Rather than be bored initially, I have waited until now to talk a bit about Midway's history. While the two islands (Sand, the larger and Eastern, the smaller) may have been visited by Polynesians and other explorers the 1st habitation was in the early 1900's.
In the early 1900's Sand Island became a cable repeating station for the Transpacific Cable System and was manned by a crew of six. This cable linked the West with the Far East.
The Japanese cut the cable during WWII and reestablished in 1964 while I was stationed there. Until 1964 ET could not directly phone home.
In the mid-1930's Midway was a stop connecting the west coast with the Far East using the Pan Am Clippers (flying boats). It was at this time that the facilities were quietly upgraded in response to the Winds of War.
One reason I was sent to Midway was that I was an Electrical Engineer. The Pan Am Clipper Staff was maybe 600 personnel and initially were supplied power by local generators. Somehow during that same the Pan Am era a permanent power plant was built, and its capacity was 10,000 people. (Somebody was expecting WWII.) There were problems with the power plant and connect that with an EE. In the wisdom of the Navy, I never touched the power plant. Unlike today in the late 1930's the 7 Ps were in play. Proper Prior Planning Prevents Piss Poor Performance.
At the outset of WWII, Midway had been beefed up and was next on the list after Pearl Harbor. The Battle of Midway just 6 months later was the start of the defeat of Japan. Post WWII not much happening there but the advent of the cold war breathed new life into Midway. It had an 8000 ft air strip with a 3000-foot overrun... read big jet capable.
In 1963, Midway was part of the Airborne Early Warning System. The flight crews home ported at Barner's Point HI, were on a rotational two-week tour.
The aircraft you’re asking about — the “Willie Victor” AEW platform flown from Midway Island in 1963 — was the Lockheed WV‑2 Warning Star, which was later redesignated EC‑121 when the U.S. military standardized aircraft naming in 1962.
Midway Island hosted Navy AEW barrier squadrons that flew long-duration radar patrols during the Cold War. These missions were part of the Pacific Barrier (“PacBar”) early‑warning network, and the WV‑2/EC‑121 was the primary aircraft used.
Thus, our primary mission was to keep Midway open to support the EC-121 operations. It was rumored there were some "spook" stuff going on with civilian contractors but like Sgt. Schultz, I knew nothing.
Midway had many left-over WWII revetments and bunkers. The bunkers were an issue as they were unsafe and a haven for teenagers to have a little party. More than once while standing OOD I was called out to find some missing teenagers. The ringleader was the XO's teenage son, and when found you had to finesse his leaving the bunker. That kid was a prick! Typically, he would try to parlay his dad was the XO. I always had the Master at Arms with me as a witness. Another trick I picked up in the Navy.
Midway's mean elevation was 6 feet ASL and so we were concerned about Tsunami's and as the most junior officer on the island my GQ station was the port. Midway was surrounded by a Coral Reef which affords it some protection except for the port opening.
We routinely had General Quarters Drills, and I remember what seemed like an unscheduled drill. On November 23, 1963. Early in the day we had the GQ sounded and the normal drill was to go to a designated location and pick up my side arm. This was different as not only did I get my weapon but 4 magazines of .45 Cal ammo. Oh, oh this was a war action not a drill. I was at my GQ station for three hours before we found out JFK was assassinated.
Them that know can make things go.
73's
Pete N6QW
