"Leaves of Paulownia tree will drop-an ill omen - Japanese military govt. will be destroyed. Sorrow and sadness forever. Before spring comes, American bombs will fall like leaves, bringing in much sadness and unhappiness"
Leaflet Dropped Over Japanese-
Occupied Kiska and Attu -
VILDA ASM-96-26-1
Essential Questions
Explain how Alaska's location was considered "strategic" during World War II. What were the war activities/events that supported the perspective of "strategic" Alaska?
Knocking Out Attu #3, June 1943
VILDA UAF-1970--11-40
- The conduct of war presents incredible challenges as well as opportunities. These impact the economy of the country as well a the daily lives of all participants. Describe the challenges and opportunities unique to Alaska during World War II.
- Describe the legacy of World War II for Alaska. What happened in Alaska after the war that is largely attributable to WW II? What are Alaskans living with today that is attributable to WW II?
ENGAGE
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| Man Standing Beside a PBY Seaplane, Adak Is., 1942-44 (note the Marsden matting) Vilda UAA-hmc-0542-51f |
Taking Back the Islands
The Aleutian Campaign was the effort to push the Japanese off the islands of Attu and Kiska and to ensure that they would not have the means to use any of the Aleutian Islands as forward bases for further invasion and/or to inflict damage to any area of the United States.
The objective was not only military but also psychological; having American soil occupied by an enemy was a serious blow to the American sense of invulnerability. The campaign involved the Navy and the Army, and included the mobilization of civilian boats (fishing boats, passenger ships, barges, cargo ships) for transport of soldiers, sailors, and cargo. Navy planes and army air force planes were engaged in both aerial combat and bombing. The campaign began in early 1943 and was basically over by August 1943.
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| Laying Marsden Matting, Kiska Is. Sept. 1943 VILDA ASL-P80-077 |
It is important to note that the campaign, which lasted about eight months, was preceded by a massive military buildup which included the construction of navy and army air bases throughout the Aleutians.
A parallel buildup occurred throughout much of Alaska, with a focus on the coastal areas and the larger population centers. After the campaign, the bases in the Aleutians continued to be used for sending bombers to Japan and for surveillance.
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| Lt. Gen. Hoshimo Signing Surrender Papers 1943 VILDA ASL-P80-111 |
The casualty rate in the Aleutian campaign was high, with the Japanese suffering the greatest number of casualties.
American troops were also victims of the Aleutian weather, with high rates of frostbite and exposure.
A large number of the Japanese troops on Attu committed suicide rather than be captured.
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| Russian Officers in Briefing Room, Ladd Field 1943-45 VILDA UAF-1991-98-842 |
The Russians Are Coming!
The Lend-Lease Program was initiated by the U.S. to assist allies in the conduct of the war by providing a wide array of war materials. Most Americans are familiar with the loaning and leasing of materials to England and the European allies.
Less well known is that the U.S. provided tons of materials to the Soviet Union, with the goods entering the country via transport by ship through the Barents and White Seas, or by railroad west from Vladivostok.
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| Winter Scene at Ladd Field, Fairbanks Feb. 1944 - VILDA UAF 1991-98-840 |
The Alaska version of Lend-Lease was the Alaska -Siberia Project (ALSIB) which included the transport of nearly 8,000 planes from manufacturing plants in the Lower 48, across Canada, and to bases in Alaska for eventual transport to the USSR.
The first stop in Alaska was at Ladd Field, now Fort Wainwright, in Fairbanks. At this point the planes were retrofitted for the westward journey. The Soviet pilots picked up the planes at Ladd Field, which required that a contingent of Soviet pilots, interpreters, and support staff be stationed at the Alaska base.
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| ALSIB Lend-Lease Route to Russia, Alaska at War 1941-1945, The Forgotten War Remembered pg. 328 |
Once the Soviet pilots left Ladd Field, they flew to Nome for refueling and then continued west across the expanse of Siberia. In the USSR different flight crews flew different legs of the route delivering the planes for final assignment on the Eastern Front.
These planes, P-39s, P-40s, A-20s, and B-25s played an integral role in several battles, including the Battle of Kursk.
The program lasted from 1942-45, and the details of this World War II story are worth exploring. How did the pilots who ferried the planes to Ladd Field navigate across Canada? They followed the CANOL pipeline and the new ALCAN Highway!
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| ibid, pg. 330 |
Were any planes and pilots lost in this effort? Yes, 133 planes went down, 1.6% of all those delivered to the USSR. Several of the Soviet pilots who went down in Alaska are buried at Fort Richardson near Anchorage.
Was this project secret? Yes, initially. Stalin was very concerned about the Japanese finding out about this project, as the USSR was not at war with Japan. How did the Soviet personnel adapt to life in Fairbanks, and how did Alaskans react to them?
Read from the ALSIB and the Air Transport Command below to find out! Have fun exploring this little known aspect of Alaska's World War II history.
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| Ready for an Unlikely Caller - Amchitka Island May 1943 VILDA UAF 1970-11-12 |
EXAMINE
- Describe the major events in the Aleutian Campaign of World War II.
- What was the rationale for the Lend-Lease ALSIB project?
- How did the Aleutian Campaign and the ALSIB project impact the local population in the affected areas?
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| First Photos of Our Attack on Attu, May 11, 1943 VILDA UAF-1970-11-32 |
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| Black Troops in Aleutians,Attu, 1942-45 VILDA AMRC-b98-25-192 |
EXPLORE
The Aleutian Campaign
From Alaska's Heritage:
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Alaska and the World - Read Chap. 4-7. This chapter provides an overview of WW II in Alaska, with an emphasis on the Aleutian Campaign.
First Photo of Yank Landing on Attu,
May 1943 - VILDA UAF-1970-11-30
For those of you with a particular interest in more detail, this U.S. Army publication offers more, plus very good maps and photos.
EXPLORE SOME MORE....
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| Miss Nathalie Fenelonova, Interpreter, 1942-45 - VILDA UAF-1991-98-865 |
The Lend-Lease Alaska-Siberia (Al-Sib) Project Take a look at some helpful websites. Some material is repeated in the sources, but each offers some unique information or maps/photos.
- ALSIB and the Air Transport Command - Excellent source from the military historians; great maps and photos. If you only have time for one website, use this one.
- ALSIB Connection - Photo collection and air route description, written by Russian aviator and journalist - This is his website.
- ALSIB Lend Lease History - Skim through the details here to get a good overview of the Alaska version of the Lend Lease project. There is a very good map of the NW Ferry Route - the path taken by the American aircraft through Canada, Alaska, and the USSR to get to the Eastern Front.
- The NW Air Route to Alaska - For even greater detail and a chart of the planes delivered month by month from 1943-45, this would be an interesting site to peruse.
- Alaska-Siberia Research Center - Explains the Lend-Lease Memorial Project which resulted in the sculpture which is in downtown Fairbanks.
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| ALSIB Lend-Lease Memorial, Fairbanks Alaska-Siberia Research Center |
What's Next?
