WASHINGTON (AP) — Fearing a Russian invasion and occupation of Alaska, the U.S. government in the early Cold War years recruited and trained fishermen, bush pilots, trappers and other private citizens across Alaska for a covert network to feed wartime intelligence to the military, newly declassified Air Force and FBI documents show.
Invasion of Alaska? Yes. It seemed like a real possibility in 1950.
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The secret plan was to have citizen-agents in key locations in Alaska ready to hide from the invaders of what was then only a U.S. territory. The citizen-agents would find their way to survival caches of food, cold-weather gear, message-coding material and radios. In hiding they would transmit word of enemy movements.
This is not surprising. In the late 60’s and early 70’s I was part of a large DIA/Military Intelligence Group in Southern Bavaria. In case of war nearly all of the Group was to be evacuated. I was a member of a small Company that was to stay behind and in case of war were to find our way to a few bolt holes that contained radio equipment and supplies for several months. We used to practice getting to those bolt holes a couple of times a year. I remember we used to actually enjoy these exercises since it beat our boring office jobs. I also remember we made certain those Bolt Holes were stocked plenty of hashish and wine.
graphic via shutterstock.com