Alascom, White Alice Communications System, Boswell Bay Station Collection Description

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Guide to the Alascom, Inc. White Alice Communications System Boswell Bay Station records
1955-1985

Collection number: HMC-0001.
Creator: Alascom, Inc.
Title: Alascom, Inc. White Alice Communications System Boswell Bay Station records.
Dates: 1955-1985.
Volume of collection: 54.4 cubic feet.
Language of materials: Collection materials in English.
Collection summary: This collection includes documentation—technical and otherwise—relating to the construction and operation of a White Alice site.

Organizational history:
The White Alice Communications System (WACS) was developed in the early 1950s as part of a North American over-the-pole defense system. The system was developed because of problems in using the VHF communications with the Aircraft Control and Warning System (AC&W). The Bell System recommended that the Department of Defense construct the forward propagation tropospheric scatter system, as well as less expensive microwave facilities. The Air Force accepted the plan and Western Electric Company was awarded the contract in 1955.

WACS linked the AC&W and the Distant Early Warning System (DEW-line) with Elmendorf and Eielson Air Force Bases (AFB). They linked the Ballistic Missile Early Warning System (BMEWS) at Clear AFB with the North American Defense Command. The systems eventually consisted of seventy-one separate facilities. Of the original thirty-one sites, twenty-two were tropospheric, six were microwave, and three were combined tropospheric/microwave sites. Construction began in the mid-1950s and was completed in 1959.

BMEWS construction began in 1960 and was completed by 1962. Twenty-one sites were microwave and five were tropospheric. Project Stretchout facilities were tropospheric and functioned as part of an Aleutian DEW-line system.

The Boswell Bay WACS site was a tropospheric station which began in 1955 and activated in late 1956. The system was rendered obsolete by the development of new technology. In 1967, Congress provided for the transfer of the facilities to non-government ownership. In 1970, RCA Alaska Communications, Inc. (now Alascom) acquired the system.

Collection description:
This collection contains basic documentation necessary for the construction and operation of a White Alice Communications Site. The collection consists of records housed at the WACS Boswell Bay station. The records include administrative and maintenance records and reports; internal communications; equipment records; performance assessment data; radio logs; supply records; site restoration files, drawings, test and lineup data, drawings and schematics, site maintenance records, specifications, and manuals. The plans and drawings are site, architectural, mechanical, and electrical plans including as-built drawings.

Arrangement: Records were maintained in the order in which they were transferred to the Archives. The collection is divided by record type into the following series:

Series 1: Administrative and maintenance records and reports; 1971-1981.
Series 2: Memoranda and internal correspondence; 1974-1984.
Series 3: Equipment records; 1964-1984.
Series 4: LPAP Link performance assessment data; 1973-1974.
Series 5: Radio logs; 1956-1976.
Series 6: Supply and shipping records; 1971-1978.
Series 7: Site restoration files, undated.
Series 8: Drawings, undated.
Series 9: Test and lineup data; 1954-1984.
Series 10: Drawings and schematics; 1958-1981.
Series 11: Site maintenance information records; 1956-1977.
Series 12: Specifications records; 1956-1968.
Series 13: Manuals; 1946-1984.
Series 14: Restricted materials (personnel data).
Series 15: Oversize drawings; 1984.

Access restrictions: Some records containing private personnel information are restricted. Please contact an archivist for more information.

Rights note: Some manuals, plans, drawings, and reference material within the collection may be protected by copyright.

Preferred citation: Alascom. White Alice Communications System Boswell Bay records, Archives and Special Collections, Consortium Library, University of Alaska Anchorage.

Acquisition note: The collection was presented to the archives by Alascom in 1987, on the basis of a Memorandum of Understanding between Alascom, the U.S. Forest Service, the Alaska Historic Preservation Office, and the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation with the concurrence of the Historic American Building Survey of the National Park Service.

Processing information: This collection was initially described prior to 1990. A container list was created by Arlene Schmuland in 2008. Folder list was created in 2012 by student workers and collection description updated by Mariecris Gatlabayan.

Series 1: Administrative and maintenance records and reports; 1971-1981. 2.0 cubic feet.

Box/Folder	Description	Dates
1/1	Site Activity Records	undated
1/1	OSHA	1971-1974
1/3	Hazardous Condition Reports	undated
1/4	Minor Communications Deficiency	undated
1/5	Daily Outage Summary	undated
1/6-1/15	I.1. Admin. & Maintenance Records & Reports	undated
1/16-1/18	Monthly	1980 -1981
1/19-1/20	Quality Assurance	undated
1/21-1/29	Field Ops.	undated
1/30-1/38	Maintenance and Logistics	1972, undated
2/1	Custody (Hand) Receipts	undated
2/2	Equipment Review Board Survey	undated
2/3	Long Forms	undated
2/4-2/11	Comm. Elect.	1973, undated
2/12-2/13	Civ. Engr.	undated
2/14-2/18	Security – E.R.	1973, undated
2/19-2/27	Air Force	1971 – 1973

Series 2: Memoranda and internal correspondence; 1974-1984. 1.0 cubic feet.

Box/Folder	Description	Dates
3/1 – 3/10	I.2. Memoranda & Internal Correspondence	1978-1984
3/11 – 3/13	ITT Arctic Services, Inc.	undated
3/14 – 3/28	RCA	1974 – 1985

Series 3: Equipment records; 1964-1984. 2.0 cubic feet.

Box/Folder	Description	Dates
4/1 -4/32	I.3. Equipment Records	1964 – 1978
4/33 – 4/38	Start of CO2 System Records	undated
5/1 – 5/22	End of CO2 System Records	1984, undated
5/23 – 5/46	Contents Drawer 2, Old Projects (TTY MSGS crossed out)	1972, undated

Series 4: LPAP Link performance assessment data; 1973-1974. 1.0 cubic feet.

Box/Folder	Description	Dates
6/1	LPAP Data (Links 9186, 9200, 9202, 9207, 9209)	1973 August
6/2	LPAP Data (Links 9186, 9200, 9202, 9207, 9209)	1973 September
6/3	LPAP Data (Links 9186, 9200, 9202, 9207, 9209)	1973 October
6/4	LPAP – AGC & FM Quieting Curve Records	undated
6/5	LPAP – Link Status Reporting Criteria	1973 December
6/6	LPAP – Link Assignments	undated
6/7	LPAP Data (Links 9186, 9200, 9202, 9207, 9209)	1974 January
6/8	LPAP Data (Links 9186, 9200, 9202, 9207, 9209)	1974 February
7/1	LPAP Data (Links 9186, 9200, 9202, 9207, 9209)	1974 March
7/2	LPAP Data (Links 9186, 9200, 9202, 9207, 9209)	1974 April
7/3	LPAP Data	1974 May

Series 5: Radio logs; 1956-1976. 2.0 cubic feet. For a detailed folder list, click here.

Box/Folder	Description	Dates
8/1-8/21	Station Log #1 Invoice A 101- Station Log #21 Invoice A 121	1956 May 1-1971 December 4
9/1	Radio Log BSW	1971 January 24-1971 August 15
9/2	Logbook	1972 March 22-1973 January 16
9/3	Logbook	1973 January 16-1973 August 7
9/4	Log BSW	1973 August 8-1976 January 3
9/5	Logbook	1976 January 3-1976 February 19
9/6	Logbook	1976 February 19-1976 August 2
9/7	Logbook	1976 August 18-1976 December 27
9/8	Radio Log Book	1978 September 7-1978 October 31
9/9	No Description	undated
9/10	Oil Sample Log Boswell Bay 850 Invoice B 106	1973 August10-1974 June 18
9/11	Power Room Log Book	1960 July 1-1969 September 2

Series 6: Supply and shipping records; 1971-1978. 0.75 cubic feet.

Box/Folder	Description	Dates
10/1	FPO File	undated
10/2	Initial Ordering Information	undated
10/3	Manifest From Boswell	1974 - 1978
10/4	Manifest From BSW	undated
10/5	Cool Barge Info	undated
10/6	MRO RCA	July 1974
10/7	MRO	January 1976
10/8	MRO	January 1978
10/9	MRO	1979
10/10	Discrepancy Reports: SF 364, DD 1599	undated
10/11	Air Bill Delivery Receipts, GBLs	undated
10/12	Over, Short, and Damaged AF69	undated
10/13	Bills of Lading Commercial and Government	undated
10/14	Cool Barge, Current Info.	undated
10/15	Cool Barge	June 1971
10/16	Cool Barge	1972
10/17	Cool Barge	1973

Series 7: Site restoration files, undated. 0.25 cubic feet.

Box/Folder	Description	Dates
11/1	Boswell Bay Site Restoration Phase II – Restoration Plan, Specification Permits, and Agency Approvals	undated

Series 8: Drawings, undated. 14.0 cubic feet.

Box/Folder	Description	Dates
12	Working Files – T4G02 Drawings: 185-3001.	undated
12	Master Files - T4G02 Drawings: 000-565.	undated
13	Master Files – T4G02 Drawings (Cont’d): 590-3001.	undated
13	SD Drawings – SD 55031 – SD 63661-01	undated
14	SD Drawings (Cont’d) SD 63674-01 – SD 96478	undated
15	SD Drawings (Cont’d) SD 96508 – SD 98124	undated
15	“T” Drawings – T 491276 – T 64724	undated
16	“T” Drawings (Cont’d) T 64741 T 98613	undated
17	“ED” Drawings – ED 2345 – ED 71185	undated
18	“ED” Drawings – ED 80190 – ED 99214	undated
18	“J” Drawings – J 44105 – J 64001	undated
19	“J” Drawings (Cont’d) J 64030 – J 86220	undated
20	“J” Drawings (Cont’d) J 86221 – J 99252	undated
20	“H” Drawings 000-003 to 816-042	undated
21	“DP”, “E” Drawings and “H” WA-DP-1000- to E-1892	undated
22/1	“DP” and “E” Drawings & “H” (Cont’d) E-1893 – to G-805042	undated
22/2	“L” – “A” – “B” – “BL” – “GA” – GI – GS – LM – M –A – R – SK – S – WA – WL – W – LC – XP – P – I Drawings AMC A-456 to GA10324	undated
23	“L” – “A” – “B” – “BL” – “GA” – GI – GS – LM – A – R – SK – S – WA – WL – W – LC – XP – P – I Drawings AMC (Cont’d) GA -10325 to W-1850	undated
24/1	“L” – “A” – “B” – “BL” – “GA” – GI – GS – LM – A – R – SK – S – WA – WL – W – LC – XP – P – I Drawings AMC (Cont’d) W-1851 to XP-Drawings & V-Drawings Series	undated
24/2	“G” Drawings 221439 to 251640	undated
25/1	Western Electric “G” Drawings (Cont’d) 241641 to ECP – 10DP-5-SKA	undated
25/2	C – EA – ER – ES – EW – GP Drawings C-7383 to EA-19214-01-M1	undated

Series 9: Test and lineup data; 1954-1984. 2.2 cubic feet.

Box/Folder	Description	Dates
26/1	C – EA – ER – ES – EW – GP Drawings (Cont’d) EA 19405-01M1 to Bay, Unit Pan 8 Misc. Equipment	undated
26/2	Additional Drawings ESB – M400381-SE-1 to Envelope with Block Diagram	1984 July, undated
26/3	Wiring Diagrams 1262WD – 3571WD	undated
26/4	Test and Line-Up Data, White Alice, Mechanical Data BMEWS	undated
27/1	Copy Number One, REL Specification Drawings	1955-1957
27/2	Specification Preface Sheets	1956
27/3	Program Structure 474L, Cutover Procedures	1960
27/4	Modification Kits	1956
27/5	Modification Kits for AN/FRC 39 A(V), No. 83, Issue-2, and No. 112	1961-1963
27/6	Test Records	1956
27/7	Relay Verification	1956
27/8	Test Data; Line-up Forms, Master Records	1956
27/9	“CO” REL Test Instructions & Data Sheets	1956
27/10	Architectural Brochures & Shop Drawings. Boswell Bay	1960-1963
27/11	Mechanical Brochures & Shop Drawings. Boswell Bay	1960
27/12	Structural Brochures & Shop Drawings. Boswell Bay	1960
27/13	Structural Shop Drawings. Boswell Bay	1960-1961
27/14	Installation & Data Drawings	1960
27/15	Parts & Price List; Contract # DA-95-507-eng-1416	1958
27/16	Equipment Manuals; Contract DA-95-507-eng-1416	1960
27/17	Parts List w/Prices; Contract DA-95-507-eng-1416	1960
27/18	Fuel Oil Pump, Chicago Pneumatic – Type 8CP or 9CP Engine	1957
27/19	Fire Alarm, Flex Alarm	1959
27/20	White Alice Project, Operation & Maintenance Manual for Boswell Bay Building Services	1957
27/21	Submittal Data Contract No. NPASP 78-62-135	1960
27/22	Parts & Price Lists, Contract # DA-95-507-eng-1416	1960
28/1	Eg. Manuals Rearward Communication, Facilities Boswell Bay Contract # DA-95-507-eng-1416	1954-1960
28/2	Fire Alarms Prints & Info	1959
28/3	Parts List w/Prices Rearward Comm. Facilities Boswell Bay Contract DA-95-507-eng-1416	1960

Series 10: Drawings and schematics; 1958-1981. 1.0 cubic feet. For a detailed folder list, click here.

Box/Folder	Description	Dates
29/1	INDEX of Drawing Associated with 1 KW Farinon VDZ Trans and RECVR (Empty)	undated
29/2-29/32	SD drawings	1958-1967, undated
29/33	AS 67396 APP SCH. 1 KW ANT SW PNL	1967
29/34	BL 67396 Block & Level Hot Standby ASSY	1965
29/35	EW 67396 A21 B2 1 KWPWR AMP ASSY EQ Wiring	undated
29/36	EW 67396 A11 B1 VDZ Auto Transfer ASSY	1967
29/37-29/39	SK drawings	undated
29/40	PT – 180 Drawings W- E- EW-	undated
29/41-29/47	CD drawings	undated
29/48	OP-33 I&PB, Feed System GS-18736 For Antenna Group AN/FRA-21 (Empty)	undated
29/49	WAF 237 Station Circuit Order LOG	undated
29/50	Circuit Order Control LOG	undated
29/51	Circuit Order Information	undated
29/52	FDSR 10479	1982
29/53	DMDR 10549	1979
29/54	RTN5-10731 (OLD 9GR0019)	1979-1981
29/55	RTL510797 (OLD 7938)	1978
29/56	FDD5-10926	1980
29/57	FDD4-10949	1980
29/58	RTN-11110	1980
29/59	CDV ANC 201-204	1982
29/60	26-583 (BSW Telex)	undated
29/61	26-591 (CYT Telex)	undated
29/62	FXN2-907-279-4255	1981
29/63	3181	1976
29/64	3639	1980
29/65	LGJV7037	1979
29/66	7057	1983
29/67	7086	1972
29/68	7120	1982
29/69	7134	1975
29/70	7400	1973
29/71	7510	1975
29/72	7968	1979

Series 11: Site maintenance information records; 1956-1977. 1.0 cubic feet. For a detailed folder listing, click here.

Box/Folder	Description	Dates
30/1-	Misc. Station Information. Office Copy	1960
30/2-30/62	Numbered site information records	1973-1981, undated
30/63	Site 1 Hinchinbrook Maintenance & Operation Mechanical Data	1956
30/64	Power Cable Fault Location	undated
30/65	Instruments & Control Systems (Empty)	undated
30/66	Cross Index of Lenkurt TRSTRS/DIODES	1968
30/67	Prime Power Generation Deficiency Replacement Water Storage Tank	1966
30/68	Equipment Manual Water Storage Tank	1967
30/69	Installation & Lubrication INSTR Western Gear D-52-S Reducer	1956
30/70	C-O-TWO Fire Protection Equipment	1955
30/71	Kidde Fire Protection Equipment	1960
30/72	Instruments and Control Systems	1964
30/73	MISC POP Sheets	1960
30/74	Synchro Flame Burners	1957
30/75	Flex Alarm Fire Alarm System (Empty)	undated
30/76	FEC Comments WECO PRW REV BSW	undated
30/77	Maintenance & Operation Mech Data (Empty)	undated
30/78	Equipment Manuals (Empty)	undated
30/79	Equipment Manuals	1959
30/80	Equipment Manuals	1959-1960
30/81	Service Parts List	1960
30/82	Service Parts List (Empty)	undated
30/83	White Alice Project Building Spec’s (Empty)	undated
30/84	Installation Instructions for Dunlap Therm-o-Motor	1964
30/85	3006 Drawings (Empty)	undated
30/86	Instruction Booklet for “Your New Royal”	undated
30/87	Parts List Tools and Attachments (Super Suction)	undated

Series 12: Specifications records; 1956-1968. 2.0 cubic feet. For a detailed folder listing, click here.

Box/Folder	Description	Dates
31/1-31/4	SPEC 101-106	1957-1961
31/5-31/8	SPEC 133, 135-137	1960-1965
31/9	SPEC 147	1965
31/10	SPEC 155	undated
31/11-31/20	SPEC 160, 161, 164-171	1956-1962
31/21-3/24	SPEC 175-SPEC 178	1960-1965
31/25-31/29	SPEC 182-SPEC 183, 185, 187, 189	1956-1965
31/30-31/32	SPEC 191-193	1960-1968
31/33-31/34	SPEC 247-248	1957-1958
31/35	SPEC 266	1956
31/36	SPEC 275	1957
32/1-32/4	SPEC 283-285, 287	1960-1965
32/5-35/6	SPEC 291-292	1956-1959
32/7-32/10	SPEC 383, book 1-book4	1957-1968
32/11	SPEC 475	1960
32/12	SPEC 482	1961
32/13	SPEC 835	1960
32/14	SPEC 889	1960
32/15	SPEC 5003-5050	1961
32/16-32/20	SPEC 5052	1960-1961, undated
32/21	Drawing Use Information	1957

Series 13: Manuals; 1946-1984. 18.7 cubic feet. The bulk of the manuals are from the 1950s and 1960s. For a detailed folder list, click here.

Box/Folder	Description	Dates
33/1-54/32	Manuals.	1946-1984

Series 14: Restricted materials (personnel data). 0.5 cubic feet.

Series 15: Oversize drawings; 1984. 6.0 cubic feet.

Box/Folder	Description	Dates
56/1	Alascom. WACS. BB5. Plans + Drawings B	undated
56/2	Alascom. WACS. BB5. Plans + Drawings A+B	1984
56/3	Alascom. WACS. BB5. Plans + Drawings C	1984
56/4	Alascom. WACS. BB5. Plans + Drawings D	undated
57/1	Alascom Drawings I	undated
58/1	II Outside, III Inside	undated
59/1	IV Outside, V Inside	undated
60/1	VI Inside, VII Inside, VIII Outside	undated
61/1	IX Outside, X Inside	undated
62/1	XI Inside, XII Outside	undated
63/1	XIII Outside, XIV Inside	undated
64/1	Drawings and Plans	undated