AFRS Alaska

Some 65 years ago, in early 1941, KRB radio began broadcasting from Sitka, Alaska. This was the unofficial birth of the soon to become global Armed Forces Radio Service.

By 1946, it’s reported that 16 AFRS stations were on air across the Alaskan Territory, many in isolated outposts along the Aleutian island chain, and some at sprawling bases near major towns such as Fairbanks.

We’ve carefully researched the early AFRS stations in Alaska from various sources, and have found around 40 of them. We’re sure to be missing some though, so please help us fill the gaps. Our list runs through to 1958.

We’ve got a strange array of call signs, ranging from KRAY to ALAW, from KSKA to WXLL and GAB to WVCX, but we’ve also found some interesting images thanks to kind people who’ve come forward to share some old memories.

If you’ve been involved with any of these stations, even as a listener, we want to hear from you.

Memorabilia, articles, images, recordings or any other items of ephemera to help tell these AFRS Alaska stories are very welcome. Just email us today.

Did you know that Sitka actually had two ‘unofficial’ AFRS stations broadcasting at the same time? GAB and KRB both found space along the dial during 1941 to air their music and local news and events.

Ref	Location	Call Sign	Year on air	Frequency
1	Adak	WXLB		900
2	Adak	AFRS		570
3	Amchitka	WXLK		980
4	Anchorage [Fort Richardson]	WVUG		1450
5	Attu [Camp Earle]	WXLL		980
6	Attu [Fort Greely]	WXLL		980
7	Campion	AFRS		570
8	Cape Lisburne	AFRS		1570
9	Cape Prince of Wales	AFRS		1550
10	Cape Romanzoff	AFRS		1590
11	Cold Bay [Fort Randall]	WXLJ		1400
12	Dutch Harbor	WXLC		980
13	Eilson	AFRS		790
14	Elmendorf	AFRS		850
15	Fire Island	AFRS		1550
16	Fort Nelson	MAB		1000
17	Indian Mountain	AFRS		1550
18	King Salmon	AFRS		790
19	Kiska	KSKA	1943
20	Kiska	WXLT
21	Kodiak	KODK	1941
22	Kodiak	WVCQ		1400
23	Kodiak	WVCQ		960
24	Ladd	AFRS		620
25	Nevenham	AFRS		1550
26	Nome	WXLN		1400
27	Nome	AFRS		590
28	North East Cape	AFRS		1570
29	Shemya	WXLO		900
30	Sitka	GAB	1941
31	Sitka	GIN	1941
32	Sitka [Fort Ray]	KRAY	1942
33	Sitka	KRB	1941
34	Sitka [Fort Ray]	WVCX	1942
35	Sparrevohn	AFRS		1550
36	Umnak	WXLA		800
37	Whittier	WXLW		1490
38	Whittier	ALAW		980
39	Wildwood	AFRS		1520