to this day serving as transportation hubs for airlines and shipping.
The 5042d ABS was discontinued on 1 January 1950 per AAC General Order Number 198, dated 13 December 1949 due to budget restrictions. Control of the base was taken over directly by AAC. It was planned for inactivation, however the transport demands by MATS flying to Japan to support the Korean War
delayed the inevitable closing of the base until 1 September 1953 by AAC General Order 66.
Between 1956 and 1958, Cold Bay Airport was used as a logistics support base during the construction of Cold Bay Air Force Station
, a Ground Control Intercept (GCI) station for Alaskan Air Command during the Cold War
. Today, the airport is used by the USAF 611th Air Support Group
, based at Elmendorf AFB to support the unattended Long Range Radar (LRR) site A-08 just to the northwest of the airport.
cargo flight crashed into Mount Dutton
when on approach to Cold Bay. All six people on board were killed.
Airport
An airport is a location where aircraft such as fixed-wing aircraft, helicopters, and blimps take off and land. Aircraft may be stored or maintained at an airport...
located in Cold Bay
Cold Bay, Alaska
Cold Bay is a city in Aleutians East Borough, Alaska, United States.Cold Bay is one of the main commercial centers of the Alaska Peninsula, and is home to Cold Bay Airport.-History:...
, a city in the Aleutians East Borough
Aleutians East Borough, Alaska
- See also :*List of airports in the Aleutians East Borough*National Register of Historic Places listings in Aleutians East Borough, Alaska-External links:*-References:...
of the U.S. state
U.S. state
A U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of...
of Alaska
Alaska
Alaska is the largest state in the United States by area. It is situated in the northwest extremity of the North American continent, with Canada to the east, the Arctic Ocean to the north, and the Pacific Ocean to the west and south, with Russia further west across the Bering Strait...
. It is owned by the state and is one of the main airports serving the Alaska Peninsula
Alaska Peninsula
The Alaska Peninsula is a peninsula extending about to the southwest from the mainland of Alaska and ending in the Aleutian Islands. The peninsula separates the Pacific Ocean from Bristol Bay, an arm of the Bering Sea....
.
Overview
Cold Bay's main runwayRunway
According to ICAO a runway is a "defined rectangular area on a land aerodrome prepared for the landing and take-off of aircraft." Runways may be a man-made surface or a natural surface .- Orientation and dimensions :Runways are named by a number between 01 and 36, which is generally one tenth...
is the fifth-largest in Alaska and was built during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. Today, it is used by scheduled cargo flights (Alaska Central Express
Alaska Central Express
Alaska Central Express is an airline based at Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport in Anchorage, Alaska, USA. It is an Alaskan-owned cargo and small package express service...
and Evergreen International Airlines
Evergreen International Airlines
Evergreen International Airlines is a cargo airline based in McMinnville, Oregon, USA. It operates contract freight services, offering charters and scheduled flights, as well as wet lease services. It operates services for the U.S. military and the United States Postal Service, as well as ad hoc...
), and is sometimes used as an emergency diversion airport for passenger flights across the Pacific Ocean
Pacific Ocean
The Pacific Ocean is the largest of the Earth's oceanic divisions. It extends from the Arctic in the north to the Southern Ocean in the south, bounded by Asia and Australia in the west, and the Americas in the east.At 165.2 million square kilometres in area, this largest division of the World...
.
A common myth describes CDB as an alternate landing site for NASA Space Shuttles, but NASA has stated that CDB has never been so designated, and CDB is not within the entry crossrange capability of the shuttle for modern missions.
There is also a National Weather Service office (which sends up radiosonde balloons twice a day) colocated with the FAA Flight Service Station. The NWS ranks Cold Bay as the cloudiest city in the United States.
Air taxi
Air taxi
An air taxi is an air charter passenger or cargo aircraft which operates on an on-demand basis.-Regulation:In the United States, air taxi and air charter operations are governed by Part 135 of the Federal Aviation Regulations , unlike the larger scheduled air carriers which are governed by more...
operators fly in and out of the airport daily.
Airline and destinations
- PenAirPenAirPeninsula Airways, doing business as PenAir, is an American airline headquartered in Anchorage, Alaska. It is Alaska's second largest commuter airline operating an extensive scheduled passenger and cargo service, as well as charter and medevac services...
(Anchorage, False Pass, King Cove, Nelson Lagoon, Port Moller, Sand Point, Unalaska)
Facilities and aircraft
Cold Bay Airport has two asphaltAsphalt
Asphalt or , also known as bitumen, is a sticky, black and highly viscous liquid or semi-solid that is present in most crude petroleums and in some natural deposits, it is a substance classed as a pitch...
paved runway
Runway
According to ICAO a runway is a "defined rectangular area on a land aerodrome prepared for the landing and take-off of aircraft." Runways may be a man-made surface or a natural surface .- Orientation and dimensions :Runways are named by a number between 01 and 36, which is generally one tenth...
s: 14/32 is 10,415 by 150 feet (3,174 x 46 m) and 8/26 is 4,235 by 150 feet (1,291 x 46 m). For the 12-month period ending July 13, 2007, the airport had 3,794 aircraft operations, an average of 10 per day: 53% air taxi
Air taxi
An air taxi is an air charter passenger or cargo aircraft which operates on an on-demand basis.-Regulation:In the United States, air taxi and air charter operations are governed by Part 135 of the Federal Aviation Regulations , unlike the larger scheduled air carriers which are governed by more...
, 35% general aviation
General aviation
General aviation is one of the two categories of civil aviation. It refers to all flights other than military and scheduled airline and regular cargo flights, both private and commercial. General aviation flights range from gliders and powered parachutes to large, non-scheduled cargo jet flights...
, 9% scheduled commercial
Airline
An airline provides air transport services for traveling passengers and freight. Airlines lease or own their aircraft with which to supply these services and may form partnerships or alliances with other airlines for mutual benefit...
and 4% military
Military aviation
Military aviation is the use of aircraft and other flying machines for the purposes of conducting or enabling warfare, including national airlift capacity to provide logistical supply to forces stationed in a theater or along a front. Air power includes the national means of conducting such...
.
History
The airport was constructed during World War IIWorld War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
as Fort Randall Army Airfield during the military buildup of Alaska in secret beginning in 1941. Disguised as civilian employees of the Blair Canning and Packing Company, Army personnel in civilian clothes were shipped to Cold Bay. Although construction began in December 1941, the airfield was ready for operation by March 1942. Because of the foresight of Alaska's military commanders, the new airfield, along with another new secret airfield Cape Field
Cape Field at Fort Glenn
Cape Field at Fort Glenn also known as Umnak Airport, is a site significant for its role in World War II fighting. It "provided aerial defensive cover for the U.S...
at Umnak
Umnak
Umnak is one of the Fox Islands of the Aleutian Islands. With of land area, it is the third largest island in the Aleutian archipelago and the 19th largest island in the United States. The island is home to a large volcanic caldera on Mount Okmok and is separated from Unalaska Island by Umnak Pass...
, was ready to contribute during the Battle of Dutch Harbor
Battle of Dutch Harbor
The Battle of Dutch Harbor took place on 3-4 June 1942, and was a minor air and naval battle of the Aleutian Islands Campaign of World War II between Imperial Japanese Navy and United States Army and Navy forces.-Overview:...
in June 1942. The airfield at Cold Bay would continue to contribute throughout the war.
Known units assigned to Fort Randal AAF were:
- 73d Bombardment Squadron73d Bombardment SquadronThe 73d Bombardment Squadron is an inactive United States Air Force unit. It was last assigned to the 4241st Strategic Wing, based at Seymour Johnson Air Force Base, North Carolina...
, numerous short dates, 1942–1943 - 344th Fighter Squadron344th Fighter SquadronThe 344th Fighter Squadron is an inactive United States Air Force unit. Its last assignment was with 343d Fighter Group stationed at Shemya Army Airfield, Alaska Territory.-History:...
, numerous short dates, 1942–1943 - 54th Fighter Squadron54th Fighter SquadronThe 54th Fighter Squadron is an inactive United States Air Force unit. Its last assignment was to the 3d Operations Group, being stationed at Elmendorf Air Force Base, Alaska...
, June–July 1942 - 11th Fighter Squadron, May–September 1942
Fort Randall AAF was also used by the United States Navy
United States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
during the Aleutian campaign. A two-gun 6-inch naval gun battery was located at Grant Point. One gun is on display near the town dump. A four-gun 155mm gun battery on Panama mount
Panama mount
The term Panama Mount describes a gunmount developed by the U.S. Army in Panama during the 1920s for fixed coastal artillery positions. Panama mounts were widely used during the buildup to and during World War II by the United States military....
s was located at Mortensen's Lagoon at Thin Point. The HECP bunker still exists at Pride Lake.
After the war, the airfield was named Thornbrough Air Force Base in 1948 for Captain George W. Thornbrough, a U.S. Army Air Corps B-26
B-26 Marauder
The Martin B-26 Marauder was a World War II twin-engine medium bomber built by the Glenn L. Martin Company. First used in the Pacific Theater in early 1942, it was also used in the Mediterranean Theater and in Western Europe....
pilot. Captain Thornbrough fought during the Battle of Dutch Harbor
Battle of Dutch Harbor
The Battle of Dutch Harbor took place on 3-4 June 1942, and was a minor air and naval battle of the Aleutian Islands Campaign of World War II between Imperial Japanese Navy and United States Army and Navy forces.-Overview:...
in June 1942, bravely attacking a Japanese aircraft carrier that was launching strike aircraft at Dutch Harbor. Although his torpedo struck the carrier, it failed to explode. Captain Thornbrough returned to his airfield to refuel and rearm and then took off to rejoin the fight. The aircraft and entire crew were lost during their return from this mission, when they were unable to land back at Cold Bay. The wreckage of Captain Thornbrough's aircraft was found fifty miles from Cold Bay on the north side of the Alaskan Peninsula the following month.
It was redesignated from Army Air Base (AAB) to an Air Force Base
Air Force Base
An Air Force Base is a military airbase of any of a number of air forces, such as the United States Air Force or South African Air Force ....
(AFB) on 28 March 1948 along with seven other Army Air Bases in Alaska. It's chief assets were a 10,000 ft. runway and a deep water dock. It was controlled by the 5024th Air Base Squadron, Alaskan Air Command
Alaskan Air Command
Alaskan Air Command is an inactive United States Air Force Major Command. Established in 1945 under the United States Army Air Forces, its mission was to organize and administer the air defense system of Alaska, exercise direct control of all active measures, and coordinate all passive means of...
(AAC). It was logistically supported by the 39th Air Depot Wing at Elmendorf AFB. It's mission became supporting Military Air Transport Service
Military Air Transport Service
The Military Air Transport Service is an inactive Department of Defense Unified Command. Activated on 1 June 1948, MATS was a consolidation of the United States Navy Naval Air Transport Service and the United States Air Force Air Transport Command into a single, joint, unified command...
(MATS) transport flights along the Great Circle Route from Japan, as well as supporting the 7th (later 9th) Weather Group which provided support for WB-29 Superfortress flights of the 58th Weather Reconnaissance Squadron
58th Weather Reconnaissance Squadron
The 58th Reconnaissance Squadron is an inactive United States Air Force Reserve squadron. Its last was assigned to the 4900th Test Group, stationed at Kirtland Air Force Base, New Mexico...
at Eielson AFB which operated over the Northern Pacific and Bearing Sea. Both the runway and dock have continued in service to this day serving as transportation hubs for airlines and shipping.
The 5042d ABS was discontinued on 1 January 1950 per AAC General Order Number 198, dated 13 December 1949 due to budget restrictions. Control of the base was taken over directly by AAC. It was planned for inactivation, however the transport demands by MATS flying to Japan to support the Korean War
Korean War
The Korean War was a conventional war between South Korea, supported by the United Nations, and North Korea, supported by the People's Republic of China , with military material aid from the Soviet Union...
delayed the inevitable closing of the base until 1 September 1953 by AAC General Order 66.
Between 1956 and 1958, Cold Bay Airport was used as a logistics support base during the construction of Cold Bay Air Force Station
Cold Bay Air Force Station
Cold Bay Air Force Station is a closed United States Air Force General Surveillance Radar station. It is located southwest of Anchorage, Alaska....
, a Ground Control Intercept (GCI) station for Alaskan Air Command during the Cold War
Cold War
The Cold War was the continuing state from roughly 1946 to 1991 of political conflict, military tension, proxy wars, and economic competition between the Communist World—primarily the Soviet Union and its satellite states and allies—and the powers of the Western world, primarily the United States...
. Today, the airport is used by the USAF 611th Air Support Group
611th Air Support Group
The 611th Air Support Group is a United States Air Force unit. It is assigned to the Eleventh Air Force, stationed at Elmendorf Air Force Base, Alaska.-Overview:...
, based at Elmendorf AFB to support the unattended Long Range Radar (LRR) site A-08 just to the northwest of the airport.
Incidents
On September 8, 1973 World Airways Flight 802 a Military Airlift CommandMilitary Airlift Command
The Military Airlift Command is an inactive United States Air Force Major Command of the USAF which was headquartered at Scott Air Force Base, Illinois. It was constituted on 1 January 1966 and active until the end of the Cold War, when the Air Force table of organization was revised...
cargo flight crashed into Mount Dutton
Mount Dutton
Mount Dutton is a stratovolcano in the Aleutian Range of the U.S. state of Alaska, on the Alaska Peninsula.- Geography :Dutton lies just short of from King Cove, a fishing headquarters for the locality.- Geologic activity :...
when on approach to Cold Bay. All six people on board were killed.
See also
- Alaska World War II Army AirfieldsAlaska World War II Army AirfieldsDuring World War II, Alaska was a major United States Army Air Force location for personnel, aircraft, and airfields to support Lend-Lease aid for the Soviet Union...
- Alaskan Air CommandAlaskan Air CommandAlaskan Air Command is an inactive United States Air Force Major Command. Established in 1945 under the United States Army Air Forces, its mission was to organize and administer the air defense system of Alaska, exercise direct control of all active measures, and coordinate all passive means of...
- Eleventh Air ForceEleventh Air ForceThe Eleventh Air Force is a numbered air force of the United States Air Force Pacific Air Forces . It is headquartered at Elmendorf Air Force Base, Alaska....
External links
- FAA Alaska airport diagram (GIFGIFThe Graphics Interchange Format is a bitmap image format that was introduced by CompuServe in 1987 and has since come into widespread usage on the World Wide Web due to its wide support and portability....
) - The Thousand Mile War
- Joe McCusker's list of Air Force Bases
- A History of the Air Force Heritage in Alaska
- B-26 Marauder Archive
- North American Forts
