Shemya photos, page 2 (Post-WWII)
www.hlswilliwaw.com
1. In 1975 a contingency of Metrology (PMEL) troops was sent to Shemya to establish a calibration laboratory. Here's a picture of the motley crew standing in front of a building that was very close to our beginnings. Click HERE for more info about the PMEL Lab. (George L Smith, Coord J6). Click HERE for larger image.
2. One of the few forms of entertainment on "the Rock" was attending one of the numerous Island "Smokehouses." It was akin to going to your neighborhood bar. They were replete with bumper pool tables, an excellent lineup of beverages, and even an occasional "movie." Just think, the Coast Guard guys on Attu came to Shemya for R&R! (George Blood, Coord N6)
3. Speaking of landing by boat...this was one of the Cool Barges used to supply Shemya. This was Barge #18, grounded on her maiden voyage in 1958. The view is towards Alcan Bay. As you can see, it wasn't always that easy to park at the dock! Once stranded on Shemya, it became a source of scrap metal for various construction projects on Shemya. (George L. Smith, Coord E5)
4. At the end of WWII, a cache of ammo was dumped over the cliff on the southeast end of the Island (known as “50 cal. Beach”) and allegedly set on fire. The resulting melt-down of the brass casings and re- solidification in the water formed little "nuggets.” Someone picked up an old tracer shell, put it in their pocket where it warmed up, dried off, and began to smolder burning their leg! That's me in the picture. 1975-1976 (George L. Smith, Coord W9)
5. Here's a close-up view of Shemya nuggets as mentioned above. This shot was taken about 1977. (George Blood, Coord W9)
6. You can see in this picture the beginnings of a rail- lined sidewalk. The rails served two purposes...one to guide you from place to place in the fog, the other to give you something to hold on to when the wind blew (sometimes in excess of 100 mph). (George Blood. Coord J5)
7. This picture is the same as the one above, after the "fog monster" departed. Some of the Island’s older radomes and radars can be seen in the background. (George Blood. Coord J5)
8. This aircraft didn't survive. "Rivet Ball," otherwise known as "Nancy Rae" then later renamed to "Wanda Belle," Model JKC-135A/RC-135S, Tail # 59-1491, crashed at Shemya AFS during landing operations on the 13th of January, 1969 at around 12:30am. Jim Alspaugh put about 500 hours behind the throttle of this modified KC-135 in 1965. There were major concerns about a North-South wind with an East-West runway! For photo of Wanda Bell taxiing, click here. (George L. Smith. Coord B8).
9. The C5s and C-141s were our supply workhorses. Shemya has a 10,000 foot grooved runway which made landingings a little less hazardous under some of Shemya's foulest weather. Transported Power Station Components for Cobra Dane. (George L. Smith, Coord L10).
10. Here's another shot of America’s old protective electronic “eyes,” the FPS-17 radar antennas. Taken around 1977. (George Blood, Coord L3)
One Of Several Shemya Island "Smoke Houses!" [George Blood] One Of Several Shemya Island "Smoke Houses!" [George Blood]
A "Cool Barge" That Didn't Survive One Of The Aleutian's Violent Storms. [George L. Smith] A "Cool Barge" That Didn't Survive One Of The Aleutian's Violent Storms. [George L. Smith]
George Smith Exploring The "50 Cal. Beach." [George L. Smith] George Smith Exploring The "50 Cal. Beach." [George L. Smith]
"Shemya Nuggets" As Found At 50 Cal. Beach. [George Blood] "Shemya Nuggets" As Found At 50 Cal. Beach. [George Blood]
Walk-way In The Fog To GE Radomes. [George Blood] Walk-way In The Fog To GE Radomes. [George Blood]
Walk-way to GE Radomes, No Fog! [George Blood] Walk-way to GE Radomes, No Fog! [George Blood]
The Remains of JKC-135A (RC-135S) Recon Aircraft on Shemya. [George L. Smith] The Remains of JKC-135A (RC-135S) Recon Aircraft on Shemya. [George L. Smith]
C5 Landing at Shemya AFS. [George L. Smith] C5 Landing at Shemya AFS. [George L. Smith]
Shemya's FPS-17 Radar Antenntas. [George Blood] Shemya's FPS-17 Radar Antenntas. [George Blood]
Current Update: 07/30/2022 23:05
Shemya photos, page 2 (Post-WWII)
www.hlswilliwaw.com
1. In 1975 a contingency of Metrology (PMEL) troops was sent to Shemya to establish a calibration laboratory. Here's a picture of the motley crew standing in front of a building that was very close to our beginnings. Click HERE for more info about the PMEL Lab. (George L Smith, Coord J6). Click HERE for larger image.
2. One of the few forms of entertainment on "the Rock" was attending one of the numerous Island "Smokehouses." It was akin to going to your neighborhood bar. They were replete with bumper pool tables, an excellent lineup of beverages, and even an occasional "movie." Just think, the Coast Guard guys on Attu came to Shemya for R&R! (George Blood, Coord N6)
3. Speaking of landing by boat...this was one of the Cool Barges used to supply Shemya. This was Barge #18, grounded on her maiden voyage in 1958. The view is towards Alcan Bay. As you can see, it wasn't always that easy to park at the dock! Once stranded on Shemya, it became a source of scrap metal for various construction projects on Shemya. (George L. Smith, Coord E5)
4. At the end of WWII, a cache of ammo was dumped over the cliff on the southeast end of the Island (known as “50 cal. Beach”) and allegedly set on fire. The resulting melt- down of the brass casings and re- solidification in the water formed little "nuggets.” Someone picked up an old tracer shell, put it in their pocket where it warmed up, dried off, and began to smolder burning their leg! That's me in the picture. 1975-1976 (George L. Smith, Coord W9)
5. Here's a close-up view of Shemya nuggets as mentioned above. This shot was taken about 1977. (George Blood, Coord W9)
6. You can see in this picture the beginnings of a rail-lined sidewalk. The rails served two purposes...one to guide you from place to place in the fog, the other to give you something to hold on to when the wind blew (sometimes in excess of 100 mph). (George Blood. Coord J5)
7. This picture is the same as the one above, after the "fog monster" departed. Some of the Island’s older radomes and radars can be seen in the background. (George Blood. Coord J5)
8. This aircraft didn't survive. "Rivet Ball," otherwise known as "Nancy Rae" then later renamed to "Wanda Belle," Model JKC-135A/RC-135S, Tail # 59-1491, crashed at Shemya AFS during landing operations on the 13th of January, 1969 at around 12:30am. Jim Alspaugh put about 500 hours behind the throttle of this modified KC-135 in 1965. There were major concerns about a North-South wind with an East-West runway! For photo of Wanda Bell taxiing, click here. (George L. Smith. Coord B8).
9. The C5s and C-141s were our supply workhorses. Shemya has a 10,000 foot grooved runway which made landingings a little less hazardous under some of Shemya's foulest weather. Transported Power Station Components for Cobra Dane. (George L. Smith, Coord L10).
10. Here's another shot of America’s old protective electronic “eyes,” the FPS-17 radar antennas. Taken around 1977. (George Blood, Coord L3)
One Of Several Shemya Island "Smoke Houses!" [George Blood] One Of Several Shemya Island "Smoke Houses!" [George Blood]
A "Cool Barge" That Didn't Survive One Of The Aleutian's Violent Storms. [George L. Smith] A "Cool Barge" That Didn't Survive One Of The Aleutian's Violent Storms. [George L. Smith]
George Smith Exploring The "50 Cal. Beach." [George L. Smith] George Smith Exploring The "50 Cal. Beach." [George L. Smith]
"Shemya Nuggets" As Found At 50 Cal. Beach. [George Blood] "Shemya Nuggets" As Found At 50 Cal. Beach. [George Blood]
Walk-way In The Fog To GE Radomes. [George Blood] Walk-way In The Fog To GE Radomes. [George Blood]
Walk-way to GE Radomes, No Fog! [George Blood] Walk-way to GE Radomes, No Fog! [George Blood]
The Remains of JKC-135A (RC-135S) Recon Aircraft on Shemya. [George L. Smith] The Remains of JKC-135A (RC-135S) Recon Aircraft on Shemya. [George L. Smith]
C5 Landing at Shemya AFS. [George L. Smith] C5 Landing at Shemya AFS. [George L. Smith]
Shemya's FPS-17 Radar Antenntas. [George Blood] Shemya's FPS-17 Radar Antenntas. [George Blood]
Current Update: 07/30/2022 23:05