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LORAN STATION BIORKA

56 51 22.11 N 135 33 16.30 W (1950 Loran Survey)
56 51 20.63 N 135 33 23.81 W (1960 Mercury Datum)

Fact Sheet

Site Survey: April 24 - May 11, 1950

Construction Date

Constructed by:

Established: 10 MAR 1952 Station commissioned

Disestablished: 05 JAN 1980

Operated by: USCG

Chain: GULF OF ALASKA

Station Letter designation: 1L5, 1L6 “B”

Station code name:

Station Unit Number:

Radio Call Sign: NMJ18

Station AKA: SITKA

On-air testing date: 01 MAR 1952

Operational date: 11 MAR 1952

Operations Ceased: 312400Z DEC 1979

Station Operation: 1L2 – Single SLAVE
1L5, 1L6 – Double SLAVE/SECONDARY

Station pair: 1L2, 1L6 – OCEAN CAPE
1L5 – GRAY POINT

Loran Rate: 1L2, 1L5, 1L5

On-Air: 1L2, 11 MAR 1952 – OCEAN CAPE
1L6, MAY 1961 – OCEAN CAPE
1L5, 1971 – GRAY POINT

Off-Air 1L2, MAY 1961 – OCEAN CAPE
1L6, 312400Z DEC 1979 – OCEAN CAPE
1L5, 312400Z DEC 1979 – GRAY POINT

Monitor Rate:

Equipment: AN/FPN-30, T-325C, AM-1700, FPA-2, FPA-3B

Antenna Type: 119 FT TWR

Personnel Allowance: JAN 1953 – LTJG, ETC, ET2, 3 ET3, CS1, HM1, EN1, EN2, DC2, FN, SN
1955 – 1 Officer, 12 enlisted

Miscellaneous:

Commanding Officers /
Officers in Charge

1st CO: LTJG Robert J Bosnak 1 MAR 1952 – 13 JUN 1952
2nd CO: LTJG/LT Stephen P Bunting 13 JUN 1952 – 9 JUN 1953
3rd CO: LTJG Berry L Meaux 9 JUN 1953 – 6 JUN 1954
4th CO: LT Berine E Thompson 6 JUN 1954 – 18 SEP 1954
5th CO: LTJG Raymond P Litts 18 SEP 1954 – 17 SEP 1955
6th CO: LTJG Ben A Bird 17 SEP 1955 – 23 JUL 1956
7th CO: LTJG Byron G Weissberg 23 JUL 1956 – 24 JUL 1957
8th CO: LTJG Richard A Lempert 24 JUL 1957 – 23 JUL 1958
9th CO: LTJG John W Sheedy 23 JUL 1958 – 18 JUL 1959
10th CO: LTJG Earl L Sullivan 18 JUL 1959 – 19 JUL 1960
11th CO: LTJG James E Brown 19 JUL 1960 – 25 JUL 1961
12th CO: LTJG James O Sullivan 25 JUL 1961 – 30 JUL 1962
13th CO: LTJG Gary F Crosby 30 JUL 1962 – 16 AUG 1963
14th CO: LTJG Karl W Lehrman 16 AUG 1963 – 23 JUL 1964
15th CO: LTJG Richard J Flynn 23 JUL 1964 - MAY 1965
16th CO: LTJG Cliff Banner MAY 1965 - MAY 1966
17th CO: LTJG John Harrald MAY 1966 - 1967
18th CO: LTJG Culver 1967 - 1968
CO: LTJG R G Bernstein 1969
CO: LTJG David B Dewey 1970 - 1971
CO: LTJG J P Hantover 1971 - 1972
CO: LTJG D E Sulerud 1973 - 01 APR 1974
CO: LTJG Gary B Coye 01 APR 1974 - 11 APR 1975
CO: LTJG Randal K Corrigan 11 APR 1975 - 01 MAR 1976
CO: LTJG Phillip G Matyas 01 MAR 1976 - APR 1977
CO: LTJG Thomas E Baird APR 1977 - 1978
CO: LTJG Bruce S. Painter 1978 - 1979
Last CO: LTJG Ed Marmol 1979 - JAN 1980

Fred's Place Reunion Hall

Old - New

Documents:

Loran Station Biorka Survey April 24th - May 11th 1950 - pdf
302242Z DEC 64 LORAN A Operating Mode - pdf

Pictures:

Loran Station Biorka

Loran Station Biorka

Loran Station Biorka, 1968

Lorsta Biorka Station Patch

QSL Card from Loran Station Biorka  NMJ18

The below photo are contributed by Ed Marmol (last CO)

View of station from hill top

Station in the winter time

Station view from hilltop

Entrance sign to Muskeg Manor

Thanks Ed!