Wake Atoll Air Traffic Control Towers

Part of the 611th Air Support Group Resources project

Author(s): Carrie Cecil

Editor(s): Paul White

Year: 2017

Summary

The purpose of this report is to establish the historic context for air traffic control tower and air traffic control support facility development on Wake Atoll. A critical component of any airfield, the air traffic control towers, and support facilities on Wake contributed to the safe and organized passage of aircraft through and over the atoll. Air traffic control facilities were an important aspect of Wake’s operation as a major aviation hub from 1935 to 1972.

This report outlines the history of Wake Atoll’s use as an aviation refueling stop and air traffic control center from 1935 to the present with a particular emphasis on the construction and operation of those facilities and structures supporting the atoll’s function as an airfield. The examination of these airfield features is predicated on an introductory summary of the history and development of air traffic control systems and aviation technology in the United States throughout the 20th century. In addition to providing insight into the mechanics and technological developments of Wake’s various aviation facilities, such information also helps to relate the changing landscape of this remote atoll to broader patterns of American aviation history.

Cite this Record

Wake Atoll Air Traffic Control Towers. Carrie Cecil, Paul White. 2017 ( tDAR id: 459191) ; doi:10.48512/XCV8459191

This Resource is Part of the Following Collections

Keywords

Site Name
Building 1601 • Building 1730 • Building 1808

Investigation Types
Architectural Documentation • Architectural Survey • Historic Background Research • Records Search / Inventory Checking • Remote Sensing

General
11th Air Force • 611th • 611th Air Support Group • 611th Civil Engineer Squadron • Air Tower Control Center • Air Tower Iteration • Air Traffic Control Towers • Army Radio Station • CAA Air Tower • HHW Tower and Equipment Building • Historic Context • Japanese Air Tower • Long Range Direction Finder (DF) Navigation System • Pacific Air Forces • Radio Receiver and Transmitter Facilities • Radio Transmitter Building • Towers • United States Air Force • VORTAC 1 • VORTAC 2

Geographic Keywords
Wake Atoll • Wake Island • Wilkes Island

Temporal Keywords
World War II

Spatial Coverage

min long: 166.591; min lat: 19.266 ; max long: 166.663; max lat: 19.324 ;

Individual & Institutional Roles

Contact(s): 611th Air Support Group CRM Manager

File Information

  Name Size Creation Date Date Uploaded Access
Cecil_et_al_2017b.pdf 16.60mb Apr 12, 2021 3:58:31 PM Confidential

Accessing Restricted Files

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Contact(s): 611th Air Support Group CRM Manager