1871-1900 Yaquina Head Lighthouse Letter books

(Image top left)

CAPE BLANCO (Fl.White - 20 Seconds

(Image top right) CAPE ARAGO (Group Fl. White - 20 Seconds)

(Image bottom) HECETA HEAD (Fl. White - 10 Seconds)

RACON - LORAN

Of all the ingenious war developments which were diverted to peace time use, RACON and LORAN were the two which effected safer navigation for air and surface craft and were, therefore, the concern of the Aids to Navigation Section, both during and after the war.

RACONS (formed by the contraction of RAdar and BeaCON and not to be confused with RACAN, the initial terminology for ANRAC equipment)¹ had been established during the war years at Air Stations or Light Stations (or activities where the need for them was evident) along the coasts of North America, from Greenland to the West Indies, in the Hawaiian Islands and the Canal Zone. Military agencies were the sole users of RACONS until the conclusion of the war, at which time the use of RADAR was permitted to commercial concerns and, consequently, dictated the post war expansion of the RADAR beacon installations. Although many RACONS were discontinued at Air Stations which the Army or the Navy abandoned, more were eventually established along the routes of commercial aircraft.

Both the Army and Navy awaited eagerly the completion of RADAR and, when it was perfected, began installing it, ashore and afloat. It was not, however, until the early months of 1943, that the RACON program reached the Northwest Coast. Early in that year, the Navy had determined to establish RACONS on Coast Guard Light Stations at Cape Arago, Charleston, Oregon, Cape Blanco, Port Orford, Oregon, heceta Head, Florence, Oregon, and Yaquina Head, Agate Beach, Oregon. As the aerial activity in the 13th Naval District had increased rapidly, the RACONS were located at highly important navigational points and were regarded as a responsibility comparable to that of a light or radiobeacon. No additional personnel were required for the RACONS as the equipment itself needed very little attention. Although a continuous watch was necessary, the radio-telephone watch was able to maintain and operated the RACONS without hindrance to their other assigned duties. Sixteen Coast Guardsmen from the above mentioned Light Stations were schooled in operation and maintenance of RACON equipment at the one week training course at the Naval Air Station, Seattle, a short time before the installations were completed.

The installation of these early RACONS was supervised by the Air Officer, Northwest Sea Frontier. All equipment, including the converted power supply and its installation, were supplied through the Radio Material Officer, 13th Naval District. The Coast Guard's responsibility was to assign

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1885

Oct. 23 Charts Nos. 655_656_and 659, 13th Dist. to be sent Oct. 26 Charts 659 [2 copies] 649 & 658 - forwd. Oct. 27 Columbia River Walker's Isld. Channel_change in buoyage action approved Oct. 27 Columbia River Martins' Isld Bar - lump - buoyage - ??? Oct. 30 Chart No. 641 ??? forwarded Nov. 9 Chart No. 662_forwarded_ Nov. 12 Cape Blanco condition of tower &c., Keeper to be admonished Dec. 5 Cape Disappointment - Condition - Kper. to be admonished Dec. 5 Columbia River Prairie Channel-3 single pile beacons Dec. 5 Cape Foulweather Keepers to wear Uniforms _ Regulation Dec. 5 Columbia River Whistling buoy - repairs - authority Dec. 8 Columbia River Land Isld. - day beacon - rebuilding views asked Dec. 9 Chart No. 641 - forwarded Dec. 9 Cape Arago Boat_authority Dec. 14 Cape Foulweather Expenditure of oil - Brilliancy of Lt. - to be maintained Dec. 19 Channels, Rivers &c., Buoys for marking_Regulations Dec. 31 Cape Arago Boat - purchase - authority Dec. 31 Cape Arago - Boat - recovery - Payt - authd. Dec. 31 Coal & Provisions Departure Bay and Victoria Shubuck - authority not granted

1887

Feby 10 Cement for placing new pump-pipe Ediz Hook to be paid from Appr. for Repairs Feby 23 Chart No. 646 - forwarded Mch. 8 Cape Meares or Cape Lookout Proposed Lt. station_Bds. decision Mch. 16 Chart No. 648 - forwarded Mch. 19 Coal open purchase - not authd., tel., Mch. 19 Coal (500 tons) open purchase not authd. Mch. 22 Chart No. 681a _ forwarded Mch. 26 Coquille River Lt. House unnecessary - April 6 Cape Arago, Reservation - selling portion - views asked April 9 Cape Meares Joint Report- position of proposed light requested April 12 Chart No. 681a _ forwarded April 15 Chimneys & wick - 1st Order Min. oil lamp, 3rd Insp, shipment May 29 Chain. shackles, &c, should be purchased after advertising May 23 Cape Flattery Ill. Apparatus - red cut - to mark Duncan Rock May 24 Chart No. 673 _ forwarded May 31 Cape Arago Cape Blanco Cape Foulweather and 13 other light-stations Supplies &c. authd.

1887

June 3 Cape Arago Asst. Keeper _ removal June 6 Cape Meares Location - order of light to be placed - views asked June 11 Cape Foulweather 2nd Asst. Kpr. a paymt. prior to date of Appb. - Certificate on Form 12 requested June 13 Charts Nos. 603 - 675 - & 676 - forwd. June 22 Charts recent surveys (Alaska Waters) forwarded