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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)
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.

Request at UW

Additional Reference Guides

Languages
English
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Historical Background

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.

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Content Description

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.

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Other Descriptive Information

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.

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Use of the Collection

Restrictions on Use

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

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Administrative Information

Acquisition Information

Source: Fairlook Antiques, August 19, 2014.

Processing Note

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

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Detailed Description of the Collection

 

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Corporate Names

  • Eareckson Air Station (Alaska)--Photographs

Form or Genre Terms

  • Photographic prints

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Subject Terms

  • Visual Materials Collections (University of Washington)


2015 (Last modified: 4/19/2018)

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