Castner’s Cutthroats: the Alaskan scouts that gave America its westernmost WWII base

Castner’s Cutthroats and the Secret Alaskan Infiltration

Adak Island holds the secret of America’s most unusual World War II scouts.

On August 28, 1942, thirty-seven men called “Castner’s Cutthroats” paddled rubber rafts through freezing waters to reach this remote Alaskan island.

These Alaska Natives, trappers, and hunters with names like “Bad Whiskey Red” had one job: check if Japanese troops were waiting. They found an empty island and cleared the way for 4,500 American soldiers to land safely.

When no airfield site existed, the Cutthroats dammed a lagoon and drained it, creating a landing strip from the sandy bottom. Here’s the full story of this daring mission and how to visit the runways they built.

Submarines Snuck Alaska’s Secret Scouts to Adak in 1942

Two U.S. submarines, USS Triton and USS Tuna, surfaced four miles east of Adak Island on August 28, 1942.

In darkness, 37 men from the 1st Alaskan Combat Intelligence Platoon loaded their gear into five rubber rafts. Colonel Lawrence V. Castner gave final orders to his team.

They needed to check if Japanese troops were on the island before the main American force arrived from Dutch Harbor. The scouts carried thousands of soldiers’ fate as they slipped into the black waters.

Tough Guys Paddled Through Freezing Arctic Waters

The team paddled four miles through icy Arctic water toward the unknown shore. Fog covered the water, hiding the small group of rafts.

These weren’t regular soldiers but a mix of Alaska Natives, trappers, hunters, fishermen, and prospectors. They used nicknames like “Bad Whiskey Red,” “Aleut Pete,” and “Waterbucket Ben.”

People called them “Castner’s Cutthroats” for their rough skills and unusual methods. Every man knew the Arctic wilderness from years of experience.

Beach Landing Went Without a Hitch at Kuluk Bay

The scouts landed at Kuluk Bay, quickly hid their rafts, and set up security. Teams spread across the shoreline, moving quietly from years of hunting practice.

Colonel Castner split his men into small groups to cover more ground quickly.

The unmapped island terrain made getting around hard, with volcanic mountains and valleys blocking paths.

The scouts used their wilderness skills to move through the landscape, marking paths and danger spots as they went inland.

Nobody Home: Island Turned Out Empty of Japanese Forces

After searching the volcanic terrain, the scouts found no Japanese troops on Adak. Teams checked possible harbor spots, high ground, and fresh water sources where enemies might camp.

The scouts sent signals to the submarines waiting offshore with the good news.

This empty island sat just 250 miles from Japanese-held Kiska, making it perfect for American forces. The scouts mapped landing zones, water sources, and building sites while waiting for the main force.

Ships Brought Thousands of Troops to Build a Base

On August 30, a fleet of 17 ships arrived at Kuluk Bay carrying 4,500 men and tons of equipment. Thanks to the scouts, the landing happened without any fighting.

Trucks, bulldozers, and building materials came ashore as the military started building America’s westernmost World War II base.

Within a week, special units like the 807th Engineer Aviation Battalion joined the growing force on Adak. The job quickly changed from scouting to building as they raced to finish an airfield before winter.

Mountain Island Created a Runway Headache

Engineers faced a big problem after landing: they couldn’t find flat ground big enough for an airfield. The volcanic mountains and rocky ground offered no natural runway spots.

Army surveyors rushed to find any good location as commanders grew worried. Without an airfield, the whole mission would fail.

Time was running out as Japanese forces stayed active on Kiska, just 250 miles away. Normal building plans didn’t work on this rough Aleutian island.

Clever Scouts Turned a Lagoon into an Airstrip

Castner’s Cutthroats came up with a smart fix for the runway problem: dam a coastal lagoon and drain it. The scouts found a tidal marsh with solid sand and gravel under the water and mud.

Work began on September 2 as troops built walls around the marsh and dug drainage ditches to remove the water. Bulldozers scraped away the soggy topsoil to reach the natural gravel base below.

Airfield Sprang Up From Muddy Ground in Days

Gravel and sand spread across the drained lagoon made a usable runway in just over a week. A B-18 Bolo bomber from the 73rd Bomb Squadron landed successfully on September 10, proving the makeshift strip worked.

Engineers built stronger, permanent walls with special pipes and gates to control water levels. Hundreds of men worked day and night, moving tons of rock and gravel to strengthen the runway.

Bombers Started Hitting Japanese Ships Two Weeks After Landing

The first major attack from Adak on September 14, 1942, caught Japanese forces by surprise.

Thirteen B-24 Liberators and one B-17 Flying Fortress took off from the new runway, with fighter escorts including fourteen P-38 Lightnings, fourteen P-40 Warhawks, and seven P-39 Airacobras.

The planes hit Japanese ships in Kiska Harbor, causing major damage. The 250-mile distance from Adak to Kiska let American planes make multiple bombing runs each day.

Air Base Grew into a Major Military Hub

By late September, Adak Army Airfield housed several B-17 Flying Fortress bombers from the 36th Bomb Squadron, P-38 Lightnings from the 54th Fighter Squadron, and five B-24 Liberators.

Japanese forces only realized Americans had built a base on Adak on September 30, a full month after the initial landing.

Construction teams built docks, fuel storage tanks, and barracks for the growing number of personnel.

Workers reinforced the temporary dirt runway with steel planking and asphalt to handle heavier aircraft and survive the harsh Aleutian weather.

Wilderness Fighters Proved Their Worth in the Aleutian Campaign

Adak became the key launching point for operations that eventually pushed Japanese forces out of the Aleutian Islands.

The 250-mile proximity to enemy positions allowed fighter planes to escort bombers all the way to their targets and back. After the war, the military renamed the airbase Davis Army Airfield to honor Colonel Everett S. Davis.

Castner’s Cutthroats showed how local knowledge and unconventional tactics could succeed where traditional military approaches might fail.

Their four-mile paddle through Arctic waters launched a campaign that helped secure America’s vulnerable northern frontier.

Visiting Adak Army Base and Adak Naval Operating Base, Alaska

You can explore the former runways where Castner’s Cutthroats dammed a lagoon to build the first landing strip for America’s westernmost WWII base.

Alaska Airlines flies to Adak twice weekly from Anchorage on Wednesdays and Saturdays. Stay at Adak Island Inn and get hiking maps from the Fish and Wildlife visitor center.

You’ll need a land use permit from Aleut Corporation for outdoor activities.

Bring plenty of food since local stores have limited supplies, and expect very limited cell service.

This article was created with AI assistance and human editing.

Read more from this brand:

• The Siberian orphan who created Alaska’s first Native alphabet and became a Russian saint
• How a millionaire sheep hunter retired at 35 to create Alaska’s first national park
• Alaska’s secret fortress where 800 Tlingit warriors made their final stand against Russia in 1804