Was Alaska in World War 2?

Answer 1

Yes. It could be argued that Alaska played a larger role in WWII than any other state.

Ladd Army Air Field at what is now Ft. Wainwright in Fairbanks was the exchange point for the Lend-Lease program in which the U.S. allowed Russia, who was our allie, to borrow and lease aircraft and weaponry from the U.S. to fight Nazi Germany. U.S. crews flew the aircraft to Ladd Field where they were serviced, fueled and handed off to Russian crews for the flight to across Siberia for use in Europe.

The Alcan (Alaska-Canada) Highway was completed connecting the Alaska to the U.S. by road thru Canada, by U.S. troops to better supply the military bases in Alaska because of their perfect strategic location and close proximity to Japan, Hawaii and the Pacific Theater.

The Alaska Territorial Guard was organized and comprised of Native Alaskans spread throughout Alaska in rural bush communities. These "citizen soldiers" could better watch and secure the northern borders of our nation.

Many of the Natural Resources of Alaska were of great use in the war effort. There was a great shortage of many materials such as copper. Other resources such as timber (spruce, etc.) was put to use in the decks of ship, etc. Much of the soldiers clothing of the time, such as mittens, hats, pilots and bomber jackets used fur for warmth and protection. Alaska has always been our largest fur producing states.

Probably the most important role played by Alaska in WWII was in the battles of the Aleutian Islands. The Japanese actually landed on and invaded U.S. soil in WWII. In the Aleutians the Japanese actually held and controlled U.S. territory, building docks, bases, bunkers and gun emplacements on some of the islands. Some of the bloodiest battles of WWII were fought in Alaska. The battles that took place on Attu and Adak Island had the highest death tolls percentage wise of any battles fought in WWII. Thousands were killed on both the Japanese and U.S. sides before the U.S. finally regained control of the islands. These were very strategic locations for both the Japanese and the U.S., if the Japanese would've maintained control of the islands they would've had a perfect jumping off point for attacks on the U.S. mainland and who knows how it would've affected the outcome of the war. Much of the Japanese equipment is still there today, including a Japanese mini sub and machine gun bunkers. Artifacts can still be found all over the islands. Many veterans that served there still return each year, although as they are aging fewer and fewer of them remain and time and mother nature is quickly reclaiming much of the equipment left behind.