Alaska Air Command, King Salmon, Rapids Lodge

Alaska Air Command (AAC), established in 1945, was a major command of the United States Air Force responsible for the air defense of Alaska during the Cold War. Among its network of remote installations was King Salmon Air Force Station, a vital radar site tasked with detecting and tracking potential Soviet incursions across the northern approaches. Rapids Lodge served as one of the key support facilities at King Salmon, providing living quarters and logistics for personnel stationed in the harsh Alaskan environment. Throughout its operation, King Salmon AFS and Rapids Lodge played a crucial role in early warning and air sovereignty missions until the station’s closure in the 1990s.