U. S. NAVAL STATION NAVY No. 127 %POSTMASTER SEATTLE, WASHINGTON IN REPLY REFER TO: NS/KOD/A9-2 95:GHGW:jgh DECLASSIFIED Ser 1572 RESTRICTED AUG 7 - 1952 SECURITY INFORMATION From: Commanding Officer, U. S. Naval Station, Kodiak, Alaska To: Chief of Naval Operations (Aviation History and Research Section) Subj: Historical Report (OpNav Report 575-1): submission of Ref: (a) OpNav Instruction 5750.2 Encl: (1) Historical Report for period 1 January 1952 to 30 June 1952 1. In accordance with reference (a), subject historical report is herewith submitted as enclosure (1). S. S. SEARCY, Jr Acting RESTRICTED DECLASSIFIED U. S. NAVAL STATION KODIAK, ALASKA RESTRICTED SECURITY INFORMATION HISTORICAL REPORT (OpNav Report 575-1) 30 December, 1951 - 1 July, 1952 HISTORICAL OFFICER LCDR G. H. G. WEBSTER, 283869/1310, U. S. Navy RESTRICTED SECURITY INFORMATION A. CHRONOLOGY __________ 1. Captain Robert C. BRIXNER, 61107/1310, USN, Commanding Officer. Assumed Command 6 September 1951. 2. The U. S. Naval Station is under the management control of the Bureau of Aeronautics; military command and coordination control of the Seventeenth Naval District. The Naval Station, Kodiak, Alaska is patterned after the 1950 Bureau of Aeronautics Manual's Standard Naval Air Station Organization. 3. Geographical location: Kodiak Island, Territory of Alaska. 4. none. 5. Area of Geographic responsibility: a. Search and Rescue Area II as designated by ComAlSeaFron under CinCA1. b. The geographical area of responsibility for weather broadcasts was changed by Chief Naval Operations effective 0001Z 1 October 1951. This area of responsibility assigned the Naval Aerological Facility, Kodiak, Alaska is approximately the same as that of Commander Alaskan Sea Frontier and includes the water area between longitude 160oE and 127.7oW, bounded on the North by latitude 75oN and on the South by a line extending from latitude 42oN, longitude 160oE to latitude 42oN longitude 150oW northeastward to latitude 52oN and the west coast of Canada at longitude 127.7oW. This activity also has cognizance over automatic weather stations (TCM-1's) located on Chirikof Island, and Simeonof Island. 6. Summary of assistance rendered by Commander Search and Rescue Area II: January _______ a. A Coast Guard PBY on 1 January 1952 evacuated a woman who had suffered premature birth of her baby from Sand Point, Shumagin Island to Naval Station Kodiak. b. A Naval Station PBY searched on 4 January the area of 56o 45' North, 148o 20' West where a flare had been reported. Results were negative. c. The Coast Guard Cutter SEDGE evacuated on 4 January a critically ill woman from Ouzinkie. d. A Coast Guard PBY on 6 January evacuated from Perryville a two and one half month old baby who was in need of hospitalization. 1 e. A Coast Guard PBY and a Navy PBY were dispatched on 12 January to assist in the search for a missing General Airways DC3. The aircraft was found on Mt. Crillon north of Cape Spencer Inter- section before the two PBY's could assist, so they were recalled to Naval Station Kodiak. f. A Coast Guard PBY on 21 January evacuated to Naval Station Kodiak a man with a broken leg from the gas boat IRENE at Alitak Bay. g. The Coast Guard Cutter SEDGE on 25 January proceeded from Hinchinbrook Island to search the Latouche area for the fishing vessel LAUGHING LADY who was thought to be in trouble. The LAUGHING LADY was found at Port Crawford in no difficulty. h. A Coast Guard PBY on 27 January evacuated to Naval Station Kodiak a man and his wife from Belkofski. The woman was suffering from a tumor. The man's illness was undetermined. FEBRUARY ________ i. The USS MUNSEE was dispatched on 12 February to search for the fishing vessel KERRY in distress in Shelikof Straits. On 13 February the MUNSEE searched the area between Black Cape and Shuyak Strait. On 14 February a Coast Guard PBY and a Navy PBY were dispatched from Naval Station Kodiak to search the west side of Afognak Island. On 15 February the Coast Guard PBY sighted three survivors at Devils Inlet near a cabin. The MUNSEE evacuated the survivors to Port Williams, and the Coast Guard PBY transported them to Naval Station Kodiak. The beach party located a fourth member of the KERRY's crew, a woman, dead from exposure four miles from the cabin. On 16 January the beach party transported the deceased womans body to Port Williams. The body was later taken from there to Kodiak by the MUNSEE. j. The Coast Guard Cutter CLOVER on 14 February evacuated a seriously ill man from Squaw Harbor to Thornbrough Air Force Base, Cold Bay. k. A Navy R4D on 20 February evacuated two people with severe facial burns from Chirikof Island to Naval Station Kodiak. l. The Coast Guard Cutter CLOVER on 26 February evacuated a twelve year old girl with rheumatic fever from Pavlof harbor to Thornbrough Air Force Base, Cold Bay. MARCH _____ m. A Coast Guard PBY on 14 March evacuated a woman from Sand Point, Shumagin Islands to Naval Station Kodiak. The woman had experienced premature birth of twins. 2 n. A Coast Guard PBY on 16 March evacuated a man with pneumonia from Ivanof bay to Naval Station Kodiak. o. The Coast Guard Cutter CLOVER on 27 March was dispatched from Nakchamik Island to render assistance to the motor vessel GARLAND. The GARLAND had her steering gear sheared away. The LST 1072 was also diverted to assist but was released after the GARLAND had made temporary repairs and entered Alitak bay. The GARLAND was escorted to Kodiak by the CLOVER. APRIL _____ p. A Coast Guard PBY on 3 April evacuated a critically ill woman from Traders Cove to Naval Station Kodiak. q. A Coast Guard PBY on 5 April evacuated a man with a broken jaw from Pavlof Harbor, Sanak Island, to Naval Station Kodiak. r. A Navy PBY on 15 April evacuated a badly burned five year old girl from Perryville to naval Station Kodiak. s. A Coast Guard PBY on 16 April intercepted and escorted to Naval Station Kodiak a Navy R5D. The R5D had it's number four engine out. t. The Coast Guard Cutter SEDGE on 19 April wa dispatched from Perry Island to Bligh Island to assist the motor vessel HIAWATHA. The HIAWATHA required no assistance but the SEDGE escorted her to Cordova. u. A Coast Guard PBY on 27 April evacuated a sick woman from Cold Bay to Naval Station Kodiak. MAY ___ v. A Coast Guard PBY on 3 May evacuated a man with two badly mashed fingers from the Coast Guard Cutter SWEETBRIER to Naval Station Kodiak. w. A Coast Guard PBY on 5 May evacuated a critically ill native woman from Dutch harbor to naval Station, Kodiak. x. The Coast Guard Cutter SEDGE on 6 May was dispatched from Naval Station Kodiak to rendezvous with the leaking scow SEA LION. The SEDGE was unable to locate the SEA LION and requested air assistance. A Coast Guard PBY on 7 May located the SEA LION forty miles northwest of her reported position. The SEDGE escorted the SEA LION to Kodiak after rendezvous had been accomplished. 3 y. The Coast Guard Cutter SEDGE on 20 May reported that she was proceeding to rendezvous with the fishing vessel EVENING STAR. The fishing vessel had a sick man on board. A Coast Guard PBY departed Naval Station Kodiak and assisted in the rendezvous, after which the SEDGE received the man on board and proceeded to Naval Station Kodiak. z. The Coast Guard Cutter SEDGE on 22 May was diverted to Katalla Bar to search for a man lost from a dory. A Coast Guard PBY also searched the area on 22 May. Results of all searches were negative. aa. The Coast Guard Cutter BITTERSWEET was dispatched from Kodiak on 23 May to aid the motor vessel TIPPY. Air assistance was rendered by a Navy R4D in effecting the rendezvous northeast of Spruce Island. The TIPPY was towed to Kodiak. bb. The USS MAHOPAC was dispatched from naval Station Kodiak to the vicinity of Anton Larsen Bay to aid in the search for three missing hunters. A land search party was dispatched from Naval Station Kodiak and found the missing men at Anton Larsen bay in good condition. JUNE ____ cc, A Coast Guard PBY on 1 June evacuated a woman with toxemia pregnancy from Squaw harbor to Naval Station Kodiak. dd. The USS MAHOPAC on 5 June was dispatched from Naval Station Kodiak to assist the disabled fishing vessel MISS JEAN, northeast of Cape St. Elias. The MISS JEAN was taken in tow by another fishing vessel, and the MAHOPAC returned to Kodiak. ee. The Coast Guard Cutter SWEETBRIER on 9 June was dispatched from Akutan bay to assist the converted LST KODIAK SALVOR who was in difficulty north of the Alaskan Peninsula. Rendezvous was not effected because the KODIAK SALVOR's transmitted positions were quite inaccurate. The SALVOR reported her damage repaired on 10 June and that no assistance was required. ff. The USS MAHOPAC on 13 June was dispatched from Naval Station Kodiak to assist the fishing vessel ILENE, who had engine failure east of Marmot Island. A Navy UF-1 and a Navy PBY rendered assistance in effecting the rendezvous. The ILENE was towed to Kodiak. 4 gg. A Navy R4D on 16 June evacuated the victim of a gun accident from Cold Bay to the Naval Station Kodiak. hh. The Coast Guard Cutter SWEETBRIER on 15 June was diverted to assist the disabled fishing vessel DOLORES N. A Navy PBY rendered assistance in effecting the rendezvous. The DOLORES N was towed to Port William. ii. A Navy PBY on 16 June evacuated a man with blood poisoning from the fishing vessel SEATTLE to Naval Station Kodiak. jj. A Navy PBY on 17 June was dispatched from Naval Station Kodiak to assist in the search for a missing Grumman "Goose" in the area between Katalla and Yakataga. The missing aircraft was found by other searching planes. kk. A Coast Guard PBY on 23 June evacuated an injured man from the fishing vessel SEAFAIR to naval Station Kodiak. ll. A Coast Guard PBY on 26 June evacuated a girl with a broken wrist from Old Harbor to Naval Station Kodiak. mm. A Coast Guard PBY on 27 June departed Naval Station Kodiak for Egg Island to assist in the rescue of [personnel from the beached fishing vessel ALASCO. A message was later received that a boat had been dispatched from Point Whitshed to pick up the survivors. The Coast Guard PBY was advised of this fact and then returned to Naval Station Kodiak. nn. A Coast Guard PBY was dispatched on 30 June to search for the fishing vessel WIZZARD reported to be on the beach in the Ugak Island area. The Coast Guard PBY found the fishing vessel beached in the surf two to three miles west of Narrow Cape on Kodiak Island and was ordered to remain in that vicinity until the USS MAHOPAC arrived from Naval Station Kodiak. All survivors were ashore and in good condition upon arrival of the MAHOPAC. Salvage operations were later attempted by the MAHOPAC. CHRONOLOGY (continued) JANUARY: _______ 7. On 4 January, the 1500 foot extension of runway 7-25 was opened for normal flight operations. 8. Early in the morning of 11 January, a fire broke out in the Alsec Theater. Before the fire was brought under control the following buildings were totally destroyed: Alsec Theater, CPO Club, and the Beauty Parlor. No lives were lost and damage was estimated at $150,000.00. (Photos attached to appendix) 5 9. On 28 January, a revised schedule of wages for Alaska became effec- tive. (See narrative). MAY ___ 10. On 1 May, the Naval Station Operations Department became the U. S. Naval Port Control Office. 11. On 22 May, the U. S. Naval Control of Shipping Office became a part of the U. S. Naval Port Control Office. At this time, LT Robert C. FASHBAUGH, 280477/1105, relieved CAPT Scott K. GIBSON, 71300, USN as NCSO, Kodiak. 12. During the period 31 December 1951 to 1 July 1952, the following information is submitted for the Supply and Fiscal Department: a. Authority was received from YDSO for shipment of standard stock automotive excess to NSD Seattle. Project started and approximately 25% of total excess shipped during period. b. Authority received from ASO to ship aviation items held in class 270 to NAS Alameda on a "One time" basis. Initial steps taken to segregate and prepare for shipment. c. Shop stores #5, ship repair type material, inventoried for the first time. Shop stores #6 established for overflow of material from shop stores #5. d. Jet fuel farm completed and ready for operation. e. Planning Division established in Supply and Fiscal Department. f. Temporary pier on west side of Woman's Bay taken over by Supply Department after extensive repairs. 6 B. NARRATIVE _________ 1. As of 1 January 1952, the Medical Department of the U. S. Naval Station, Kodiak, Alaska, consisted of an authorized complement of 5 medical officers, 5 nurses and 26 enlisted hospital corpsmen. During the period covered by this report, the complement, augmented by 1 medical officer and 4 enlisted hospital corpsmen serving in a temporary additional duty status, was increased to 7 nurses and 31 enlisted hospital corpsmen. The number of medical officers remained the same. This increase in nurses and enlisted hospital corpsmen is considered ample to complete the missions of the medical department. 2. During this period, the Medical Flight Team accompanied the Coast Guard Search and Rescue Organization and the U. S. Naval Station Rescue Team on approximately 34 mercy missions. The standard procedure used of sending one medical officer, a flight surgeon, accompanied by a navy hospital corpsman with adequate medical supplies to handle the given situation, has produced a highly efficient team to render immediate professional treatment upon reaching the mercy mission destination. Any cases requiring prolonged hospitalization are returned to the station via airplane and taken by ambulance to Griffin Memorial Hospital in Kodiak. All mercy missions were accomplished in a routine manner. The majority of mercy flights undertaken were for humanitarian evacuation of natives in the outlying island areas. The cooperation between all activities functioning in sea-air rescue has been excellent. The three flight surgeons attached to this station are sufficient in number to complete any rescue mission which might occur. 3. During the first quarter of 1952 an intensive survey for the prevention and control of Weil's Disease was carried out through- out the Aleutian Chain and Kodiak area. The Epidemiological Team was composed of LTJG Eugene L. WALTER, MSC, USNR and William G. CUNNINGHAM, HMC, USN. A report of this survey has been previously submitted to the Bureau of Medicine and Surgery. In the past six months there have been five proven cases of Weil's Disease admitted to this infirmary, three of which were coast guard dependents residing in the town of Kodiak, one was active coast guard also residing in the town of Kodiak, and one was an active marine residing on the naval station. An intensive control program is being conducted in accordance with the recommendations of the Epidemiological Team. 4. The acute shortage of family housing for civilian employees has always been a source of grievance. To relieve this shortage partially, two barracks buildings on Nyman's Peninsula were remod- eled to provide bachelor female dormitory facilities, and the 7 35 or so bachelor females residing in defense housing on Civilian Hill wee transferred to the renovated dormitories. This action released 18 family housing units for assignment to employees on the family housing list. On 30 June there were approximately 80 on the family housing list, with assignments being made to employees with 16 months service. This was a slight improvement over conditions existing formerly, when the list was slightly longer and the waiting period 20-24 months. 5. On 28 January 1952 a revised Schedule of Wages for Alaska became effective. Increases on the new schedule amounted to from 24c to 38c per hour for ungraded (blue collar) employees. The average increase was 34c per hour, or about a 15% increase. This increase closed the gap slightly between wages paid to government employees of the Navy and those paid in private industry in Alaska. However, the spread was still wide, amounting in some trades to as much as $1.00 an hour. 6. The largest single factor contributing to the determination of policies in the employment of civilians was the shortage of funds. The economy resulting from this shortage affected civilians in numerous ways, most notably: overtime work was curtailed to the absolute minimum necessary to sustain the mission of the station and essential services; and employees returning under new employ- ment agreements were allowed travel at government expense from Seattle only. These actions influenced a number of employees to terminate their employment during the period. 7. In January, the IndustrialRelations Office distributed the first issue of the Civilian Personnel NEWS, a periodical news- letter written to the civilian and military supervisors of civilian personnel for the purpose of passing on to them information in the field of industrial relations on the naval station. The NEWS was well received and its usefulness as a medium of communication between management and the supervisor on the job well demonstrated. In June the first issue of Safety Office TIPS was distributed to provide the safety department a medium of communication through which information in the field of safety could be passed along to the shop and office level. 8. The mission of the U. S. Naval Port Control Office, Kodiak, is to provide, under one authority in one location, coordination control of and arrangements for the logistic support of harbor services to any ships under naval control. A brief summary of the various units of the Naval Port Control Office are listed below with a resume of the NCSO switch. 8 9. Two seagoing tugs, one LCU, one ATA, and normally one ATF, are readily available for use on SAR missions in coordination with the Air Department, with the latter making a full report upon the com- pletion of a mission. This arrangement has proved most satisfactory. A Tug Dispatcher under the supervision of the Naval Port Control Officer is on duty in this office 24 hours a day to coordinate land- sea operations. 10. The complement of the Stevedore Unit is gradually being increased, but it has been necessary to supplement the crews with station working parties for working three hold vessels. Even so, the cargo handled during this period averaged 40.5 tons per hour. The problem of getting contractor gear from under the hook and away from the dock area (as previously reported) has been eliminated. The present contractors have been furnishing a sufficient number of trucks to move the cargo expeditiously. 11. In accordance with directives from Chief of Naval Operations, all preparations were made to incorporate NCSO under the Naval Port Control Office on 1 May 1952. Due to lack of Bureau orders the transfer of personnel was impossible. Physical properties, however, were transferred on 1 May 1952. All plant account equipment was transferred to the naval Station by MSTSO Kodiak. All Expendables were transferred. 12. Late in June, Ann Blythe, Joyce Holden, Jeanne Cooper, Claudette Thornton, Lori Nelson, Kathleen Hughes, Suzan Ball, Buddy Hackett, Palmer Lee, Robert Monnet, Dick Morris, Hal Belfer, and Tommy Chambers arrived with thirty-two newsmen, ten studio representatives and four Defense Department personnel for the premiere of "World in His Arms". The premier was an outstanding event and an excellent morale builder. 9 APPENDIX 1. Statistics: a. There were 52 flight physical examinations conducted during the record half of 1952. The majority of groundings were due to common cold. The average length of time of groundings for this condition was five to seven days. The number of personnel grounded through 1 January 1952 to 30 June 1952 did not seriously affect or hamper the efforts or efficiency of the squadrons. b. During the period 1 January 1952 through 30 June 1952, a total of 8,814 outpatient treatments were administered by the infirmary with a total of 7,846 visits. The total inpatient sick days accrued were 3,043 days. c. The stevedore unit worked fifty-six (56) ships between 1 January and 30 June 1952, handling a total of 36,853 measured tons of cargo. d. During this period, the Naval Station JRF aircraft was replaced with a UF-1 amphibious type aircraft, designed primarily for search and rescue operations. Present naval Station complement of aircraft is two (2) PBY-6A amphibious aircraft, two (2) R4D transport aircraft, one (1) UF-1 amphibious aircraft, and one 91) HO3S helicopter. The heli- copter crashed during the period of the last report and had not been replaced as yet. e. Total hours flown by station aircraft--eleven hundred sixth-one (1161) hours. f. Total landings and take-offs--seventeen hundred seventy-nine (1779). g. Ground Control Approaches (GCA) VFR 997 IFR 153 Total 1150 h. There were no aircraft crashes on or near the vicinity of the Naval Station Kodiak during this period. i. Search and Rescue Summary: (1) Total Search and Rescue Missions 41 (2) Total Air Evacuation Flights 19 (3) Approximate hours flown (Navy & Coast Guard) 200 (4) Natives evacuated or treated 23 10 OPERATIONAL CLIMATOLOGY SUMMARY FOR JANUARY THROUGH JUNE 1952 1. Temperature (degrees F.) Observed in Cumulative Mean 1952 Data 1941 to 1952 Mean 35.8 36.6 Mean Maximum 39.1 40.8 Mean Minimum 30.8 31.8 Absolute Maximum 67.0 86.0 Absolute Minimum 07.0 -05.0 2. Visibility Percent of time less than 1-1/2 miles 04.4 05.9 Percent of time 1-1/2 to 6 miles 17.1 18.6 Percent of time over 6 miles 78.5 74.3 3. Sky Percent of time 1/10 of clouds or less 13.4 08.5 Percent of time 2/10 to 5/10 of clouds 30.0 17.7 Percent of time 6/10 of clouds to overcast 56.6 73.8 4. Precipitation Water equivalent (inches) 15.33 25.24 Snowfall (inches) 40.6 31.66 5. Winds Maximum gust and direction (knots) NW 71 NW 86 Prevailing direction and velocity (knots) NW 10.2 NW 9.7 Percent of time calm 1.9 2.7 Percent of time average wind 1 to 20 knots 85.7 88.3 Percent of time average wind over 20 knots 11.7 9.1 Number of storms with gusts 30 to 55 knots 28.0 20.3 Number of hours in which gusts 30 to55 knots occurred 378 397 Number of storms with gusts over 55 knots 7 3.8 Number of hours in which gusts 55 knots or over occurred 47 29 11 Observed in Cumulative Mean 6 Flying Conditions 1952 Data 1941 to 1952 ______ __________ Percent of time of favorable flying conditions 75.6 72.4 (The following must occur simultaneously to have favorable flying conditions). a. Ceiling: not less than 1000 feet b. Visibility: Not less than 3 miles c. Wind: Less than 20 knots Percent of time below GCA Minimums (300 feet and/or 1-1/2 miles) 7.2 8.0 12