Elder Point WWII Radar Site

 (1943-1946) - A World War II U.S. Army Radar Site established in 1943. Used to provide fire control information to large caliber (6" and above) coastal gun batteries in the Harbor Defense of Dutch Harbor against enemy warships. Located on Fort Learnard, Elder Point, Unalaska Island, Alaska Aleutians West (CA) Alaska. Closed in 1946.

History


Constructed on Fort Learnard and transferred for use on 30 Nov 1943 at Elder Point on Unalaska Island, Alaska. The physical plant consisted of a transmitter building, two powerhouses each with a 1000 gallon fuel tank and an antenna housing disguised as a Water tank atop a frame. The transmitter building and the antenna housing were prefabricated steel units furnished by the Signal Corps. The buildings and the circular antenna housing were placed on concrete pads and footings installed by the Corps of Engineers who erected all of the structures.

The radar equipment was installed by the Signal Corps. It required 16.3kW of 120/240 AC, 1 phase, 60 cycle power furnished by base power backed up by the two on-site generators. The two 25 kW generators were furnished and installed by the Signal Corps.

Site Operation
The Radar track data was provided by telephone to support Battery 298 as the primary battery and to secondary batteries including Battery 402. Battery 298 was a 6" gun battery located on Fort Learnard and Battery 402 was an 8" gun battery located on Fort Schwatka.

Closure
Closed by 1946. The SCR-296-A Radar equipment was declared obsolete by AG letter on 17 Jan 1946. The Tower and radar equipment were to be disposed of while the buildings were to be retained.

Current Status
A series of 2004 photos show the radar site with the two power plants collapsed with the debris of what looks like Quonset Hut like structures. The Radar Transmitter building still had the steel walls standing but the roofing was gone and parts of the ceiling were gone exposing the interior to the elemennts. The top and the sides of the antenna housing were collapsed.

See Also:
 * Fort Learnard
 * Battery 298
 * Battery 402
 * US Radar Sets
 * SCR-296-A Radar Set
 * Alaska WWII Radar Sites

Sources:


 * RCW-Corrected to 1 Aug 1944, CDSG.

Links:
 * SD Photos - SCR-296 Site Fort Learnard Excellent photos of the site circa 2004.