Hokkaido Loran Station 1974 - This video was posted by Jeff Howard.  

Great shots from the top of the Loran tower and when the tower was recently taken down.  Check it out guys!

Hokkaido Loran Station 1974

 Walking Tour of Urahoro, Japan. 

This was the town closest to Loran Station Hokkaido. 

 

 COAST GUARD FAR EAST SECTION (FESEC)

 

 

The staff of the FESEC put together a photo album of all of the Loran Station in the Far East Section.  Lots of great information and a ton of photos of each LorSta including Hokkaido.  Click on the link here: CG Far East Section Album 1973

New book just published about duty on the remote Loran Station Iwo Jima, Japan.  Daniel White, the author of "What Rotten Eggs" was the Commanding Officer of Lorsta Iwo Jima from 1965-1966. The book is a work of fiction based on a true story.  The book follows a CG Lieutenant as he begins a tour as the new commanding officer.  While he didn't know what to expect on this desolate island LT Roy Fisher absolutely never could have predicted what happened.  In his first week, a crew member went insane and another threatened to knife him in his sleep.  He experiences a life-or-death decision with a sailor who had gone into shock.  One crew member was so distraught he tried to sail 700 miles to Tokyo on a homemade raft.  While dealing with all this, the new commanding officer realizes that someone on the base is working to make him fail.  This was an excellent read - a real page turner for me - a book I couldn't put down.  It had me going back in time to my days on Loran Station Hokkaido, Japan.  We are a unique breed fellows!  Get this book you won't be sorry.  The book is available from a number of sources including Amazon.  Here's the link:  https://www.amazon.com/What-Rotten-Eggs-Daniel-White/dp/1685371000

 

                                                                                                                                                                  Article: Two LORAN stations turned over to Japan - 

by Stripes Staff Writer Dave Schad

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Here are two recently submitted photos of LORSTA HOKKAIDO in the winter.  Exact date of the photos are unknown.

 

Here's a YouTube video of the Loran tower coming down.  I don't have any other details on this.  If anyone has information in regards to the date it was taken down please let me know.

Loran Station Transmitter Tower Coming Down

More Photos of the Loran Sta Gang!

Seaman Pewitt and Seaman Huth

MK3 Jerry Arnold at Bat - game against local Japanese!

 

 

ET3 Dave Masinter (1/6/1976)

The Gangs All Here! Photos

ET3 Nixon

ET3 Ligon in the Timer Room

MK2 Mogford on the Mound

 

 

LORAN Station Hokkaido Dragon's Head Patch

Ltjg Ron Borison - Editor of this Blog! Circa 1977

Then LTJG Ron Borison - Commanding Officer of LORSTA Hokkaido - 1976 thru 1977.  Yep - that's right it's me - yours truly.  Notice the Japanese license plates on my car.  They drive on the left side of the road in Japan.  Photo compliments of Martin Swords.   Thanks Martin!!

LORAN Transmitter X-Ray Exposure

A Final Report on LORAN Transmitter X-Ray Exposure has been published.  

It's entitled: 

Personnel Radiation Exposure

Associated with X-Rays Emanating from U.S. Coast Guard LORAN High Voltage Vacuum Tube Transmitter Units 

Here is the link:

http://www.loran-history.info/health/DTRA-TR-10-26%20-%20USCG%20LORAN%20Transmitter%20X-Ray%20Exposure_final.pdf

Shishi Hiromichi - Station Cook & Mr. Oba - Interpreter circa 1990

                                               Shishi Hiromichi - Station cook - Deceased
                            Mr Hiromichi was aboard since the construction of the station

                                                           Mr. Oba - Interpreter 1990

LORSTA HOKKAIDO as Seen From Google Earth!

LORSTA HOKKAIDO as seen from Google Earth!

LORAN Tower Photos taken by Jess Howard 75'-76'

                                  A view from the LORAN tower - photos by Jeff Howard
                                                    LORSTA Hokkaido 75' - 76'

Jack SATO Photo - circa 76-77

                                             Anyone remember this guy?  Jack Sato hard at work!
                                             Jack was the station's translator/interpreter.  Photo was
                                             taken between April 76 and April 77.

Loran Station Hokkaido crew - taken between April 76 and April 77

                            LORAN STATION HOKKAIDO crew after a personnel inspection.  
                                           Photo taken between 8 April 1976 and 5 April 1977. 
                                                                      Recognize anyone?

Loran Station Hokkaido Japan Fact Sheet

Fact Sheet - compliments of Loran-History website!

Site Survey:	JAN 1962
Construction Date	Summer 1962 - Construction commenced
Constructed by:
Established:	9 APR 1963 Commissioning ceremony
Disestablished:	OCT 1993 - Transfer to Japan
Operated by:	USCG
Chain:	NORTHWEST PACIFIC
Station Letter designation:	SS-3, 9970, 7930 – “X”
Station code name:	WING I
Station Unit Number:	14-40176
Radio Call Sign:
Station aka:
On-air testing date:	SS-3 – 25 JUL 1963 SS-3 – 17 MAR 1964 SS-3 – 21 DEC 1964
Operational date:	21 JAN 1964
Operations Ceased:	30 SEP 1993
Station Operation:	Single SLAVE/SECONDARY (SS)
Station pair:	SS-3, 9970 GESASHI, IWO JIMA, MARCUS, YAP, BARRIGADA
Loran Rate:	SS-3, 9970, 7930
On-Air:	SS-3 - 21 JAN 1964 SS-3 – 25 MAY 1964 SS-3 – 1 JAN 1965 9970 – 25 FEB 1975 7930 – 210300Z FEB 1981 9970 – 310700Z MAR 1981
Off-Air	SS-3 – MAR 1964 IWO & YAP Off Air – Tower Failures SS-3 – 21 DEC 1964 IWO & YAP On-Air SS-3 – 25 FEB 1975 Change of Rate 9970 – 210300Z FEB 1981 IWO Off-Air Tower Maintenance 7930 – 310300Z MAR 1981 IWO On-Air 9970 – 30 SEP 1993 Loran C replaced by GPS
Monitor Rate:
Equipment:	AN/FPN-46/44, 625ft Tower, 1MW 1968 Clarinet Pilgrim installed
Antenna Type:	625ft – Wind Turbine, Model 6000s, 1963
Personnel Allowance:
Miscellaneous:	13 AUG 1962 Site Survey Report declassified
Commanding Officers / Officers in Charge	CO: LT RA Applebaum 1963 - 1964 CO: LT Thomas P Dolan 1974 - 1975 CO: LTJG Ronald R Borison 8 APR 1976 – 5 APR 1977 CO: LTJG Jacobs 1979 - 1980 CO: LTJG Butler 1984 CO: LTJG Robert S Walters 1987 - 1988 CO: LT Frank Young 1989 CO: LTJG Vogelbacher 1991

Here's all of the Lorsta Hokkaido unit patches I could find.  If you have one I've missed please send me the picture.

Ron

Coast Guard Loran Station Hokkaido Japan Blogspot Arrives!!!

Hello fellow Hokkaido LORAN (or is it ROLAN?) guys!  I've been getting lots of emails from guys that served on Lorsta Hokkaido.  Got motivated to start this blog as a central location to store stories and photos of life on Lorsta Hokkaido.  Let us here from you.  Send stories and photos to rrborison@gmail.com.

Ron Borison