Lonely Long Range Radar Station

In the summer of 1952, the DOD enlisted a group of the nation's foremost scientists to study the problems of defense against polar attack. As the solution to providing early warning data for defense of the U.S. and Canada against air attack, these scientists recommended the development, installation, and maintenance of a radar and communication system to be positioned as close as possible to the threat from Soviet air bases. This system termed the Distant Early Warning (DEW) Line Defense Plan, was approved by DOD in late 1952. (Hart Crowser January 1987)

An experimental test segment was installed across Alaska and began operating in 1953. The success of this segment proved the practicality of stretching the DEW Line across the remaining 2,000 miles to Cape Dyer on the east coast of Canada. The line across Canada was completed in March of 1956. In August of 1957, the U.S. and Canada jointly announced their agreement to integrate air defense forces and set up the North American Air Defense Command (NORAD). Between 1959 and 1961, the DEW Line was extended east into Greenland. (Hart Crowser January 1987)

Until 1963, when a number of intermediate DEW Line Stations were deactivated, there were 61 active radar stations. Main Stations generally consist of two 25-module building trains, rotating antenna, and facilities for providing full service and logistics support for Auxiliary Stations within its "sector". Auxiliary Stations consists of a single 25-module train, rotating antennae, and fewer support facilities. (Hart Crowser January 1987)

Like its sister DEW Line stations, Lonely Auxiliary Radar station came into existence in 1953. Known as POW-1, because it was aligned under Point Barrow, Lonely was built in an area with few landmarks and is virtually the only prominent part of the desolate tundra. Though relatively near the Drew Point in Smith Bay, there was little practical habitation at Lonely prior to the DEW-Line-thus its name. The Beaufort Sea is marshy, swampy tundra punctuated by a fine silt.

Lonely SRRS was manned from 1953 until it was deactivated in 1989. Lonely currently operates as an Unattended Radar Site (URS) and is in operation as part of the North Warning System (NWS). The URS consists of two buildings, one is for power and the other is for the radar. The Lonely facility was constructed as an auxiliary station. It originally was designed to have one 25-module train, rotating radar, and supporting facilities. The present main station structures include the module train, warehouse, garage, and fixed POL tanks. The module train contains the sanitary wastewater treatment facility, the potable water treatment facility, diesel power generators, radar equipment including radome, recreational facilities, dining facilities, and incinerator. Parts of the property were owned by Husky Oil Company. These areas include an airplane hanger, a terminal, two warehouses, a control tower and a tank farm. The facility is totally self-contained.

www.airnav.com/airport/AK71
www.afcee.brooks.af.mil/ec/eiap/nepa/lonely/Lonely-16.h...
www.afcee.brooks.af.mil/ec/eiap/nepa/lonely/Lonely-17.h...
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DEW_Line