Екінші дүниелік соғысындағы Аляска-Сибір әуе жолы

Air route in Alaska and northern/western Canada during World War II

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 (ALaska SIBerian air road).

The route was developed in 1942 for several reasons. Initially, the 7th Ferrying Group, Ferrying Command, United States Army Air Corps (later Air Transport Command) at Gore Field (Great Falls Municipal Airport) was ordered to organize and develop an air route to send assistance to the Soviet Union through Northern Canada, across Alaska and the Bering Sea to Siberia, and eventually over to the Eastern Front. The US Canadian Permanent Joint Board on Defense decided in the autumn of 1940 that a string of airports should be constructed at Canadian expense between the city of Edmonton in central Alberta and the Alaska Yukon border. Late in 1941 the Canadian government reported that rough landing fields had been completed. With the outbreak of war, American lines of communication with Alaska by sea were seriously threatened and alternative routes had to be opened. The string of airports through the lonely tundra and forests of northwest Canada provided an air route to Alaska which was practically invulnerable to attack, and it seemed to be in U. S. interests to develop them and open a highway which would at once be a service road for the airports and a means for transporting essential supplies to the Alaskan outposts. In response, the United States Army began building the Alaskan Highway. The route of the Alaska Highway, which was built to provide a land route to Alaska, basically connected the airfields together. Edmonton became the headquarters of the Alaskan Wing, Air Transport Command. In addition to the Lend Lease aircraft, Alaskan Eleventh Air Force aircraft were also ferried up the NSR, with the aircraft being flown to Elmendorf Field, near Anchorage from RCAF Station Whitehorse upon their arrival. The Russians set up a command at Ladd Field and Nome where their pilots were trained to take over the aircraft and fly them to Krasnoyarsk in Siberia and on to various fronts in western Russia. The first group of Russian pilots arrived at Nome on 14 August 1942 on their way to Ladd Field. Along with the pilots were civilians from the Soviet Purchasing Commission and a group of Red Air Force mechanics. Most were located at Ladd, with a secondary group at Marks Field. The first Lend Lease aircraft, a group of twelve A 20 Havocs, arrived at Ladd on 3 September 1942. The first Russian pilots, after five days of training on the aircraft, took off for Nome and the long trip to the Eastern Front. Initially the USAAF provided the initial training on how to operate and maintain the Lend Lease aircraft. Later, after an experienced cadre was developed, the Russians assumed the responsibility. The Russians also meticulously inspected each aircraft, and would reject any aircraft that presented the slightest problem. The USAAF was then left with the chore of correcting them. It was sometimes quite exasperating, as the USAAF would work long hours of overtime to get the aircraft into first class condition so that all the Russians had to do was fly them from Fairbanks to the Eastern Front. Thirteen Red Air Force pilots were buried in the Fort Richardson cemetery. Name Location Coordinates Notes Gambell Army Air Field AK Final refueling stop prior to aircraft being flown into Soviet airspace Marks Field AK Final servicing point for aircraft; 1469th AAFBU ATC Alaskan Division. Galena Airport AK Refueling/servicing airfield; 1468th AAFBU ATC Alaskan Division. Ladd Field AK Was main transfer point for Lend Lease aircraft from United States ATC pilots to Soviet Red Air Force pilots; aircraft then flown to Siberia after transfer. Mile 26 Field AK Axillary for Ladd AAB Big Delta Army Air Field AK Refueling/servicing airfield; 1464th AAFBU ATC Alaskan Division. Tanacross Air Base AK Refueling/servicing airfield; 1464th AAFBU ATC Alaskan Division. Northway Army Air Field AK Refueling/servicing airfield; 1463d AAFBU ATC Alaskan Division. Snag YT Abandoned. Emergency landing strip, constructed 1941 by Canadian government Burwash Landing YT Emergency landing strip, constructed 1941 by Canadian government Silver City YT Emergency landing strip, constructed 1941 by Canadian government Aishihik YT Abandoned, Emergency airstrip, constructed 1941 by Canadian government Pine Lake YT Auxiliary refueling/servicing airfield, constructed 1941 by Canadian government Champagne YT Emergency landing strip, constructed 1941 by Canadian government Cousins YT Emergency landing strip RCAF Station Whitehorse YT Refueling/servicing airfield; 1462d AAFBU ATC Alaskan Division; also known as Whitehorse Army Air Base. Remained as joint RCAF/USAF base until about 1949; hosted Det.3, 1701st Air Transport Wing (MATS) Squanga Lake YT Emergency landing strip Teslin Lake YT Emergency landing strip Pine Lake YT Emergency landing strip (a. k. a. Daughney Aerodrome) Watson Lake/Liard River YT Refueling/servicing airfield; 1461st AAFBU ATC Alaskan Division. Smith River BC Emergency landing strip Fort Nelson BC Was main refueling/servicing point on route; 1460th AAFBU ATC Alaskan Division. Remained as joint RCAF/USAF base until about 1949; hosted Det.2, 1701st Air Transport Wing (MATS) Prophet River BC Emergency landing strip Beatton River BC Emergency landing strip Sikanni Chief BC Emergency landing strip Fort St. John BC Refueling/servicing airfield; 1459th AAFBU ATC Alaskan Division. RCAF Station Dawson Creek BC Auxiliary refueling/servicing airfield Beaverlodge AB Emergency landing strip Grande Prairie AB Refueling/servicing airfield; 1457th AAFBU ATC Alaskan Division. DeBolt AB Emergency landing strip Valleyview AB Emergency landing strip Fox Creek AB Emergency landing strip Whitecourt AB Emergency landing strip Mayerthorpe AB Emergency landing strip Birch Lake AB Auxiliary airfield; now abandoned and obliterated RCAF Station Namao AB Opened 1 November 1944. Additional Hub/refueling/servicing airfield in Edmonton. Remained as joint RCAF/USAF base until about 1949; hosted Det.1, 1701st Air Transport Wing (MATS) RCAF Station Edmonton AB Activated 17 October 1942. Was HQ, Alaskan Wing, ATC; Hub/refueling/servicing airfield; 1450th/1451st/1452d AAFBU. Great Falls Edmonton Ponoka AB Emergency landing strip Lacombe AB Emergency landing strip RCAF Station Penhold AB Auxiliary refueling/servicing airfield (now Red Deer Regional Airport) Innisfail AB Emergency landing strip Olds AB Auxiliary refueling/servicing airfield Carstairs AB Emergency landing strip Airdrie AB Auxiliary refueling/servicing airfield Calgary AB Refueling/servicing airfield; 1457th AAFBU ATC Alaskan Division. Okotoks AB Emergency airstrip High River AB Auxiliary refueling/servicing airfield Nanton AB 2 x 2000 feet (610 m) runway auxiliary refueling/servicing airfield, now abandoned and obliterated as farmland RCAF Station Claresholm AB Axillary refueling/servicing airfield (now Claresholm Industrial Airport) RCAF Station Lethbridge AB Axillary refueling/servicing airfield (now Lethbridge County Airport) Shelby MT Auxiliary refueling/servicing airfield Conrad MT Auxiliary refueling/servicing airfield Gore Field MT 557th AAFBU, Ferrying Division, ATC; Group assembly and dispatch airfield for Lend lease aircraft (now Great Falls International Airport) Great Falls Army Air Base MT HQ, Northwest Sector, Domestic Wing, ATC; Group assembly and servicing airfield for Lend lease aircraft; passenger point of Embarkation (now Malmstrom Air Force Base) Minneapolis Edmonton Vegreville AB Emergency landing airfield Vermillion AB Emergency landing airfield Lloydminster SK Emergency landing airfield (closed about 1981 now abandoned, replaced by new airport on Alberta side of border) RCAF Station North Battleford SK Refueling/servicing airfield (now North Battleford Airport) RCAF Station Saskatoon SK Refueling/servicing airfield (now Saskatoon John G. Diefenbaker International Airport) Humboldt SK Emergency landing airfield Yorkton SK Refueling/servicing airfield Russell MB Emergency landing airfield Shoal Lake MB Emergency landing airfield Minnedosa MB Emergency landing airfield Neepawa MB Refueling/servicing airfield RCAF Station Portage la Prairie MB Refueling/servicing airfield (now Portage la Prairie/Southport Airport) RCAF Station Winnipeg MB Refueling/servicing airfield (now CFB Winnipeg) Grand Forks ND Refueling/servicing airfield (note: NOT the current Grand Forks International Airport or Grand Forks AFB. This facility was closed after the war, and the land redeveloped) Fargo ND Refueling/servicing airfield; 575th AAFBU Alexandria MN Refueling/servicing airfield St. Cloud MN Refueling/servicing airfield Wold/Chamberlain Field MN 1454th AAFBU, Alaskan Division, ATC (Station 11). Initially group assembly and dispatch airfield for Lend lease aircraft; after 1943 controlled by Northwest Airlines under contract, coordinated passenger and cargo travelling on Northwest Staging Route. (now Minneapolis Saint Paul International Airport)

The route was developed in 1942 for several reasons. Initially, the 7th Ferrying Group, Ferrying Command, United States Army Air Corps (later Air Transport Command) at Gore Field (Great Falls Municipal Airport) was ordered to organize and develop an air route to send assistance to the Soviet Union through Northern Canada, across Alaska and the Bering Sea to Siberia, and eventually over to the Eastern Front. The US Canadian Permanent Joint Board on Defense decided in the autumn of 1940 that a string of airports should be constructed at Canadian expense between the city of Edmonton in central Alberta and the Alaska Yukon border. Late in 1941 the Canadian government reported that rough landing fields had been completed. With the outbreak of war, American lines of communication with Alaska by sea were seriously threatened and alternative routes had to be opened. The string of airports through the lonely tundra and forests of northwest Canada provided an air route to Alaska which was practically invulnerable to attack, and it seemed to be in U. S. interests to develop them and open a highway which would at once be a service road for the airports and a means for transporting essential supplies to the Alaskan outposts. In response, the United States Army began building the Alaskan Highway. The route of the Alaska Highway, which was built to provide a land route to Alaska, basically connected the airfields together. Edmonton became the headquarters of the Alaskan Wing, Air Transport Command. In addition to the Lend Lease aircraft, Alaskan Eleventh Air Force aircraft were also ferried up the NSR, with the aircraft being flown to Elmendorf Field, near Anchorage from RCAF Station Whitehorse upon their arrival. The Russians set up a command at Ladd Field and Nome where their pilots were trained to take over the aircraft and fly them to Krasnoyarsk in Siberia and on to various fronts in western Russia. The first group of Russian pilots arrived at Nome on 14 August 1942 on their way to Ladd Field. Along with the pilots were civilians from the Soviet Purchasing Commission and a group of Red Air Force mechanics. Most were located at Ladd, with a secondary group at Marks Field. The first Lend Lease aircraft, a group of twelve A 20 Havocs, arrived at Ladd on 3 September 1942. The first Russian pilots, after five days of training on the aircraft, took off for Nome and the long trip to the Eastern Front. Initially the USAAF provided the initial training on how to operate and maintain the Lend Lease aircraft. Later, after an experienced cadre was developed, the Russians assumed the responsibility. The Russians also meticulously inspected each aircraft, and would reject any aircraft that presented the slightest problem. The USAAF was then left with the chore of correcting them. It was sometimes quite exasperating, as the USAAF would work long hours of overtime to get the aircraft into first class condition so that all the Russians had to do was fly them from Fairbanks to the Eastern Front. Thirteen Red Air Force pilots were buried in the Fort Richardson cemetery. Name Location Coordinates Notes Gambell Army Air Field AK Final refueling stop prior to aircraft being flown into Soviet airspace Marks Field AK Final servicing point for aircraft; 1469th AAFBU ATC Alaskan Division. Galena Airport AK Refueling/servicing airfield; 1468th AAFBU ATC Alaskan Division. Ladd Field AK Was main transfer point for Lend Lease aircraft from United States ATC pilots to Soviet Red Air Force pilots; aircraft then flown to Siberia after transfer. Mile 26 Field AK Axillary for Ladd AAB Big Delta Army Air Field AK Refueling/servicing airfield; 1464th AAFBU ATC Alaskan Division. Tanacross Air Base AK Refueling/servicing airfield; 1464th AAFBU ATC Alaskan Division. Northway Army Air Field AK Refueling/servicing airfield; 1463d AAFBU ATC Alaskan Division. Snag YT Abandoned. Emergency landing strip, constructed 1941 by Canadian government Burwash Landing YT Emergency landing strip, constructed 1941 by Canadian government Silver City YT Emergency landing strip, constructed 1941 by Canadian government Aishihik YT Abandoned, Emergency airstrip, constructed 1941 by Canadian government Pine Lake YT Auxiliary refueling/servicing airfield, constructed 1941 by Canadian government Champagne YT Emergency landing strip, constructed 1941 by Canadian government Cousins YT Emergency landing strip RCAF Station Whitehorse YT Refueling/servicing airfield; 1462d AAFBU ATC Alaskan Division; also known as Whitehorse Army Air Base. Remained as joint RCAF/USAF base until about 1949; hosted Det.3, 1701st Air Transport Wing (MATS) Squanga Lake YT Emergency landing strip Teslin Lake YT Emergency landing strip Pine Lake YT Emergency landing strip (a. k. a. Daughney Aerodrome) Watson Lake/Liard River YT Refueling/servicing airfield; 1461st AAFBU ATC Alaskan Division. Smith River BC Emergency landing strip Fort Nelson BC Was main refueling/servicing point on route; 1460th AAFBU ATC Alaskan Division. Remained as joint RCAF/USAF base until about 1949; hosted Det.2, 1701st Air Transport Wing (MATS) Prophet River BC Emergency landing strip Beatton River BC Emergency landing strip Sikanni Chief BC Emergency landing strip Fort St. John BC Refueling/servicing airfield; 1459th AAFBU ATC Alaskan Division. RCAF Station Dawson Creek BC Auxiliary refueling/servicing airfield Beaverlodge AB Emergency landing strip Grande Prairie AB Refueling/servicing airfield; 1457th AAFBU ATC Alaskan Division. DeBolt AB Emergency landing strip Valleyview AB Emergency landing strip Fox Creek AB Emergency landing strip Whitecourt AB Emergency landing strip Mayerthorpe AB Emergency landing strip Birch Lake AB Auxiliary airfield; now abandoned and obliterated RCAF Station Namao AB Opened 1 November 1944. Additional Hub/refueling/servicing airfield in Edmonton. Remained as joint RCAF/USAF base until about 1949; hosted Det.1, 1701st Air Transport Wing (MATS) RCAF Station Edmonton AB Activated 17 October 1942. Was HQ, Alaskan Wing, ATC; Hub/refueling/servicing airfield; 1450th/1451st/1452d AAFBU. Great Falls Edmonton Ponoka AB Emergency landing strip Lacombe AB Emergency landing strip RCAF Station Penhold AB Auxiliary refueling/servicing airfield (now Red Deer Regional Airport) Innisfail AB Emergency landing strip Olds AB Auxiliary refueling/servicing airfield Carstairs AB Emergency landing strip Airdrie AB Auxiliary refueling/servicing airfield Calgary AB Refueling/servicing airfield; 1457th AAFBU ATC Alaskan Division. Okotoks AB Emergency airstrip High River AB Auxiliary refueling/servicing airfield Nanton AB 2 x 2000 feet (610 m) runway auxiliary refueling/servicing airfield, now abandoned and obliterated as farmland RCAF Station Claresholm AB Axillary refueling/servicing airfield (now Claresholm Industrial Airport) RCAF Station Lethbridge AB Axillary refueling/servicing airfield (now Lethbridge County Airport) Shelby MT Auxiliary refueling/servicing airfield Conrad MT Auxiliary refueling/servicing airfield Gore Field MT 557th AAFBU, Ferrying Division, ATC; Group assembly and dispatch airfield for Lend lease aircraft (now Great Falls International Airport) Great Falls Army Air Base MT HQ, Northwest Sector, Domestic Wing, ATC; Group assembly and servicing airfield for Lend lease aircraft; passenger point of Embarkation (now Malmstrom Air Force Base) Minneapolis Edmonton Vegreville AB Emergency landing airfield Vermillion AB Emergency landing airfield Lloydminster SK Emergency landing airfield (closed about 1981 now abandoned, replaced by new airport on Alberta side of border) RCAF Station North Battleford SK Refueling/servicing airfield (now North Battleford Airport) RCAF Station Saskatoon SK Refueling/servicing airfield (now Saskatoon John G. Diefenbaker International Airport) Humboldt SK Emergency landing airfield Yorkton SK Refueling/servicing airfield Russell MB Emergency landing airfield Shoal Lake MB Emergency landing airfield Minnedosa MB Emergency landing airfield Neepawa MB Refueling/servicing airfield RCAF Station Portage la Prairie MB Refueling/servicing airfield (now Portage la Prairie/Southport Airport) RCAF Station Winnipeg MB Refueling/servicing airfield (now CFB Winnipeg) Grand Forks ND Refueling/servicing airfield (note: NOT the current Grand Forks International Airport or Grand Forks AFB. This facility was closed after the war, and the land redeveloped) Fargo ND Refueling/servicing airfield; 575th AAFBU Alexandria MN Refueling/servicing airfield St. Cloud MN Refueling/servicing airfield Wold/Chamberlain Field MN 1454th AAFBU, Alaskan Division, ATC (Station 11). Initially group assembly and dispatch airfield for Lend lease aircraft; after 1943 controlled by Northwest Airlines under contract, coordinated passenger and cargo travelling on Northwest Staging Route. (now Minneapolis Saint Paul International Airport)