Ice Station - Alpha

UPDATED: 25 Nov 2005

All photographic, textual and intellectual content are the property of PolarHistory.Com or the contributors

Camp Commanders:

Major Richard E. Freeman xxxx - 27 Aug 1957

LtCol Helmuth E. Stromquist 27 Aug 1957 - Feb 1958

Maj Joseph P. Bilotta Feb 1958 - 23 Sep 1958

Capt James F. Smith 23 Sep 1958 - to evacuation

14 August 1958 - A 0700 hours the Unites States nuclear powered submarine SKATE surfaced 8 miles from Station Alpha and requested a motor boat be kept running so that its sonar could home-in. The commander operated the boat and continually circled in a large lead. At 0835 hours the submarine surfaced in the exact center of the lead. Station Alpha and the submarine personnel exchanged visits where each group was given a briefing on the activities of the other. The activities planned for the 15th had to be cancelled because that day ice movement began throwing up pressure ridges 100 feet in front of the camp and started closing the lead in which the submarine surfaced. This necessitated emergency recall of Navy personnel to the submarine which departed the ice station at 1000 hours Alpha time.

6 November 1958 - All personnel evacuated from Station Alpha.

References:

Ice Island - Polar Science and the Arctic Research Laboratory by Tim Weeks and Ramona Maher, The John Day Company, New York - 1965 Library of Congress Card Number 64-14200

History of the Alaskan Air Command 1 July 1958 - 30 June 1959 (Declassified DOD DIR 5200.10)

Have information, pictures, covers, etc on ice islands and stations that you would like to share with others? Contact the webmaster at any email box on this site.

Questions or Comments?