Cold War era White Alice Communication System antenna felled for a clean and safe dismantling

  • Published
  • By Tommie Baker
  • 611th Civil Engineer Squadron
BETEL, Alaska --  The end of an era came Aug. 26 with the demolition of the last White Alice Communication System antenna at the former Bethel Radio Relay
Station.

Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson's 611th Civil Engineer Squadron performed the demolition in conjunction with disposing of 70 cubic yards of polychlorinated biphenyl contaminated soil.

The 611th CES environmental restoration program, designed to protect human health and the environment, is responsible for the identification, characterization and cleanup of 37 active and inactive installations across Alaska and eight Pacific geographically separated locations with almost 500 identified restoration sites.

Standing 60 feet tall and 60 feet wide, the antenna, along with five others, was constructed in 1957 and the station was activated in 1958. For the next 21 years, the Bethel RRS served as a signal relay station for Aniak, Cape Romanzof and Cape Newenham RRS.

In 1979, the station was deactivated and abandoned; it too, like many of its predecessors, had fallen prey to advancing technology. Long range communication in Alaska has always been a challenge.

In 1900, the military provided communication to Alaskans with the Washington-Alaska Military Cable and Telegraph System. WMACATS was replaced in 1936 by an upgrade to radio communication provided by the Alaska Communications System, which was operational until 1962.

With the onset of satellite communications it became evident to military planners the WACS was obsolete.

The former Bethel RRS was demolished in 1990 with the exception of one antenna, which was left at the request of the community to serve as a navigational aid.

There are only four other WACS antennas belonging to the Air Force left in Alaska and they are located at the former Anvil Mountain RRS outside of Nome. They are being spared the same demise as the one in Bethel because the future land owner, Sitnasuak Native Corporation has stated their desire to keep the antennae in place after they assume ownership of the property.

The Air Force must first remove all asbestos containing materials from each antenna before the land transfer can occur.