Shemya Air Force Base photograph album

Shemya Air Force Base photograph album, circa 1946

Overview of the Collection

Creator: Hunter, Fred, Jr
Title: Shemya Air Force Base photograph album
Dates: circa 1946 (inclusive)
19461946
Quantity: 1 album with 66 photographs (1 box)
Collection Number: PH1289
Summary: Album of photographs of the Shemya Air Force Base in the Aleutian Islands during World War II
Repository: University of Washington Libraries, Special Collections
Special Collections
University of Washington Libraries
Box 352900
Seattle, WA
98195-2900
Telephone: 2065431929
Fax: 2065431931
speccoll@uw.edu
Access Restrictions: Permission of Visual Materials Curator required to view originals. Contact Special Collections for more information.
Additional Reference Guides
Languages: English

Historical BackgroundReturn to Top

The Shemya Air Force Base was built in 1943 on the western tip of Alaska's Aleutian Islands near Attu to act as a critical airport and reconnaissance point for the United States military's campaign against the Japanese during World War II. From 1943 to 1945, the air force base was used as a launching point for a number of bombing runs and major battles in the Pacific Theater, including missions on the nearby islands of Kiska and Attu. By the end of World War II in 1945, the base was abandoned aside from a small housekeeping unit and Radar squadron. The Shemya Air Force Base was renamed the Eareckson Air Station in 1993. The station closed as an active Air Force Station in 1994 but is still owned by the U.S. Air Force.

Content DescriptionReturn to Top

Photographs of soldiers, landscapes, and buildings on the Shemya Air Force Base, taken between 1945 and 1946. A number of the photographs depict Fred Hunter, Jr. who most likely created the album.

Other Descriptive InformationReturn to Top

Many photographs mention a "Det. Sig. Sec - A.D", which means "Detachment Signal Section - Air Defense". The initials "A.T.S" most likely stand for "Air Traffic Service", but "Air Transit Station" is another possible alternative.

Use of the CollectionReturn to Top

Restrictions on Use

Restrictions may exist on reproduction, quotation, or publication. Contact Special Collections, University of Washington Libraries for details.

Administrative InformationReturn to Top

Acquisition Information

Source: Fairlook Antiques, August 19, 2014.

Processing Note

Processed by Gracie Loesser, 2014; Martin Sloot, 2015. Processing completed in 2015.

Detailed Description of the CollectionReturn to Top

Shemya Air Force Base AlbumReturn to Top

Container(s)		Description	Dates
Page	item
1	1	Private First Class, Fred Hunter, Jr. standing in front of house	circa 1941-1946
2	2a	Fred Hunter Jr. and woman standing on steps in front of statue	circa 1941-1946
2	2b	Fred Hunter, Jr. working at a drafting desk	circa 1941-1946
3	3	Woman sitting in front of building	circa 1941-1946
4	4	Fred Hunter, Jr. leaning against drafting desk, Shemya Air Force Base Written on photo: "P.F.C. Hunter, Jr. - Det. Sig. Sec - A.D. Shemya Isle - Jan. 1946. Love Fred". Written on verso: "Drafting office where I work in the Det Sig Sec".	January 1946
5	5a	Man leaning against snow-covered shed, Shemya Air Force Base	circa 1946
5	5b	Dick and Vanderperren standing inside Hut #7, Shemya Air Force Base Written on verso: Dick and Van in Hut #7 on Shemya Isle - Dec. 1945	December 1945
5	5c	Fred Hunter, Jr. and Vanderperren standing inside Hut #7, Shemya Air Force Base	December 1945
6	6a	Landscape with snow, Shemya Air Force Base	circa 1946
6	6b	Snow-covered huts, Shemya Air Force Base	circa 1946
6	6c	Post Signal office on Shemya Isle, Shemya Air Force Base	circa 1946
7	7a	Vanderperren standing by truck, Shemya Air Force Base	circa 1946
7	7b	View of Snow-covered buildings, Shemya Air Force Base	circa 1946
7	7c	Corporal Vanderperren, Sergeant Feldhausen, and Sergeant Bennett, Shemya Air Force Base	January 1946
8	8a	Snow-covered buildings, Shemya Air Force Base	circa 1946
8	8b	Post Signal office covered in snow, Shemya Air Force Base	circa 1946
8	8c	Snow trucks, Shemya Air Force Base	circa 1946
8	8d	Building with snowy landscape, Shemya Air Force Base	circa 1946
9	9a	Snow-covered hillside cemetery, Shemya Air Force Base	March 1946
9	9b	Fuel dump on North Shore Road, Shemya Air Force Base	March 1946
9	9c	View of dock area, Shemya Air Force Base	March 1946
9	9d	Fred Hunter, Jr. and four men sitting on fence, Shemya Air Force Base	circa 1946
10	10a	Main post exchange, Shemya Air Force Base	March 1946
10	10b	Hanger, Shemya Air Force Base	March 1946
10	10c	Sergeant Feldhausen and dumptrucks, Shemya Air Force Base	March 1946
10	10d	Bomb dump site, Shemya Air Force Base	March 1946
11	11a	View from Shemya Base Written on verso: snowed in hut on Shemya.	circa 1946
11	11b	Trucks and equipment, Shemya Air Force Base Written on verso: obsolete equipment on Shemya, The Aleutians, Vauder	March 1946
11	11c	Five men posing in front of base, Shemya Air Force Base Written on verso: Beagle	circa 1946
12	12a	View of harbor at Shemya Isle	1946
12	12b	View of A.T.S. area with buildings and people, Shemya Air Force Base A.T.S. most likely means "Air Traffic Service".	January 1946
13	13a	Fred Hunter, Jr. sitting on snow-covered hill in front of smoke, Shemya Air Force Base	circa 1946
13	13b	View of building on fire, Shemya Air Force Base Written on verso: ATS motor pool fire.	January 1946
14	14a	Man standing in front of snowy landscape, Shemya Air Force Base Written on verso: Rich.	1946
14	14b	Fred Hunter, Jr. standing in front of base, Shemya Air Force Base	circa 1946
15	15a	Man standing in front of snow-covered buildings, Shemya Air Force Base Written on verso: Rich.	circa 1946
15	15b	Building on Fire, Shemya Air Force Base Written on verso: "A.T.S. Motor Pool fire- Shemya 1946".	January 1946
16	16a	Man in front of buildings, Shemya Air Force Base Written on verso: Rich.	1946
16	16b	Fred Hunter, Jr. in front of building, Shemya Air Force Base Written on verso: in front of Hut #7 PFC Hunter.	circa 1946
17	17a	Interior of base building, Shemya Air Force Base Written on verso: Hut #7 - Det Sig Sec - A.D.	March 1946
17	17b	View of snow-covered buildings, Shemya Air Force Base Written on verso: rear of hut #7 (near) and supply hut, same photo as 18b.	1946
18	18a	View of A.T.S. motor pool fire with crowd of men watching, Shemya Air Force Base Written on Verso: A.T.S. motor pool fire Jan 1946 Shemya.	January 1946
18	18b	View of snow-covered buildings, Shemya Air Force Base Same photo as 17b.	1946
19	19a	Man standing in the snow, Shemya Air Force Base Written on verso: Rich Shemya 1946.	1946
19	19b	Man working on car engine	circa 1946
20	20a	Man holding flowers on a hill	circa 1946
20	20b	View of dock and shore on Shemya Isle	March 1946
21	21a	View of walkways with base in background, Shemya Air Force Base	circa 1946
21	21b	View of Shemya with base and ocean in background	circa 1946
22	22a	Two men standing on wooden platform, Shemya Air Force Base	circa 1946
22	22b	Fred Hunter, Jr. and two men standing on wooden platform, Shemya Air Force Base	circa 1946
23	23a	Fueling station, Shemya Air Force Base	circa 1946
23	23b	Three men standing in front of Shemya Air Transport Office, Shemya Air Force Base	circa 1946
24	24	Sick seal lying on beach Written on verso: sick seal on the beach here and they shot it afterward Dec 1945 Shemya.	December 1945
25	25a	Docks at Shemya Isle with man standing on beach, Shemya Air Force Base	March 1946
25	25b	Trucks and equipment in snow, Shemya Air Force Base Written on verso: equipment standing idle on Shemya Island, the Aleutians Mar. 1946.	March 1946
25	25c	Docks on Shemya Isle	March 1946
26	26a	Fred Hunter, Jr. and two men standing in the snow, Shemya Air Force Base	circa 1946
26	26b	Four men standing in front of Shemya Air Transport Office, Shemya Air Force Base	circa 1946
27	27a	Fred Hunter, Jr. with cigarette, Shemya Air Force Base	circa 1946
27	27b	Fred Hunter, Jr., Shemya Air Force Base	circa 1946
28	28	Staff Sgt. Donald E. Tuttle on the phone, Shemya Air Force Base Written on verso: Chief Cable Splicer - Det Sig Sec ALS Dept Shemya Isle.	May 1946
29	29	Fred Hunter, Jr. at switchboard Written on verso: Pvt F.W. Hunter Jr. Nugget Switchboard Dec. 1945 Det. Sig Sec. - Als Dept. Shemya Isle.	December 1945
30	30	First Lieutenant George L. Pierson sitting at his desk Written on verso: Commanding officer of Det. Sig Sec. ALS Dept 11/4/46.	November 1946
31	31	Group of soldiers sitting on bench	circa 1946

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