Aleut Timeline Page One

1936 Federal Migratory Bird Treaty Act amended to include Mexico

Isobel Wylie Hutchinson collected botanical specimens from Attu to Atka aboard Cutter Chelan

1936-37 Olaus Murie led scientific work aboard M/V Brown Bear

1936-38 Ales Hrdlicka led Smithsonian Aleutian expeditions

1937 Dec. 14--Hazen Bay NWR created out of two unnamed islands

1937-40 C.L. Loy and O.A. Friden worked as sea otter wardens on Amchitka Island

1938 Division of Predator and Rodent Control established

Anangula discovery on Umnak Island

Feb. 19th, U.S.Navy minesweeper USS Swallow (AM-4) stranded on rocks at the entrance to Kanaga Bay, Kanaga Is. while conducting work with the Aleutian Island Survey Expedition. Crew of 40 officers and men taken to Dutch Harbor by U.S.C.G. cutter John C. Spencer, ship became a total loss

1939 Proposed Plan for Administration of the Aleutian Islands NWR

1940 Forrester Island changes from reservation to national wildlife refuge

Bureau of Fisheries and Bureau of Biological Survey merged to form the Fish and Wildlife Service

Name of Aleutian Islands Reservation changed to Aleutian Islands National Wildlife Refuge

Japan announced their withdrawal from the International Fur Seal Treaty and began gathering military intelligence on the Aleutian Islands under the guise of halibut and cod fishing

1941 U.S. military evacuated residents from Pribilof Islands to southeastern Alaska

Mar. 18th, Alaska Steamship liner Mt. McKinley wrecked at Scotch Cap, Unimak Is. No loss of life, ship a total loss

1942 Attu and Kiska islands invaded by Japanese troops

June 19th, Japanese oiler Nissan Maru bombed and sunk in Kiska Harbor, Kiska Is.

June 20th, American submarine S-27 (SS-132) grounded off Amchitka Island, crew escaped in rafts

July 5th, Japanese destroyer Arare torpedoed and sunk at entrance of Kiska Harbor, by U.S. sub USS Growler (SS-215)

July 15th, Japanese subchaser SC-25 sunk in Kiska Harbor by U.S. sub USS Grunion (SS-216)

July 15th, Japanese subchaser SC-27 sunk in Kiska Harbor by U.S. sub USS Grunion

July 30th, U.S. submarine USS Grunion went missing in vicinity of Kiska Is., presumed sunk

Aug. 8th, 8,572 ton Japanese cargo vessel Kano Maru sunk at Kiska Harbor, by U.S. aircraft and surface vessels

Sept. 1st, Japanese submarine RO-61 sunk by depth charges and shelling off Atka Is., five crew survived

Sept. 15th, 7,190 ton Japanese troop transport Nozima Maru bombed and sunk at Kiska Harbor

Oct. 5th, 5,863 ton Japanese steamship Borneo Maru bombed and sunk at Gertrude Cove, Kiska Is.

Oct. 17th, Japanese supply destroyer Oboro bombed and sunk at Kiska Is.

Nov. 4th, Japanese submarine RO-65 bombed and sunk at Kiska Is.

Bird and mammal reservations officially renamed national wildlife refuges

Attuans removed by Japanese and shipped to Japan for duration of war

American military evacuated all Aleuts west of Unimak and transported them to southeastern Alaska

Dutch Harbor bombed by Japanese military

U.S. military scouts put ashore on Kiska, found no sign of Japanese

1943 Battle of Attu; Americans landed on Attu on May 11

Jan.12th, U.S.Navy destroyer USS Worden (DD-352) struck a rock at the entrance of Constantine Harbor, Amchitka Is., and sank, 14 of the crew were lost

Jan. 12th, American military occupied Amchitka Island

Jan 23, Japanese discover American presence on Amchitka

Apr.4th, Japanese steamship Uragio Maru bombed and sunk at Kiska Harbor

Aug. 18th, USS Abner struck floating mine off Kiska Island; stern damaged extensively and broke off. Was towed from near Kiska Reef by destroyer Bancroft. Salvage tug Ute towed Abner to Adak for repair. It was the only warship casualty in Kiska operation.

Nov.21st, Russian steamship Turksib wrecked at Seal Cape, Unimak Is., no loss of life, ship became total loss

American salvage ship USS Rescuer (ARS-18) wrecked at Seal Cape, Unimak Is., while attempting to salvage SS Turksib. One crewmember killed.

American military recon flights served as detailed sea otter surveys under Frank Beals, Refuge Manager

Using the Aleutians as base, Americans flew bombing raids on Japanese islands of Shimushu and Paramushiru

1943-44 Henry B. Collins and group conducted war background studies of Aleutian Islands

1944 Pribilof Islanders returned to the Pribilof Islands

From Aleutian bases, over 100 sorties flown over Kurile Islands

1945 Feb.2nd, U.S. air Force pilot Art Kidder crashes in P-38 on Buldir Island, pilot assisted by U.S. navy weather station crew

The few surviving Attuans released in Japan and returned to Alaska and settled in Atka

1946 Motorship Crown Reefer wrecked at Amchitka Is., no loss of life, ship became a total loss

Douglas Gray became Refuge Manager of Aleutian Islands NWR

1948 Robert D. (Sea Otter) Jones became Refuge Manager of Aleutian Islands NWR

Two B-29s land on Amchitka during eclipse observation flights of May 8-9

1949 First tourists allowed to visit Pribilof Islands

 

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Aleutian Islands NWR began fox eradication program on Amchitka Island

1950-70 W.S. Laughlin directed Aleut-Konyag Prehistory and Ecology Project; extensive archaeological work

1950s-60s Cape Thompson site of proposed harbor to be built by hydrogen bomb explosion

1950 Merger of Bureau of Fisheries with Bureau of Biological Survey

1951 Mail delivery initiated to St. George Island

1951-52 First salvage of WWII military materials by Bankers Life and Casualty

1953 Salvage operations conducted by General metals of Tacoma

1955-66 Karl Kenyon conducted extensive sea otter studies

1956 The Fish and Wildlife Service reorganized as the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

coastal tanker Dulcinea stranded on Buldir Is., all crew rescued. Salvage attempts were made but ultimately the vessel and its cargo of 285,000 gallons of aviation gasoline became total losses

1957 Famous Aleutian explorer Greg Thomson born

Last live fox seen on Amchitka Island

1958 Caribou introduced on Adak Island

Alaska statehood achieved

Oct.22nd, fuel barge Barge #18 wrecked at Shemya Is.

Oct. 30th--Simeonof Island Reservation becomes Simeonof Island NWR

1959 Alaska becomes a state

Trina Fellows resided on Adak Island

1959-61 Atomic Energy commission bioenvironmental studies resulting from Project Chariot

1960 Amchitka declared fox-free

1962 USCG vessel Clover sailed to Buldir with Sea Otter Jones, Vern Berns and a dory, on June 25, they sighted 56 Aleutian Canada geese, first seen since 1938. Sighted over 10,000 sea lions hauled out on landing beach

1963 Bob Jones landed on Buldir Island and found about 300 Aleutian Canada geese; first goslings captured for rearing program at Monte Vista NWR in Colorado. Goslings ate F&M chow readily. Therm X heater used to keep their tent warm and dry.

1964 Good Friday earthquake

First open season permit caribou hunt on Adak Island

Agattu Island fox eradication program initiated

December, 521 Liberian steamship San Patrick wrecked on Ulak Is., broke up with loss of its entire crew of 32

1965 Underground nuclear bomb Long Shot detonated on Amchitka

October, Greek steamship Ekaterina G. goes aground on Great Sitkin Island, all crew rescued

Alaska SteamshipLine S.S. Oduna wrecked at Cape Pankof, Unimak Is., no loss of life, 200,000lbs. of frozen crab and other cargo salvaged, ship became a total loss

1966 Dec. 15th, F/V Shelikof grounded at Cape Lazaref, Unimak Is, crew rescued, vessel pounded to pieces by seas

The Aleut League was formed to become the Aleutian Planning Commission a few years later

1967 Aleutian Canada goose identified as endangered species under a new endangered species list

1967-76 Amchitka Bioenvironmental Program studied Amchitka Island environment and impacts of nuclear detonations

1968-71 Future Supervisory Wildlife Biologist Vernon Byrd in U.S. Navy on Adak Island

1969 Palmer Sekora conducted wilderness studies of Near Is. group by dory

Greenpeace created, in part due to nuclear testing on Amchitka Island

Nuclear device Milrow detonated on Amchitka Island

Fox eradication program initiated on Nizki Island

1970 Ex-U.S. Army t-boat M/V Aleutian Tern placed in service, replaced dory for wilderness surveys

Forrester Island Wilderness established; also designated as wilderness are St. Matthew, Hall, Pinnacle, Bogoslof, St. Lazaria, Chisik, Duck and Hazy Islands

Dorothy M. Jones conducted sociological studies in Aleutians

1971 Nuclear device Cannikan detonated on Amchitka Island

Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act signed; reviews federal lands in Alaska to recommend areas for NWR, Parks, National Forests and Wild and Scenic River

1971 The Aleut Corporation was formed as a result of the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act (ANCSA)

1972 Refuge headquarters transferred from Cold Bay to Adak

1973 Endangered Species Act amended; farthest reaching in its attempt to protect endangered and threatened species; Aleutian Canada goose listed as endangered under this new act

U.S. Air Force C-118 cargo plane crashes on Great Sitkin Island

1974 Aleutian Canada Goose recovery Team formed

1974 Jay Hammond begins either years in office as Governor of Alaska 1974 to 1982

1975 First accurate count of Aleutian Canada geese at spring stopover point in California revealed only 790 birds

Chamisso Island Refuge designated as wilderness

Alaid Island fox eradication program began

1976 Alaid/Nizki islands declared fox-free

Simeonof Island designated as wilderness

Construction of the Alaska Pipeline began on March 27, 1975

1976 Aleutian/Pribilof Islands Association, Inc. was chartered as a nonprofit corporation

Congress passed the Magnuson Fishery Conservation and Management Act, which gave American fishermen first crack at all stocks of fish within 200 miles of the U.S. coast.

1977 Six-year survey of refuge wildlife begins; monitoring to continue @ 3-5 year intervals for population trends

Aleutian Canada goose (ACG) total population 1160

Refuge facility established at Amchitka to captive rear Aleutian Canada geese

1979 Agattu Island declared fox-free

2nd breeding population of Aleutian Canada geese discovered on Kiliktagit Island in the Semidis; prior to this, only known surviving population was on Buldir Island

1980 Feb. 12th Withdrawal for Alaska Marine Resources NWR

Dec. 2nd--Alaska Maritime NWR created under Alaska National Interest Lands Claims Act; 3.5 million acres

Semidi Islands and 2.3 million acres of the Aleutian Islands unit (AMNWR) designated wilderness

1980 96th Congress of the U.S.A. established a commission on wartime relocation and internment of civilians

1981 AMNWR Homer HQ established

358 Aleutian Canada geese (ACG) released on Nizki Island

1982 291 ACG released on Agattu Island

Start of cattle removal from Simeonof, Chernabura and Caton Islands

St. Paul bird cliffs became part of NWR system

3rd population of Aleutian Canada geese discovered on Chagulak Island in central Aleutians

The first Alaska Permanent fund Dividend amount was $1,000. The first checks were distributed June 14, 1982

1983 Amukta Island, Adugak Island fox eradication program initiated

1984 Six species of never before recorded in the Aleutians birds were seen

Seven observed short-tailed albatross in Aleutians between 1944 and 1984

Record number of ACG observations made; 399 sightings of 40-50 birds

Fox eradication wrapped up on Amukta Island

Fox eradication programs initiated on Rat, Uliaga, Kasatochi and Bird Island

St. George Island bird cliffs become part of refuge

1985 St. George bird cliffs became part of AMNWR

Big Koniuji Island fox eradication program initiated

Commercial seal harvesting ceased on St. Paul Island

1986 Kiska Island fox eradication program initiated

Al Bayer appointed Captain of M/V Tiglax 1986 - 1995

1987 March 8th, 123 crabber Birgit N. grounded at Patton Cove, Ulak Is., crew rescued, vessel became a total loss

March 20th, 340 processor All Alaskan grounded at St. Paul Is., crew rescued, ship and cargo became a total loss

March 21, 80' F/V Ocean Clipper wrecked on S. side of St. Paul Is. when anchor dragged during storm, crew of six made it to a nearby reef in raft, were taken to St. Paul by USCG cutter Midgett

May 6th, 227 South Korean fish processor Tae Woong # 603, grounded at Uliaga Is., crew of 49 rescued, vessel became a total loss

July 2: Refuge commissions research vessel, M/V Tiglax

For first time since 1975, Aleutian shield fern discovered on Adak

Ushagat Island fox eradication program initiated

132 ACG transplanted from Buldir Island to Amchitka Island

WWII memorial dedicated on Attu Island

1988 Discovery of WWII soldiers remains on Buldir Island

Aleutian shield fern (Polystichum aleuticum) listed as endangered on the Endangered Species List; only known populations are on Atka and Adak Islands

Igitkin and Poperechnoi Islands fox eradication program initiated

Aleutian and Pribilof Islands Restitution Act signed

1989 Exxon Valdez oil spill wreaks environmental and administrative havoc; refuge staff assisted effected offices

1989 Chugul Island cleared of fox

Little Tanaga Island fox eradication program initiated

Border collies used to help capture without harm ACG for translocation

1990 Jan.29th, USFWS 25 Boston Whaler Kittiwake capsized at Adak Is., two crew lost

1990 Over 500 restitution payments made to eligible Aleuts

Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA) signed into law

Mar. 15th, 1992 fishing vessel Alaskan Monarch grounded, crew rescued, vessel became a total loss

Steller sea lions declared threatened under ESA; populations estimated at 80% of 1960 levels

Aleutian Canada goose status changed from endangered to threatened under ESA; population estimated at 6,300 birds

Carlisle Island fox eradication program initiated

1991 Umak, Amatignak and Ulak Islands fox eradication programs initiated

1992 First refuge cooperative nature camp for Native children held on St. Paul and St George Islands; partners are Native corporations, tribal and city governments and The Nature Conservancy

Aleutian and Pribilof Restitution Trust established

1993 Rat control program on Pribilofs funded

First annual Kachemak Bay Shorebird Festival produced with Homer Chamber of Commerce

60 acre site purchased for refuge headquarters in Homer

June: refuge fox trappers on Little Koniuji Is. discovered skeletal remains in an exposure suit, later determined to be victim of the sinking of F/V Sea Breeze, lost 11/11/92 near Yakutat

Yunaska, Little Koniuji and Herbert Islands fox eradication program initiated

1994 Little Tanaga Island fox-free

Simeonof, Kagamil and Chernabura Islands fox eradication program initiated

WWII B-24 removed from Great Sitkin Island

Crashed P-38 on Buldir Island removed; its WWII pilot Art Kidder present at removal

Amchitka's nuclear testing facility officially closed

Feb.1st, 1997 crabber Belair grounded on a seal rookery on South side of St.George Is., crew rescued

Feb 22nd, 117 crabber Chevak grounded near Reef Pt., St Paul Is., crew rescued

1995 Adak Navy base closes; AMNWR staff affected as more town and services cease to exist

Environmental assessment for new headquarters completed, Congress rescinds design money; project on hold

1996 Aleutian World War II National Historic Area established in Unalaska/Dutch Harbor

Kevin Bell promoted to Captain of M/V Tiglax 1996-present

1997 F/V Trina sand near Perl Island; sole crewman rescued

Alaskas breeding population of Stellers Eider listed as threatened under ESA

Western population of Steller sea lions listed as endangered under ESA

Adak Naval Air Station closes

1998 Interim visitor center acquired allowing expansion of the outreach department

Fox eradication programs initiated on Kanaga and Great SitkinIslands

1999 May 5th, USFWS M/V Tiglax grounded in Yoke Pass, Great Sitkin Is., vessel proceeded under own power to Sweeper Cove, Adak Is. for emergency repairs

Fox eradication program initiated on Attu Island

2000 Alaska Maritime NWR first refuge manager, John Martin, retired

2001 ACG taken off Endangered Species List; population recovered to more than 30,000 birds from low of 790. Only 27 of 1,208 species listed over the past 25 years have recovered sufficiently to be removed from the list

Fox eradication on Amlia Island completed

City of Adak incorporates

2003 Scientists map state's first known geologically active undersea volcano

On April 10, Alaska Airlines begins jet service to Adak

2004 Canada goose is rebounding on Aleutians

Aleuts take over Adak with hopes and plans for a renaissance

Selendang Ayu was a Malaysian cargo ship carrying a cargo of soybeans from Tacoma, Washington to China, which ran aground off the coast of Unalaska Island in western Alaska's Aleutian Islands on December 8, 2004. This resulted in a large oil spill.

2005 Alaskan Sea Otter Listed as Threatened

Unga Corporation signs final land conveyance

Marine Stewardship Council certifies the Alaska Pollock fishery as sustainable and well-managed

2006 23 on Asian cargo ship rescued near Aleutians

Alaska villages reject heating oil gift from Bush critic Chavez

Sarah Palin becomes Governor of Alaska

2007 Bush lifts drilling ban in Alaska's Bristol Bay

TAC permanent fund reaches $10,000,000

 

Authors of parts of this timeline from http://home.corecom.net/~usfws/timeline.htm and Sled, http://vilda.alaska.edu/site-templates/timeline.html and from the Aleutian Pribilof Island (APIA) site and from this site.

 

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