Adak Army Airfield

Naval Air Facility Adak Davis Air Force Base Adak Army Airfield (A-2)
IATA: ADK ICAO: PADK FAA LID: ADK
Summary
Airport type	Military
Owner	United States Navy
Location	Adak
Elevation AMSL	18 ft / 5 m
Coordinates	51°52′41″N 176°38′46″W / 51.87806°N 176.64611°W / 51.87806; -176.64611 (NAF Adak)
Map
NAF Adak
Runways
Direction Length Surface ft m 5/23 7,790 2,374 Asphalt 18/36 7,605 2,318 Asphalt

Adak Army Base and Adak Naval Operating Station
U.S. National Register of Historic Places
U.S. National Historic Landmark
U.S. invasion fleet gathers in Adak Harbor for assault on Kiska in August, 1943.
Location	Adak Station, Alaska
Built	1942
Architect	Unknown
NRHP Reference #	87000841
Significant dates
Added to NRHP	February 27, 1987
Designated NHL	February 27, 1987

Naval Air Facility Adak (IATA: ADK, ICAO: PADK, FAA LID: ADK), was a United States Navy airport located west of Adak, on Adak Island in the U.S. state of Alaska. After its closure in 1997, it was reopened as Adak Airport. The facility was designated a National Historic Landmark for its role in World War II, although most of its elements from that period have been demolished or lie in ruins.

The Aleutians campaign was not considered a priority by the Joint Chiefs of Staff in late 1942. British Prime Minister Churchill stated that sending forces to attack the Japanese presence there was a diversion from the North African Campaign and Admiral Chester Nimitz saw it as a diversion from his operations in the Central Pacific. Commanders in Alaska, however believed the Japanese presence in the Aleutians a threat to North America and once the islands were again in United States hands, forward bases could be established to attack Japan from there.

The establishment of Adak Army Airfield (Code Name A-2, also "Longview") on 30 August 1942 gave the Air Force a forward base to attack the Japanese forces on Kiska Island. The landing was made in a storm and within a week additional forces, including the 807th Engineer Aviation Battalion were landed on the island at Kuhluk Bay. However, the island had not been properly surveyed to find a suitable site to build the airfield. A very quick survey of the coast located a tidal marsh which underneath was a firm foundation of sand and gravel. Work began on 2 September with an enclosing dike being constructed around the marsh and a system of drainage canals being constructed to drain off the water, then scrape off the topsoil to reach the gravel underneath. Additional gravel was put down and a sand runway was laid down. By 10 September enough construction had been completed that a 73d Bomb Squadron B-18 Bolo successfully landed on the runway. A 5'000 ft Pierced Steel Planking was laid down shortly afterward and the transports from the 42d Troop Carrier Squadron arrived the following day, landing on compacted sand next to where the matting was being laid.