Gambell Army Airfield | |||||||||||
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| Summary | |||||||||||
| Airport type | Military | ||||||||||
| Owner | State of Alaska DOT&PF - Northern Region | ||||||||||
| Location | Gambell, Alaska | ||||||||||
| Built | 1943 | ||||||||||
| Elevation AMSL | 27 ft / 8 m | ||||||||||
| Coordinates | 63°46′00″N171°43′58″W / 63.76667°N 171.73278°W | ||||||||||
| Map | |||||||||||
  Gambell AAF Location of airport in Alaska | |||||||||||
| Runways | |||||||||||
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Source: Federal Aviation Administration [1] | |||||||||||
Gambell Army Airfield is a former United States Army airfield located in Gambell, a city in the Nome Census Area of the U.S. state of Alaska.
Gambell Army Airfield was used as a transport base during World War II, facilitating the transit of Lend-Lease aircraft to the Soviet Union. It was also used by the USAAF as an emergency landing field for aircraft patrolling the west coast of Alaska.
St. Lawrence Island is located west of mainland Alaska in the Bering Sea, just south of the Bering Strait. The village of Gambell, located on the northwest cape of the island, is 50 nautical miles from the Chukchi Peninsula in the Russian Far East. The island is part of Alaska, but closer to Russia and Asia than to the Alaskan and North American mainland. St. Lawrence Island is thought to be one of the last exposed portions of the land bridge that once joined Asia with North America during the Pleistocene period. It is the sixth largest island in the United States and the 113th largest island in the world. It is considered part of the Bering Sea Volcanic Province. The Saint Lawrence Island shrew is a species of shrew endemic to St. Lawrence Island. The island is jointly owned by the predominantly Siberian Yupik villages of Gambell and Savoonga, the two main settlements on the island.
The Northwest Staging Route was a series of airstrips, airport and radio ranging stations built in Alberta, British Columbia, Yukon and Alaska during World War II. It extended into the Soviet Union as the ALSIB.
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Gambell Airport is a public airport located in Gambell, a city in the Nome Census Area of the U.S. state of Alaska. The airport is owned by the state.
Marks Air Force Base is a former United States Air Force facility located two nautical miles (4 km) west of the central business district of Nome, a city in the Nome Census Area of the U.S. state of Alaska. It was named in honor of Major Jack S. Marks, a United States Army Air Forces pilot based at Ladd Army Airfield who died when his aircraft was shot down over the Aleutians in July 1942. Following its closure, it was redeveloped into Nome Airport.
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On February 27, 1974, a Soviet Antonov An-24LR "Toros" (CCCP-47195) ice reconnaissance aircraft landed at Gambell Airport, Alaska. The plane, carrying three crew members and twelve scientists, was en route to Anadyr, USSR. Due to strong winds, the pilot decided to divert to Provideniya, USSR, which was fogged in. The aircraft was low on fuel, so the crew chose to divert to Gambell, United States, located 62 miles (100 km) southeast of Provideniya, USSR, across the Bering Sea. The plane made a straight-in approach, and one of the engines quit shortly before landing due to fuel starvation.
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Tanacross Air Base is a former United States Army airfield located one nautical mile (2 km) south of the central business district of Tanacross, in the Southeast Fairbanks Census Area of the U.S. state of Alaska.
Northway Army Airfield is a former United States Army airfield located in Northway, a community located in the Southeast Fairbanks Census Area of the U.S. state of Alaska. During World War II for northbound Lend-Lease aircraft on the Northwest Staging Route, the flight strip at Northway was the first stop in the Territory of Alaska. It is now the state owned Northway Airport.
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This article incorporates public domain material from the Air Force Historical Research Agency
Previously: Alaskan Air Force (1941-1942) | |||||||||
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