Bethel AB
Airfield Identification
July 1942 to present
United States of America
CITY: Bethel, AK
IATA/ICAO CODES: BET / PABE
COORDINATES: 60°47'N / 161°50'W
OTHER NAMES: Bethel AB
Commando Operations
Bethel Air Base was activated on 4 July 1942. It was used by the Air Transport Command as an auxiliary airfield for Lend-Lease aircraft being flown to Siberia. The facility was later transferred to 11th Air Force, then to Alaskan Air Command in 1945. Bethel Air Force Station was activated on the field in the mid-1950's as a USAF radar site supposed to give an early warning of possible Soviet air strikes. Full jurisdiction over the airport was turned over to Alaska Government in 1958.