Related Pages:
Adak Photo Album
Report From The Aleutians
Kami Seya DF Det
DF Outstation 12th USASAFS
All material supplied by Norm Kitchin, CSM, USA (Ret)
The Start of the Adak Alaska DF Detachment
As I promised, here is the information and pictures pertaining to the establishment of DF (SIT) operations at Adak, Alaska, in 1962. As a result of the establishment of operations at Adak, the operators and DF mission was relocated from Sheyma, Alaska. Since I am only talking about the time frame from March - June of 1962, I do not know who the detachment reported to after we departed Adak.
Based on the outstanding results obtained from the DF (SIT) operations of the 12th ASA Field Station's, Kami Seya, Japan Detachment and its being co-located with a Naval Security Group Activity, ASA Japan recommended the same kind of operation in Adak, Alaska.
A team from the 12th ASA Field Station, Kami Seya, Japan, was selected to insure the feasibility of the same type of operation of their detachment being possible with the SIT Operations at NSGA, Adak, Alaska. The 
team was made up of Sgt Norm Kitchin (Team Leader), SP5 Harv Juergen, SP4 Troy Daffern, Pfc Jones and Pfc Dale Siefert. The team departed Japan on 26 March 1962 and arrived at Fort Richardson, Alaska on 27 March 1962. The next morning 28 March 1962, the team departed Anchorage on Reeve Aleutian Airways. Reeve Aleutian Airways was the major airline service serving both Sheyma and Adak for passenger and mail service. The team arrived in Adak on 28 March 1962. The team was billeted and then introduced to NSGA key personnel who they would be working with, Since the team members were already familiar with the SIT equipment being used and being co-located with Navy/Marine Corps SIT operators, the transition went smoothly and quickly. During this transition, both the Sheyma and Adak SIT reporting to Chitose continued. Equipment utilized at Adak, by the detachment was the same as used at Kami Seya, the AN/GRD-6. The operating equipment was housed about a mile and a half from the main base, along an inlet to the Bering Sea. When not using a vehicle to and from the site, the walk was always interesting with the chance of seeing some rather large bald eagles checking you out. It was almost a foregone conclusion that the Adak site results would be better than those of the Sheyma operation. About 60 days after activation of the Adak site, preparations were made to transfer the operations and personnel from Sheyma to Adak.
On 16 June 1962, SIT personnel from Sheyma arrived on site at Adak. Training of Sheyma personnel begin immediately, in the operation of NSGA equipment and working with their Navy/Marine counterparts. The team from Kami Seya began making arrangements for their return to the good life in Japan. On 23 June 1962, the team departed for Japan, and the mission was now solely in the hands of the personnel assigned from Sheyma, Alaska.
Maybe someone visiting this site may be able to fill in the names of those personnel who transferred in from Sheyma. The Navy had a lot more support activities than those offered on Sheyma, so I am sure those personnel from Sheyma liked that and also being such a small organization away from the flagpole. One of the activities enjoyed during off-duty hours was exploring the island. There were several remnants leftover from World Was II scattered all over the island, much of it left undisturbed.
Would like to dedicate the article to Harvey Juergen who passed away in 2010. Harv was a great guy and served with me at Fort Devens, MA, Chitose, Japan Kami Seya, Japan and last but no least Adak, Alaska.
That does it for the information portion of the Adak detachment. Many photos to follow in the next few days.
Norm Kitchin
Add your comments or memories:
As I promised, here is the information and pictures pertaining to the establishment of SIT operations at Adak, Alaska, in 1962. As a result of the establishment of operations at Adak, the operators and SIT mission was relocated from Sheyma, Alaska. Since I am only talking about the timeframe from March - June of 1962, I do not know who the detachment reported to after we departed Adak. Based on the outstanding results obtained from the SIT operations of the 12th ASA Field Station's, Kami Seya, Japan Detachment and its being co-located with a Naval Security Group Activity, ASA Japan recommended the same kind of operation in Adak, Alaska. A team from the 12th ASA Field Station, Kami Seya, Japan, was selected to insure the feasibility of the same type of operation of their detachment being possible with the SIT Operations at NSGA, Adak, Alaska. The team was made up of Sgt Norm Kitchin (Team Leader), SP5 Harv Juergen, SP4 Troy Daffern, Pfc Jones and Pfc Dale Siefert. The team departed Japan on 26 March 1962 and arrived at Fort Richardson, Alaska on 27 March 1962. The next morning 28 March 1962, the team departed Anchorage on Reeve Aleutian Airways. Reeve Aleutian Airways was the major airline service serving both Sheyma and Adak for passenger and mail service. The team arrived in Adak on 28 March 1962. The team was billeted and then introduced to NSGA key personnel who they would be working with, Since the team members were already familiar with the SIT equipment being used and being co-located with Navy/Marine Corps SIT operators, the transition went smoothly and quickly. During this transition, both the Sheyma and Adak SIT reporting to Chitose continued. Equipment utilized at Adak, by the detachment was the same as used at Kami Seya, the AN/GRD-6. The operating equipment was housed about a mile and a half from the main base, along an inlet to the Bering Sea. When not using a vehicle to and from the site, the walk was always interesting with the chance of seeing some rather large bald eagles checking you out. It was almost a foregone conclusion that the Adak site results would be better than those of the Sheyma operation. About 60 days after activation of the Adak site, preparations were made to transfer the operations and personnel from Sheyma to Adak. On 16 June 1962, SIT personnel from Sheyma arrived on site at Adak. Training of Sheyma personnel begin immediately, in the operation of NSGA equipment and working with their Navy/Marine counterparts. The team from Kami Seya began making arrangements for their return to the good life in Japan. On 23 June 1962, the team departed for Japan, and the mission was now solely in the hands of the personnel assigned from Sheyma, Alaska. Maybe someone visiting this site may be able to fill in the names of those personnel who transferred in from Sheyma. The Navy had a lot more support activities than those offered on Sheyma, so I am sure those personnel from Sheyma liked that and also being such a small organization away from the flagpole. One of the activities enjoyed during off-duty hours was exploring the island. There were several remnants leftover from World Was II scattered all over the island, much of it left undisturbed. Would like to dedicate the article to Harvey Juergen who passed away in 2010 Harv was a great guy and served with me at Fort Devens, MA, Chitose, Japan Kami Seya, Japan and last but no least Adak, Alaska. That does it for the information portion of the Adak detachment. Many photo s to follow in the next few days.