Casco Cove Coast Guard Station
Encyclopedia
Casco Cove Coast Guard Station is a former military airport located 1481 miles (2,383.4 km) west of Anchorage, Alaska
, on the Aleutian Island of Attu
. It was closed on 27 August 2010.
Casco Cove is one of the most isolated and remote airports in the United States. Flying into and taking off from the airport was hazardous, as the weather is characterized by persistently overcast skies, high winds, and frequent cyclonic storms. Winter squalls produce wind gusts in excess of 100 knots. During the summer, extensive fog forms over the Bering Sea and North Pacific.
The island is protected as part of the National Parks Trust territory and few people visit the island or area, as it is restricted. Gun emplacements for over twenty guns are still present around the airfield.
to conduct long range bombardments of the Kurile Islands, Northern Japan and operations against Japanese shipping in the north Pacific.
Known World War II units assigned were:
Other Eleventh Air Force units were assigned temporarily as needed. It was closed by the USAAF in 1946. The Coast Guard activated the station in August 1949.
On 1 January 1945 2nd Lt. Robert L. Nesmith flying from Alexai Point, crashed his Lockheed P-38G-10-LO Lightning in Temnac Valley, just west of Attu Station, while on a low-level training mission over Attu. This aircraft was recovered in 1999 and is now static-restored and on display at Elmendorf AFB.
Anchorage, Alaska
Anchorage is a unified home rule municipality in the southcentral part of the U.S. state of Alaska. It is the northernmost major city in the United States...
, on the Aleutian Island of Attu
Attu
Attu may refer to:*A common name for the Dosa in Telugu*Attu Island in Alaska*The Battle of Attu, the primary land battle in the Aleutian Islands campaign of World War II, which took place on Attu Island in May 1943....
. It was closed on 27 August 2010.
Overview
The Casco Cove Airport was a LORAN navigation station operated by the United States Coast guard. The Coast Guard personnel lived in a group quarters facility. There were no families stationed at Attu. All services needed for staff in this facility are available. Electricity is provided by U.S. Coast Guard Generator. Auxiliary health care is provided by U.S.C.G. emergency medical staff.Casco Cove is one of the most isolated and remote airports in the United States. Flying into and taking off from the airport was hazardous, as the weather is characterized by persistently overcast skies, high winds, and frequent cyclonic storms. Winter squalls produce wind gusts in excess of 100 knots. During the summer, extensive fog forms over the Bering Sea and North Pacific.
The island is protected as part of the National Parks Trust territory and few people visit the island or area, as it is restricted. Gun emplacements for over twenty guns are still present around the airfield.
History
The airport was built by the United States Army in November, 1943 as Casco Cove Army Airfield. It was a base of operations for Eleventh Air ForceEleventh Air Force
The 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....
to conduct long range bombardments of the Kurile Islands, Northern Japan and operations against Japanese shipping in the north Pacific.
Known World War II units assigned were:
- 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...
(P-38 Lightning), 20 November 1943-8 March 1946 - 18th Fighter Squadron (P-38 Lightning), 28 March 1944-6 November 1945
Other Eleventh Air Force units were assigned temporarily as needed. It was closed by the USAAF in 1946. The Coast Guard activated the station in August 1949.
Accidents and incidents
On 1 January 1945 2nd Lt. Robert L. Nesmith flying from Alexai Point, crashed his Lockheed P-38G-10-LO Lightning in Temnac Valley, just west of Attu Station, while on a low-level training mission over Attu. This aircraft was recovered in 1999 and is now static-restored and on display at Elmendorf AFB.