LORAN STATION WAKE ISLAND
Station Information
| Site Survey: | 03 OCT 1948 – USCGC KUKUI during a trip to Wake to off load material for the Army |
| Construction Date: | JUN 1950 Construction commenced 06 - 12 MAR 1958: CGC KUKUI delivered construction materials a new station |
| Constructed by: | 12 MAR 1958 CGC KUKUI departed leaving a M&R detachment of one officer, two Chief Petty Officers and 35 enlisted. Construction was completed on 11 August 1958. the story |
| Established: Commissioned: |
16 OCT 1950 - Pre-commission
status 1951 |
| Decommissioned: Disestablished: |
JAN 1978 |
| Operated by: |
USCG |
| Station Unit Identifier: | 1950: 14-350580 |
| Mail address: | 1950: CO, LTS WAKE ISLAND, c/o Postmaster Honolulu, T.H. APO SF 96501 |
| Station Project code name: |
|
| Personnel Allowance: | JAN 1953 | 1 Officer, 9 Enlisted |
| Station Mascot: | 1960s - Hooligan 1975 - Felix (cat) |
| Station events: | 03 OCT 1948: CGC KUKUI CO made primary site survey for new LTS site during loading of Army equipment and personnel 15 OCT 1950: Three Coast Guard men, all from California, reportedly formed the guard of honor when President Truman and General MacArthur held a memorable conference on Wake Island. ET3 Arthur Schwartz was the only enlisted man present who was given the opportunity to shake hands of both major participants, as well as the Army chief of staff, General Bradley. {Coast Guard Bulletin December 1950} 16 SEP 1952: Typhoon OLIVE destroyed the station Sta Off Air Off-air for 15 days, A Mobile Loran Unit was shipped from CG Yard. 26 SEP 1952: Station back on air. The Commander of the 14 CG District received a Letter of Appreciation from the Commandant for the outstanding performance of duty of the personnel under his command for the prompt and efficient restoration of service of the Loran Transmitting Station on Wake Island following Typhoon OLIVE on 16 September 1952. {Coast Guard Bulletin January 1953} 01 OCT 1952: A Search and Rescue Group consisting of RCC, Air Detachment and Loran station established. 1957: CO married the only single woman on the island aboard a Standard Oil Tanker AUG 1958: Peale Island operation commenced SEP 1962: Marriage is permitted on the island by US Code. 16 SEP 1967: Typhoon SARAH struck the island with 138 mph winds. Island was completely devastated. 4 APR 1975 - 3 SEP 1975 Station Awarded: USAF Outstanding Unit Award for Operation New Life/New Arrival USCG Humanitarian Service Award |
| Commanding Officers: | 1951 - 1952 1952 - 1953 LTJG Thomas J. Collins (SEP - SEP) 1953 - 1954 1954 - 1955 LTJG Horace G. Holmgren 1955 - 1956 LTJG Marshall K. Phillips 1956 - 1957 LTJG Charles E. Mathieu (MAR - APR) 1957 - 1958 LTJG James M. Fournier (APR - APR) 1958 - 1959 LTJG Verne E. Cox (APR - APR) 1959 - 1960 LTJG James J. Rooney (APR - ?) 1960 - 1961 LTJG John W. Kime 1961 - 1962 LTJG Carl P. Denny (? - MAR) 1962 - 1963 LTJG Edmond G. Case (MAR - ?) 1963 - 1964 LTJG Eugene J. Hickey 1964 - 1965 LTJG Brian P. Richards 1965 - 1967 LTJG John A. Waustnek (? - APR)* 1967 - 1969 LTJG James V. O'Neill (APR - ?) 1969 - 1970 LTJG Raymond J. Pratte 1970 - 1972 LTJG Theodore T. Musselman 1972 - 1973 LTJG Michael T. Eberhardt 1973 - 1974 LTJG Robert M. Grisswold 1974 - 1975 LTJG Robert D. Innes 1975 - 1976 LTJG Bruce Austin 1976 - 1977 LTJG Michael M. Blume 1977 - 1977 LTJG Fred M. Rosa (? - DEC) Decomm * Promoted to the next higher rank during tour |
Change of Command:
Station Operations
LORAN-A
19 18 48.70 N 166 37 17.16 E (1960 Mercury Datum)
| Chain: Station pair: Loran rate: Coding delay: Baseline: |
MARSHALL ISLANDS WAKE ISLAND (S) - ENIWETOK (M) 1L0, 1H1 1000 us Approx. 535 Nautical miles |
| Declared Operational date: | 011300Z MAR
1951 |
| Operations terminated: | 312400Z DEC
1977 |
| Station Letter designation: | “W” |
| Radio Call Sign: | NMJ- |
| Station Operation: | Single SLAVE/SECONDARY (SS) |
| On-air testing date: | 1L0 | 24 JAN 1951 |
| On-Air: | 1L0 | 011300Z MAR
1951 1H1| 1970 |
| Off-Air: | 1L0 |1970 Rate changed 1H1| 312400Z DEC 1977 Service terminated |
| Monitor Rate: | |
| Equipment: | OCT 1950: UE-1b Timers, T-137A Transmitters |
| Radiator: | 1951 | "T" 1964 | 129ft tower |
Fred's Place Reunion Hall:
OLD | NEW
Awards:
U.S. Air Force Outstanding Unit Award
04 APR 1975 - 03 SEP 1975
Citation
USCG Humanitarian Service Medal
04 APR 1975 - 03 SEP 1975
CWO2 Findley Citation
Coast Guard Restricted Duty Ribbon
(except CO between May 1967 and May 1973)
Coast Guard Overseas Service Ribbon
(for CO between May 1967 and May 1973)
Documents:
1955 Memorial - constructed by LTJG Marshall K. Phillips during his tour - pdf
22 JUN 1956 LORAN Overseas Survey - pdf
Pictures:
Wake Island pictures
