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UNITED STATES. DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR. NATIONAL PARK SERVICE. HISTORIC AMERICAN ENGINEERING RECORDS. NAVAL OPERATING BASE, KODIAK, ALASKA. Report and Plan; 1940, 1984. 1 cu. ft. Inventory.
Construction of a Navy seaplane and submarine base in Kodiak, Alaska began in September, 1938. The Kodiak Naval Operating Base included a naval air station with facilities for both land and seaplanes, a submarine base, net depot, ammunition and fuel storage, docks and piers, and provisioning facilities. The Fort Greely Army post was established on Kodiak in September, 1941. Coast artillery battaries and antiaircraft positions were constructed in 1941, and the permanent batteries were designated as Forts Abercrombie, J. H. Smith, and Tidball. Kodiak served as the joint Army and Navy command post for Alaska operations from 1942 until March, 1943 when Army operations moved to Adak. It also served as a base for the Eleventh Air Force's medium and heavy bombers. Fort Greely was placed in caretaker status in December, 1944, and the naval submarine base was decommissioned in May, 1945, but the naval air station continued to be active throughout the war. Afterwards it was turned to civilian use, eventually becoming a Coast Guard support center. Fort Abercrombie was later designated as a state historical park. In 1984, the Kodiak Naval Operating Base and Forts Greely and Abercrombie were nominated for inclusion in the National Register of Historic Places. The Kodiak Naval Operating Base was made an historic landmark and included in the Historic American Buildings Survey in 1988.
The collection consists of a copy of the report nominating the Kodiak Naval Operating Base and Forts Greely and Abercrombie for inclusion in the National Register of Historic Places and 45 architectural plans of the Engine Overhaul and Aircraft Maintenance Shop of the Kodiak Naval Operating Base.
The collection was presented to the Archives and Special Collections Department by the National Park Service in 1988.
HMC-0287