Monday, December 05, 2005

Wakkanai Air Station, Japan

I got to thinking today (a dangerous pursuit, for me) that what this blog needs is a few war stories to spice things up a bit. After all, I spent 22 years in the Air Force, so I should have some pretty good stories to tell, right? Not really. Or, to put a finer point on it, most of my war stories aren't suitable for publishing in a family-rated blog. And I do want to keep this blog rated PG-13, at the very most. And then there's the other problem: memory. Unlike a lot of folks my age I don't have a treasure-trove of memory-jogging photos, documents, pins, ball caps, and all that other good stuff one accumulates over the years. Most of the photos from my AF days are in the custody of The First Mrs. Pennington, the rest I boxed up and sent to Number Two Son for safe keeping when I downsized life to fit into the RV. So, no joy there! I have to rely on my diminishing supply of brain cells, nothing else. Scary thought.

Ah. But there's the web! I googled "Wakkanai Air Station" to begin my trip down the memory hole and hit pay dirt. Indulge me for a moment before I tell you about Wakkanai; I'm gonna go off on a tangent.

Tangent: All military careers could arguably be called "different," especially for my generation. Guys in my cohort got sent all over the world; the travel opportunities today, compared to what I experienced, are very limited. Most USAF people spend their careers going from AF base to AF base. And that's where my difference comes in. In 22 years I was "permanent party" on only two Air Force bases: Yokota AB, Japan ('75 - '77) and Tinker AFB, OK ('83 - '85). You can add Keesler AFB, MS if you like - I was in a school squadron there in '63 -'64. The rest of my career was spent on Air Force Stations, literally on mountain tops (or the highest ground around) in the case of my Air Defense Command radar assignments, and isolated overseas locations during my tours on surveillance and monitoring (read as: spook) sites. Which brings us to Wakkanai!

Wakkanai AS (WAS), Japan is on the northern tip of Hokkaido, as far north as you can go in Japan without getting your feet wet. The unit had various designations over its lifetime, but it was mostly the 6986th Security Group, a unit of the late, great, USAF Security Service. Wakkanai was a surveillance site, with a (then) state of the art system known as a FLR-12. The FLR-12 had a huge antenna farm. Wakkanai opened in the mid-1950s as an Aircraft Control and Warning (AC&W) radar site, it ceased operations in late 1971 and closed in 1972. I was there twice, from 1968 - 1970, and again in 1971. WAS was an "isolated" tour, dependents were authorized, but the tour length was short: 15 months unaccompanied and two years, accompanied.

The one thing people always remember about Wakkanai is the snow: we had an average annual snow fall of 275 inches. Do the math...that's a tick shy of 23 feet of snow. Every year. And it was cold. The snow began falling in late November and stayed on the ground until late March or early April. All bases are surrounded with at least eight-foot high chain link fences, usually topped with three strands of barbed wire. In mid-winter the the WAS fences were useless. Even though it was illegal to leave the base through anything but the main gate (and if you got caught you were in trouble!), we routinely scrambled up and down the snow banks that used to be a fence and went "across the street." "Across the street" was a euphemism for the three dive bars that were literally across the street from the base...the Club Seven, The Inferno, and The Shadow. And Man! - were they ever fun! "Hey Buck! Where ya goin'?" "Across the street!" That's all the further I'm gonna go: PG-13.

There wasn't a lot to do in the winter. POVs weren't allowed on the roads in the winter, so you became semi-isolated, except for busses or taxis into town. We worked, partied, worked. Rinse. Repeat. Summer was another story altogether. Summer was racing season! Wakkanai was where I learned how to ride motocross, and my buddies and I raced all over the island of Hokkaido, mostly on the sides of mountains that were used as ski slopes in the winter. We practiced on Saturday and raced on Sunday. After practice there was usually a formal dinner and serious partying with our hosts at the races, usually the local Motorcycle Federation of Japan (MFJ) affiliate club. Americans were a rarity in that part of Japan in the late 60s, so we were feted a lot. And those Nipponese racers were some sneaky guys...every single party I went to they tried (and sometimes succeeded) to get us falling-down drunk. Racing with a hangover isn't recommended. Don't try it at home.

It would be easy to go on and on. Wakkanai was certainly one of the best, if not THE best, assignments in my AF career. I traveled all over Hokkaido, learned to love sushi, banged handlebars with some very cool dudes, acquired a taste for Sapporo beer, and learned to stay away from all but the best Suntory whiskies. And I loved my work, too. I won't talk about what we did, but it was important. Nuff said.

Do go visit the Wakkanai Air Station web site. There's history, mementos, and literally hundreds of pictures, and you know what they say about pics and words... David Lynch, the Website Facilitator, has done a great job of putting together a site that captures the feel of the place and the people that were stationed there. Well done, David!

32 comments:

  1. Hey Buck, I also stumbled across the wakkanaiwasmyhome website several years ago and was floored by how many photos were posted. I downloaded quite a few for posterity. Unfortunately, unlike Misawa, Tachikawa, Johnson or Yokota air bases in and around Tokyo, I haven't found any videos of old home movies of either Wakkanai or Chitose posted anywhere. Not even on YouTube. Maybe you've found a few somewhere. Nevertheless, I agree that Japan (at least in the '60s and '70s) was a great duty assignment.

    Tom

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  2. I've never found any vids or pics either, Tom... and I've been looking. Thanks for dropping by!

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  3. iI was stationed there form Oct 67 until Jan 69. I was in Civil Engineering Electrical Dept.
    Sgt Al Cassidy.

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  4. I remember the place. I also remember you and dad at Benny's Beehive.. lol.. hope all is well with you and the family.. Best wishes Jerry Weisser

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  5. Stationed @ Wakkanai A.S 1970-71 Good to see all the photos,memories,blogs of the place.Brings back memories of all the fun I had,turning 21 in Japan,the pretty Josans,Airmens Club etc. Like Bob Hope said perfectly,"Thanks for the memories"Ron Tice 6986th C.E.S. Plumbing Shop.

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  6. Thank you ALL for your kind comments, which laid about in my spam folder for-frickin'-ever... until I found them. My apologies for that oversight.

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  7. the web site is gone! did it move? I was there 1970-72, my dad was the deputy bas commander.

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  8. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=esf5u6eDdYk&feature=mfu_in_order&list=UL

    I was stationed there in 62-63 and a buddy recently sent me this u-tube web address. A video put together by a Gene McVay and he describes it as follows:

    A video put together from 8mm film I shot between Nov 1962 and Feb 1964 in Wakkanai Japan with a few shots taken in Tokyo. I was an Air Force Security Service Analyst.

    Enjoy,

    Don MacLean - electronics intercept operator and MPR specialist.

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    1. Thanks Mr. MacClean for posting the film and youtube link. Best I've seen. Really gives you a feel of what serving and living in Wakkanai was all about. I was an AF Brat there with my family- My father is MSGT Lorin R. "Moon" Mullins. We were there from 1966-69

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    2. Best video I've seen- thank you for posting. My father is Msgt Lorin R. "Moon Mullins. All our family was stationed there between 66-69. Great memories.
      Dad is retired now near my mother's home close to Ft. Polk, La.

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    3. I was also a AF brat, my dad was stationed in 68, and 69, we were14 and 15 years old i still remember a lot of names, me and my twin sister names were Linda, and Glenda Wahl. I remember names like Leonard Barbeau, Danny and Mark Henserling misspelled i am sure. We had crazy fun times over there.

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  9. Paul... was a 202. It was an experience. learned to ride a motorcycle... The locals were just great. 1968 the year of the moon landing the locals were just as excited as we were. I remember going to asashikawa?? on my bike with a friend with five dollars in my pocket and I came back with five dollars after three days. We were entertained and given a room. Spent quite a few nights across the street imbibing HIC HIC Used to have fun walking down the street with a buddy ( Raymond ) from California, I still reside in CT. I am 6 feet 4 and he was 6 ft 8 so we got some interesting looks. Brings back memories..

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  10. Enjoyed sharing your memories. Knew the place well, so well I wrote a book about it. Liked it too.

    Bob Smith
    WAS '70-'71
    203 Russian Linguist
    Loyal patron of Mama Young's and Jimmy's Club 7

    www.bobwsmith.com

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  11. I'm sitting at my desk and for one reason or another I decided to Google Wakkanai. My dad was stationed there in 1969. I called my mother to get the names of some of the families that she remembers and she gave me the following last names: John & Marlene Wilheight, Tidwell (wife Helen), Breckenridge (I remember Michelle who we called Shelly), John Varnado (son Lee) and William Meeny. My last name is Hook (parents Bill & Dee). I was in elementary school back then.

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    1. I was stationed there in 1970 - 1971, and I knew Tidwell and (Chico) Varnado. I was an airman first class then, and I worked on the hill.

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  12. I must be one of the older troops, my tour was 1/61 - 6/62. I was in the finance office, a volunteer at the FEN radio station, a very active bowler and played a lot of pinochle. It was great duty, and thanks to my FEN work, I had the experience to land a nightly radio show in San Angelo when I finished up my active duty at Goodfellow AFB. So happy to find the many mentions of Wakkanai on the web. Sure brings back wonderful memories.

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  13. I was stationed at Wakkanai from about June 1968 to September 1969, so we were there at the same time. I was on Able/Alpha (sometimes called one or the other) for the duration, then went to Malmstrom AFB, Montana for the final USAF years. Ended up with 30 years total, 6.5 active, the rest US Army Reserve of one type or another.

    Best wishes and Happy New Year.

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  14. I was stationed there from 1970 to 1972 worked in the base post office. would have stayed longer, but the closed the place. Remember Tidwell. One of my better assignments.

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  15. Stationed there 69-70 then went to 6924th DaNang RVN. Was on Charlie flight on the hill R202 analyst. Remember many nights spent at the Inferno and Mama Youngs. Mant good memories of Wakkanai and will try to down
    load some of my photos on the Wakkanai Air Station web site.

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  16. Stephen Lawrence27 January, 2014 05:58

    My father was stationed there in 1971-1972 with me and the family. Capt. Trice Lawrence was my father. I was in 7th grade there and fond memories of the boy scout troop camping trips and skiing almost every day. Still have pic's of the Olympic torch being flown in to a small airfield nearby, being in the Japanese news, and riding a train down through the mountains, staying in Jozankei, and going to the 1972 Sapporo Winter Olympics. When the base closed they gave away a lot of furniture and we still have some.

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  17. Sgt. Gene Dauster here. I was stationed in Wakkanai 69 - 70. Worked in the education and testing office. I played bass guitar in a couple of bands that played the Airmen's Club and Officer's Club. The first was "The Shades of Soul" with Sgt. Ken Treadwell , Larry ? Bob? (last names I forgot) Later I formed a band called " T.S. Colt " with Bill Hicks, Johnny Walker, & Papa John Mayer. Other friends were Larry Carter, Bobby Phillips, Jim Bradley, "Worm" ?, Dan Galley, Butch Pearson, & Bob Pompei.
    I have a couple of Wakkanai pictures up on my music nostagia website that you can check out. (Click on my name at the top of this post to visit my site.) If anyone can refresh my memory of the names of other band mates or if you have pictures of one of our bands playing in Wakkanai please contact me at: genedauster@hotmail.com

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  18. Bill Kobe oct 67 nov 69 Motor pool(michguy50@aol.com)

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  19. Bill Kobe oct 67-nov 69 motor pool! michguy50@aol.com

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  20. I was there from oct 67--nov 68 i was a mech in the motor pool! worked on the snow plows! an the snow crawelers! i still an remember the fish factory close by! Bad smell !1LOLanyone remeber the skid row downtown?? fond memorys!! airmens club was fun ! slot machines!! Bill Kobe (michguy50@aol.com) an Kens taylor!!

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  21. My family was there from 68-69. Dad was a TSgt in CE - Neal Mulhern. I am the second of his seven children. I was in the seventh grade and in scouts. I recall riding the bus into town and going upstairs to a restaurant to eat what it seems was Beef Teriyaki. I also recall that the Hokkaido King Crabs were quite large. We were there following a long tour in Brindisi, Italy (San Vito dei Normanni AS, I believe) where we lived in Specchiolla. Wish we could've been in Japan longer. I recall babysitting the two daughters of Capt McKinney, named (funny how I can recall their names) Renae and Cobett. Seems I also recall slot machines at the NCO clubs at Tachikawa and Misawa. One memory from the school on base was one evening (I don't know why or with whom it happened) we played Ouiji Board and tried to summon Tyrone Powers - some swore he communicated with us. The Air Force dependent life was a great one for sure. Dad began his career at Tyndall AFB, FL ended it at Hurlburt Field, FL.

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    1. Marge Aylett from Richmond Va, Came across your blog and really enjoyed it. Wakkanai was a great place to live.

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  22. Hello Buck, Came across your blog, enjoyed reading about Wakkanai, my favorite part of Japan, always wanted to go back there on a visit. It's still on my Bucket List. Moved to Richmond Va. after Steve passed away. Best Wishes to you. Marge Aylett

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  23. was stationed at Wakkanai Air Station Oct 1956-Jan 1958, 606 First Shoran Beacon SQDN .Worked on First hill at a few times with the 848th on third hill really enjoyed this site.

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  24. Hello Buck, Captain James Ranes here.... thanks for organizing this website on Wakkanai Air Station, Japan, home of the 6986th Security Group, also known as USA-30. I was stationed in Wakkanai as the Flight Commander of Baker Flight. I arrived in Wakkanai, my first duty assignment after the OBK 8035 class at Goodfellow AFB, San Angelo, TX in July, 1967. I was a Second Lt. Six months after I arrived I was promoted to First Lt. and was married to Karen Fitch, a school teacher, I met enroute to Japan. She was a foreign language teacher at Camp Chitose in southern Kyushu. I have to say that my tour in Wakkanai was my first choice and the collection mission was fun, and very rewarding! With the Soviet Union just 28 miles away, and the HQ of the Soviet FE Air Defense District HQ across the Sea of Japan, Wakkanai was a target rich intercept site! We were in "contact" with our Russian counterparts on a daily basis, 24/7. After Wakkanai, I was stationed at Goodfellow AFB, with the 6948th Security Sq. Mobile. I left the USAFSS in June of 1970. Soon thereafter I was recruited by the CIA where I worked for six years. I can't tell you what I did because I would have to neutralize you..just kidding!

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  25. I was stationed there 60-61 Worked in R&D on the first hill. My favorite hangout was the CHO-CHO BAR across the street. I retired after 20 years in 1977. Paul Roberts

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  26. I was a dependent (does the military still call the wives dependants?) from 71-72. We lived off base (husband was an E-1) and our bedroom window faced the Sakhalin Islands. I remember the Japanese women collecting sea weed and placing it out to dry on the empty lot next to our apartment. I remember believing the guys when they told me you could walk to Russia in the winter when the straits froze and I believed them. But at the same time I thought, who would want to walk to Russia? We loved it there! I learned what "SOS" was when we ate on base. I can remember teasing my husband about joining the Air Force to see the world, and what did they do? Put him in a building with no windows! We had a Honda minica and did a fair bit of travelling on an E-1's salary. When they closed the base in 1972, they sent us to Misawa on a big ferry. A lot of fond memories - thanks for the blog on your experiences at Wakkanai. Thank all of you for sharing your memories!

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