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LORAN STATION BIORKA

56 51 22.11 N 135 33 16.30 W (1950 Loran Survey)
56 51 20.63 N 135 33 23.81 W (1960 Mercury Datum)

Fact Sheet

Site Survey: April 24 - May 11, 1950

Construction Date

Constructed by:

Established: 10 MAR 1952 Station commissioned

Disestablished: 05 JAN 1980

Operated by: USCG

Chain: GULF OF ALASKA

Station Letter designation: 1L5, 1L6 “B”

Station code name:

Station Unit Number:

Radio Call Sign: NMJ18

Station AKA: SITKA

On-air testing date: 01 MAR 1952

Operational date: 11 MAR 1952

Operations Ceased: 312400Z DEC 1979

Station Operation: 1L2 – Single SLAVE
1L5, 1L6 – Double SLAVE/SECONDARY

Station pair: 1L2, 1L6 – OCEAN CAPE
1L5 – GRAY POINT

Loran Rate: 1L2, 1L5, 1L5

On-Air: 1L2, 11 MAR 1952 – OCEAN CAPE
1L6, MAY 1961 – OCEAN CAPE
1L5, 1971 – GRAY POINT

Off-Air 1L2, MAY 1961 – OCEAN CAPE
1L6, 312400Z DEC 1979 – OCEAN CAPE
1L5, 312400Z DEC 1979 – GRAY POINT

Monitor Rate:

Equipment: AN/FPN-30, T-325C, AM-1700, FPA-2, FPA-3B

Antenna Type: 119 FT TWR

Personnel Allowance: JAN 1953 – LTJG, ETC, ET2, 3 ET3, CS1, HM1, EN1, EN2, DC2, FN, SN
1955 – 1 Officer, 12 enlisted

Station events:

Commanding Officers /
Officers in Charge

1952 - 1952 LTJG Robert J. Bosnak (01 MAR – 13 JUN)
1952 - 1953 LTJG Stephen P. Bunting (13 JUN – 09 JUN)*
1953 - 1954 LTJG Berry L. Meaux (09 JUN – 06 JUN)
1954 - 1954 LT Berine E. Thompson (06 JUN – 18 SEP)
1954 - 1955 LTJG Raymond P. Litts (18 SEP – 17 SEP)
1955 - 1956 LTJG Ben A. Bird (17 SEP – 23 JUL)
1956 - 1957 LTJG Byron G. Weissberg (23 JUL – 24 JUL)
1957 - 1958 LTJG Richard A. Lempert (24 JUL – 23 JUL)
1958 - 1959 LTJG John W. Sheedy (23 JUL – 18 JUL)
1959 - 1960 LTJG Earl L. Sullivan (18 JUL – 19 JUL)
1960 - 1961 LTJG James E. Brown (19 JUL – 25 JUL)
1961 - 1962 LTJG James O. Sullivan (25 JUL – 30 JUL)
1962 - 1963 LTJG Gary F. Crosby (30 JUL – 16 AUG)
1963 - 1964 LTJG Karl W. Lehrman (16 AUG – 23 JUL)
1964 - 1965 LTJG Richard J. Flynn (23 JUL - MAY)
1965 - 1966 LTJG Clifford E. Banner (MAY - MAY)
1966 - 1967 LTJG John R. Harrald (MAY - ?)
1967 - 1968 LTJG Culver
1968 - 1969
1969 - 1970 LTJG Robert G. Bernstein
1970 - 1971 LTJG Jeffrey P. Hantover (? - 28 MAR)
1971 - 1972 LTJG David B. Dewey (28 MAR - 29 MAR)
1972 - 1973 LTJG William M. Hatch (29 MAR - ?)
1973 - 1974 LTJG D. E. Sulerud (? - 01 APR)
1974 - 1975 LTJG Gary B. Coye (01 APR - 11 APR)
1975 - 1976 LTJG Randal K. Corrigan (11 APR - 01 MAR)
1976 - 1977 LTJG Phillip G. Matyas (01 MAR - APR)
1977 - 1978 LTJG Thomas E. Baird (APR - ?)
1978 - 1979 LTJG Bruce S. Painter
1979 - 1980 LTJG Edward Marmol (1979 - JAN)

* Promoted during tour to next senior rank

Fred's Place Reunion Hall

Old - New

Documents:

Loran Station Biorka Survey April 24th - May 11th 1950 - pdf
302242Z DEC 64 LORAN A Operating Mode - pdf

Pictures:

Loran Station Biorka

Loran Station Biorka

Loran Station Biorka, 1968

Lorsta Biorka Station Patch

QSL Card from Loran Station Biorka  NMJ18

The below photo are contributed by Ed Marmol (last CO)

View of station from hill top

Station in the winter time

Station view from hilltop

Entrance sign to Muskeg Manor

Thanks Ed!