University of Washington Libraries, Special Collections
PH1289
Hunter, Fred, Jr
Shemya Air Force Base photograph album
circa 1946
1 album with 66 photographs (1 box)
Collection materials are inEnglish.
Album of photographs of the Shemya Air Force Base in the Aleutian Islands during World War II
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.
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.
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.
Permission of Visual Materials Curator required to view originals. Contact Special Collections for more information.
Request at UW
Restrictions may exist on reproduction, quotation, or publication. Contact Special Collections, University of Washington Libraries for details.
Source: Fairlook Antiques, August 19, 2014.
Processed by Gracie Loesser, 2014; Martin Sloot, 2015. Processing completed in 2015.
Eareckson Air Station (Alaska)--Photographs
Photographic prints
Visual Materials Collections (University of Washington)
Photographs
Military
Shemya Air Force Base Album
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
January 1946
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".
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
December 1945
Written on verso: Dick and Van in Hut #7 on Shemya Isle - Dec. 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
circa 1946
Written on verso: snowed in hut on Shemya.
11
11b
Trucks and equipment, Shemya Air Force Base
March 1946
Written on verso: obsolete equipment on Shemya, The Aleutians, Vauder
11
11c
Five men posing in front of base, Shemya Air Force Base
circa 1946
Written on verso: Beagle
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
January 1946
A.T.S. most likely means "Air Traffic Service".
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
January 1946
Written on verso: ATS motor pool fire.
14
14a
Man standing in front of snowy landscape, Shemya Air Force Base
1946
Written on verso: Rich.
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
circa 1946
Written on verso: Rich.
15
15b
Building on Fire, Shemya Air Force Base
January 1946
Written on verso: "A.T.S. Motor Pool fire- Shemya 1946".
16
16a
Man in front of buildings, Shemya Air Force Base
1946
Written on verso: Rich.
16
16b
Fred Hunter, Jr. in front of building, Shemya Air Force Base
circa 1946
Written on verso: in front of Hut #7 PFC Hunter.
17
17a
Interior of base building, Shemya Air Force Base
March 1946
Written on verso: Hut #7 - Det Sig Sec - A.D.
17
17b
View of snow-covered buildings, Shemya Air Force Base
1946
Written on verso: rear of hut #7 (near) and supply hut, same photo as 18b.
18
18a
View of A.T.S. motor pool fire with crowd of men watching, Shemya Air Force Base
January 1946
Written on Verso: A.T.S. motor pool fire Jan 1946 Shemya.
18
18b
View of snow-covered buildings, Shemya Air Force Base
1946
Same photo as 17b.
19
19a
Man standing in the snow, Shemya Air Force Base
1946
Written on verso: Rich Shemya 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
December 1945
Written on verso: sick seal on the beach here and they shot it afterward Dec 1945 Shemya.
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
March 1946
Written on verso: equipment standing idle on Shemya Island, the Aleutians Mar. 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
May 1946
Written on verso: Chief Cable Splicer - Det Sig Sec ALS Dept Shemya Isle.
29
29
Fred Hunter, Jr. at switchboard
December 1945
Written on verso: Pvt F.W. Hunter Jr. Nugget Switchboard Dec. 1945 Det. Sig Sec. - Als Dept. Shemya Isle.
30
30
First Lieutenant George L. Pierson sitting at his desk
November 1946
Written on verso: Commanding officer of Det. Sig Sec. ALS Dept 11/4/46.
31
31
Group of soldiers sitting on bench
circa 1946