The facility was designated a National Historic Landmark for its role in World War II , although most of its elements from that period have been demolished or lie in ruins. Despite the first loss of U. British Prime Minister Churchill stated that sending forces to attack the Japanese presence there was a diversion from the North African Campaign and Admiral Chester Nimitz saw it as a diversion from his operations in the Central Pacific.
Commanders in Alaska, however, believed the Japanese occupiers would establish airbases in the Aleutians that would put major cities along the United States West Coast within range of their bombers and once the islands were again in United States hands, forward bases could be established to attack Japan from there. The landing was made in a storm and within a week additional forces, including the th Engineer Aviation Battalion were landed on the island at Kuhluk Bay.
However, the island had not been properly surveyed to find a suitable site to build the airfield. A very quick survey of the coast located a tidal marsh which had a firm foundation of sand and gravel beneath it. Work began on 2 September with the construction of an enclosing dike around the marsh and a system of drainage canals drain off the water, followed by scraping off the topsoil to reach the gravel underneath. Additional gravel and then a sand runway was laid down.
By 10 September enough construction had been completed that a 73d Bomb Squadron B Bolo successfully landed on the runway. A 5, ft Pierced Steel Planking was laid down shortly afterward and the transports from the 42d Troop Carrier Squadron arrived the following day, landing on compacted sand next to where the matting was being laid.
Tents were erected, a rudimentary electrical system, radios and some rough streets were laid down and by the end of September Adak Army Airfield was home to several 36th Bomb Squadron B Flying Fortress heavy bombers; 54th Fighter Squadron P Lightnings , and five B Liberators of the 21st and th Bombardment Squadrons. Additional Ps were flown in along with some PD Airacobras of the 42d Fighter Squadron which had been providing air defense for Kodiak. Even while aircraft were landing, construction continued at a rapid pace to cover the PSP with several layers of asphalt and construct additional station facilities.
