Kitten Pass is a waterway between Rabbit Island and Outer Island in the Pye Islands group, part of the Alaska Maritime Wildlife Refuge, approximately 48 miles (77 km) east-southeast of Seldovia and 63 miles (102 km) southwest of Seward, Alaska. The U.S. Coast and Geodetic Survey named the pass in 1927, likely inspired by the nearby Wildcat Pass. The Pye Islands lie on the east side of Nuka Bay. They first appeared on charts in 1786, when Captain Nathaniel Portlock named them “Pye’s Islands.” In 1852, Captain Tebenkov referred to them as “Ostrova Piy” or “Piy Islands.” Later, in 1888, the U.S. Bureau of Fisheries used the name “Pye Islands.”

In 1940, the Aircraft Warning Service, part of the U.S. Army Signal Corps, was authorized to construct a network of observation stations to warn of approaching enemy aircraft. By October 1942, Alaska’s Air Defense Plan had expanded to include very high-frequency stations. The Outer Island Aircraft Warning Service Station was built in response to these initiatives. By the end of 1942, Outer Island was one of more than 20 such stations in Alaska, either operational or under construction.

By August 1942, a temporary construction camp was established at the island’s southeastern tip, approximately 325 feet (99m) above sea level. The camp was designed to accommodate 150 men and included a headquarters, two 50-man barracks, three Quonset huts for materials storage, three latrines, a cold storage building, a powerhouse, and the detector site. Water was to be supplied by two concrete-lined storage tanks, connected to the camp via water lines. The camp was linked to a landing site at Kitten Pass on the island’s north side by a dirt road. The landing site featured a dock at the base of a cliff, connected to the road by a short aerial tram and stairway. Read more here and here. Explore more of Kitten Pass and Pye Islands here: