List of White Alice Communications System sites

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This is a list of White Alice Communications System sites. The White Alice Communications System (WACS) was a United States Air Force telecommunication link system constructed in Alaska during the Cold War. It featured tropospheric scatter links and line of sight microwave radio links.

These sites were part of the initial White Alice system and connected Aircraft Control and Warning (AC&W) sites with central command and control facilities. The Boswell Bay to Neklasson Lake link was both the first and last operational link in the White Alice system, serving from 1956 to 1985.

LocationOperationalColocated withCoordinatesNotesAniak, Alaska1958–1979N/AIn flight path for Aniak Airport and antennas were painted with a red and white checkerboard pattern. Anvil Mountain, Alaska1958–1978N/A7½ km (4.7 mi.) north of Nome, Alaska. Last intact existing site 2016. *Bear Creek, Alaska1958? 1979?N/AStand alone site with a dormitory and a equipment and power building approximately six miles northeast of Tanana, AlaskaBethel, Alaska1958–1979Former AC&W siteOriginally six antennas. Last antenna demolished in August 2011. Big Mountain, Alaska1957–1979N/ADemolished 2003–2005Boswell Bay, Alaska1956–1985N/ADemolished 1987 after extensive historical documentation. Fort Yukon, Alaska1958 UKN709th AC&WEst.120 ft antennas added in 1962 to Barter Island. Demolished Summer of 1999. Granite Mountain, Alaska1957–1976N/ALease to Alascom 1976. 4×60 ft, 2× 30 feet (9 m) dishesIndian Mountain, AlaskaAC&W / Long Range RADARTop camp was around 4200 feet (1280 m) and 10 mile (16 km) away from bottom camp, which contained airfield and Geodesic dome support buildings. Kalakaket Creek, Alaska1957 N/AOriginally Tropo only, TD 2 microwave link added later. King Salmon, Alaska1957–1979King Salmon Air Force Station/LRRKotzebue, Alaska1957–1979AC&W station / FAA3 miles south of KotzebueCape Lisburne, Alaska1957–1979AC&W / Long range radar siteNorthernmost and only seasonal WACS, closed during winter. A $6.5 million composite building was constructed in 1970. Middleton Island, Alaska1956–1985AC&W station / FAA30 ft parabolic dishCape Newenham, Alaska1958–1979Originally AC&W, now Long Range RADAREst. Revamped in 1974 for $6 Million. Demolished by 1987. North River, Alaska1958–1978Near a former AC&W siteDemolished 1993–1995Northeast Cape, Alaska1958 AC&WA very remote site, demolished in 2003 for $10.5 million. The White Alice site was located about 1/2 mile from the USAF AC&W site. Pillar Mountain, Kodiak, Alaska1957–1979N/AEst. Dismantled in 1997Cape Romanzof, Alaska1958–1979AC&W / Minimally attended RADARUpper camp was accessible via tramway and by road. The AC&W site was located in the crater of an extinct volcano. The White Alice site was perched on, I believe, the west rim of the crater. Sparrevohn, Alaska1957–1979AC&WDemolished prior to 1987. Very costly construction, dangerous runway. Long Range RADAR still at site. Tatalina, Alaska1957–1979AC&W siteTram and road used to reach top camp. WACS located east of RADARs in Top camp. Tin City, Alaska1958–1975AC&W/Long range radarLocated on Cape Mountain. Tram used to reach top camp. WACS located on a 600 foot plateau 2 miles east of the peak and radar.

LocationOperationalColocated withCoordinatesNotesClam Gulch, Alaska1957 N/ATD 2 Microwave, Acquired by Alascom operating in 1987Naptowne, AlaskaN/ARabbit Creek, AlaskaN/AR1 N a. k. a. Anchorage1956 Located on Elmendorf Air Force BaseUnattended TD 2 microwave linkSoldotna, AlaskaN/AStarisky, AlaskaN/A

LocationOperationalColocated withCoordinatesNotesNeklasson Lake, Alaska1956–1985N/ABoswell Bay to Neklasson Lake was the last operational linkDiamond Ridge, Alaska1957 FAA?/Homer, AlaskaAcquired by Alascom, Micro in use / Tropo removed as of 1987Pedro Dome, Alaska1958 ?N/ATropo was demolished prior to 1986. Micro still operated by AT&T. Note: There were Tropo Billboards at Soldotna (co located with the TD2) and at Fire Island, as well. Also, There was a TD 2 site at what is now the Civil Air Patrol Wing Headquarters on Elmendorf AFB—it was called R2N. And, there is a TD 2 site at Rabbit Creek, that was originally, and briefly, called R1S, which linked into the TD 2 site at Naptowne. Est. indicates location unclear from USGS topo

The second segment of White Alice was a pair of TD 2 microwave radio links that supported the Ballistic Missile Early Warning System (BMEWS) at Clear Air Force Station. This section provided two routes from Alaska to NORAD in Colorado, for this reason it was also known as the Rearward Communications System. The A Route went down the southeast coast of Alaska to a submarine cable and the B Route went east into Canada. Some of the systems were colocated with previous sites.

Project Stretchout began in 1959 and finished in the mid 1960s. It was the extension of White Alice to the Alaska Peninsula including the Aleutian DEW Line system. LocationOperationalColocated withCoordinatesNotesCold Bay, AlaskaDEW LineEst. About $8 million combined cost for Cold Bay and Cape SarichefDriftwood Bay, AlaskaDEW LineEst. Nikolski, AlaskaDEW Line, Navy, FAAEst. Port Heiden, AlaskaDEW LineEst.$3.5 millionPort Moller, AlaskaDEW LineEst.$4.4 million to construct. Cape Sarichef, Alaskalate 1950s to the mid 1970sDEW line / LORAN station / AirfieldEst. Built atop a levelled cinder cone

Extension of the White Alice system from Nikolski to Shemya near the end of the Aleutian Islands. Both shots were over 340 mile (547 km), requiring large 120 feet (37 m) antennas and 50 kW transmitters. Both sites were demolished before 1987. In addition to the Aleutian Island extension, Project Bluegrass also included a 50 kW shot from Fort Yukon to Barter Island to connect the northern DEW line to the White Alice system. LocationOperationalColocated withCoordinatesNotesShemya island, AlaskaLate 60s to late 70sAC&W / FAAShemya to Adak shot was 393 mile (632 km)Adak, AlaskaLate 60s to late 70sNavy and othersEst. Adak to Nikolski shot was 341 mile (549 km).