View source for Northwest Staging Route

{{Short description|Air route in Alaska and northern/western Canada during World War II}}
[[File:Lend-lease memorial.jpg|thumb|The Lend-Lease Memorial in [[Fairbanks, Alaska|Fairbanks]], [[Alaska]] commemorates the shipment of U.S. aircraft to the Soviet Union along the Northwest Staging Route.]]
{{GeoGroupTemplate}}
The '''Northwest Staging Route''' was a series of airstrips, [[airport]] and radio ranging stations operating in [[Alberta]], [[British Columbia]], [[Yukon]] and [[Alaska]] during [[World War II]]. It extended into the Soviet Union as the '''[[ALSIB]]''' ('''AL'''aska-'''SIB'''erian air road). The Northwest Staging Route carried warplanes to the [[Soviet Union in World War II|Soviet Union]], at a time when that country was fighting German invaders along the [[Eastern Front (World War II)|Eastern Front]].

==Origins==
The route was developed in 1942 for several reasons. Initially, the [[7th Ferrying Group]], Ferrying Command, [[United States Army Air Corps]] (later [[Air Transport Command (United States Air Force)|Air Transport Command]]) at [[Gore Field]] (Great Falls Municipal Airport) was ordered to organize and develop an air route to send assistance to the Soviet Union through [[Northern Canada]], across [[Alaska]] and the [[Bering Sea]] to [[Siberia]], and eventually over to the [[Eastern Front (World War II)|Eastern Front]]. The US-Canadian [[Permanent Joint Board on Defense]] decided in the autumn of 1940 that a string of airports should be constructed at Canadian expense between the city of [[Edmonton]] in central [[Alberta]] and the Alaska-Yukon border. Late in 1941 the Canadian government reported that rough landing fields had been completed.<ref name="ATC">Carter 1983, pp. 42, 44–45.</ref>

With the outbreak of war, American lines of communication with Alaska by sea were seriously threatened and alternative routes had to be opened. The string of airports through the lonely [[tundra]] and forests of northwest Canada provided an air route to Alaska which was practically invulnerable to attack, and it seemed to be in U.S. interests to develop them and open a highway which would at once be a service road for the airports and a means for transporting essential supplies to the Alaskan outposts. In response, the [[United States Army]] began building the [[Alaskan Highway]].<ref name="ATC"/>

Neither the [[Eleventh Air Force]], nor the United States Army, nor the [[Lend-Lease]] aid to the Soviet Union could wait for the Alaska Highway to be completed. The long route through the [[Caribbean]] to [[Brazil]], [[Nigeria]], [[Egypt]] and [[Iran]] was unworkable, nor could aircraft be flown via [[Greenland]] or [[Iceland]]. A huge program of airport construction and road making, therefore, was undertaken.<ref name="ATC"/>

The Alaska Highway was but a part of the defenses provided for the Northwest North American frontier. Much less is known about the great air route leading from the United States to Alaska through Canada. Airfields were built or upgraded every {{Convert|100|mi|abbr=on}} or so from [[Edmonton|Edmonton, Alberta]] to [[Fairbanks, Alaska]] ("the longest hop being the 140 miles or so between [[Fort Nelson, British Columbia|Fort Nelson]] and the [[Watson Lake, Yukon|Liard River]] flight strip")<ref>Conn and Fairchild 1989, [http://www.history.army.mil/books/wwii/Framework/ch15.htm p. 390.] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101231112404/http://www.history.army.mil/books/wwii/Framework/ch15.htm |date=2010-12-31 }}</ref> The route of the [[Alaska Highway]], which was built to provide a land route to Alaska, basically connected the airfields together. Edmonton became the headquarters of the Alaskan Wing, Air Transport Command.<ref name="ATC"/>

Two routes were developed from the United States, which met at [[Edmonton|Edmonton, Alberta]], from which the aircraft were ferried to [[Ladd Field]], near [[Fairbanks, Alaska]] where the American-built aircraft were to be turned over to Russian flight crews. [[Marks Army Airfield]], near [[Nome, Alaska]] was 500 miles closer to Russia, but was ruled out because the United States feared it was too vulnerable to Japanese attack. One route originated at [[Great Falls Army Air Base]], Montana, where aircraft bound for Russia were ferried from their manufacturing plants in [[Southern California]].

The other route originated at [[Minneapolis, Minnesota]], where [[Minneapolis-Saint Paul International Airport|Wold-Chamberlain Airport]] was used as an aircraft staging point for aircraft manufactured in the Midwest and northeastern United States.<ref name="ATC"/> The Minneapolis-Edmonton route, however was turned into a transport route only by the end of 1943, with aircraft ferrying operations being shifted to Great Falls.<ref name="AAC">Chloe 1984 {{Page needed|date=December 2011}}</ref> In addition to the Lend-Lease aircraft, Alaskan [[Eleventh Air Force]] aircraft were also ferried up the NSR, with the aircraft being flown to [[Elmendorf Field]], near Anchorage from [[RCAF Station Whitehorse]] upon their arrival.<ref name="ATC"/>

== Aircraft ==
[[File:Bell P-63 Kingcobra 42-7010.jpg|thumb|Bell P-63A-10-BE Kingcobra 42-70610 with twin 285-litre drop tanks in Red Air Force markings, 1944 at Ladd Field, Fairbanks Alaska prior to its flight to the Russian front as a Lend-Lease aircraft.]]
Three main types of combat aircraft were ferried to the Soviet Union under Lend-Lease. Fighter aircraft were [[Bell P-39 Airacobra]]s, and later its successor, the [[Bell P-63 Kingcobra]], which were favored by the [[Red Air Force]] who used the two types with great success. The majority of the P-39s shipped to the Soviet Union were the definitive Q-models. Bombers included the [[Douglas A-20 Havoc]] light attack bomber and [[North American B-25 Mitchell]] [[medium bomber]]s that were also sent to the Red Air Force. Transport aircraft were made up of predominantly, the [[Douglas C-47 Skytrain]], also supplied in great numbers.

The Bell fighters and the B-25 Mitchells were flown up to Ladd via Minneapolis; the C-47s and A-20s came up via Great Falls. A handful of other aircraft types, [[North American AT-6 Texan]] trainers, some North American [[Curtiss P-40 Warhawk]] fighters, three [[Republic P-47 Thunderbolt]]s and one [[Curtiss C-46 Commando]] transport were also ferried to Russia. The aircraft were supplied with Russian language operations and maintenance manuals, as well as painted in Red Air Force camouflage colors and national markings.<ref name="AAC"/><ref>Sherman, Stephen. [http://www.acepilots.com/planes/factory.html "WWII U.S. Aircraft Manufacturers: Factories in Production in Early 1944."] ''acepilots.com.'' Retrieved: 26 December 2011.</ref>

The Russians set up a command at [[Ladd Field]] and Nome where their pilots were trained to take over the aircraft and fly them to [[Krasnoyarsk]] in Siberia and on to various fronts in western Russia. The first group of Russian pilots arrived at Nome on 14 August 1942 on their way to Ladd Field. Along with the pilots were civilians from the Soviet Purchasing Commission and a group of Red Air Force mechanics. Most were located at Ladd, with a secondary group at Marks Field. The first Lend-Lease aircraft, a group of twelve A-20 Havocs, arrived at Ladd on 3 September 1942. The first Russian pilots, after five days of training on the aircraft, took off for Nome and the long trip to the Eastern Front.

Initially the USAAF provided the initial training on how to operate and maintain the Lend-Lease aircraft. Later, after an experienced cadre was developed, the Russians assumed the responsibility. The Russians also meticulously inspected each aircraft, and would reject any aircraft that presented the slightest problem. The USAAF was then left with the chore of correcting them. It was sometimes quite exasperating, as the USAAF would work long hours of overtime to get the aircraft into first-class condition so that all the Russians had to do was fly them from Fairbanks to the Eastern Front.<ref name="AAC"/>

== Other uses ==
The ALSIB and Northwest Staging Route also provided a diplomatic route between Washington, D.C. and Moscow. Diplomats, high political figures and countless other government officials shuttled back and forth along it in transports during the war. [[Wendell Willkie]], Vice-President [[Henry A. Wallace]], Soviet Foreign Minister [[Vyacheslav Molotov]], and [[Andrei Gromyko]] were but a few who used the route. President Roosevelt considered holding a summit in Fairbanks in 1944 to meet with [[Stalin]], however the location was subsequently changed to [[Yalta]] in the Soviet Union. Also the route provided a means over which the Russians moved [[intelligence agent]]s and classified information obtained illegally in the United States. The Soviets, claiming [[diplomatic immunity]], routinely moved large numbers of suitcases in batches of 50 or more, their contents diplomatically sealed.<ref name="AAC"/>

The Russians who arrived in Alaska also frequently visited shopping areas in Fairbanks and Nome, and contingents visited the aircraft manufacturing plants in the United States. They maintained a strict decorum and politely paid for their purchases, sometimes in old US [[gold certificate (United States)|gold certificate]]s. Many luxury items were bought and shipped back to the Soviet Union on the Lend-Lease aircraft with the hope that they would reach their final destinations in Russia. Most of the Russian pilots were experienced combat veterans who saw the ferrying mission as a respite from their combat missions. They were generally reserved, and [[political officer (military)|political officers]] were sent to Alaska to ensure their loyalty.<ref name="AAC"/>

==Termination==
As the Pacific War wound down, the wartime marriage of convenience between the capitalistic and communist countries was coming to an end. In 1945, the United States and Soviet Union were about to embark on a [[Cold War]] and the Russians departed Fairbanks shortly after the Japanese capitulation in September 1945.<ref name="AAC"/>

Possibly because of their strict inspection standards, there were remarkably few aircraft accidents. During the 21 months of the program, 7,983 aircraft were delivered to the Russians with only 133 lost to weather or pilot error.<ref>Cohen 1981, pp. 44–46.</ref> Thirteen Red Air Force pilots were buried in the Fort Richardson cemetery.<ref name="AAC"/>

==Airfields==
;Primary airfields in BOLD<ref name="ATC"/><ref>[http://forum.armyairforces.com/List-of-AAF-Base-Units-on-1-May-1945-m71872.aspx "List of Army Air Force Base Units, 1 May 1945."] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111003225750/http://forum.armyairforces.com/List-of-AAF-Base-Units-on-1-May-1945-m71872.aspx |date=3 October 2011 }} ''armyairforces.com.'' Retrieved: 26 December 2011.</ref>
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! scope="col" width="200" | Name
! scope="col" width="50" | Location
! scope="col" width="175" | Coordinates
! scope="col" width="350" | Notes
|-
| [[Gambell Airport|Gambell Army Air Field]]
| AK
| {{Coord|63|46|04|N|171|43|59|W|type:airport_region:US-AK|name=Gambell Army Air Field}}
| Final refueling stop prior to aircraft being flown into Soviet airspace
|-
| '''[[Nome Airport|Marks Field]]'''
| AK
| {{Coord|64|30|44|N|165|26|43|W|type:airport_region:US-AK|name=Marks Field}}
| Final servicing point for aircraft; 1469th AAFBU ATC Alaskan Division.
|-
| '''[[Edward G. Pitka Sr. Airport|Galena Airport]]'''
| AK
| {{Coord|64|44|10|N|156|56|04|W|type:airport_region:US-AK|name=Galena Airport}}
| Refueling/servicing airfield; 1468th AAFBU ATC Alaskan Division.
|-
| '''[[Ladd Field]]'''
| AK
| {{Coord|64|50|15|N|147|36|51|W|type:airport_region:US-AK|name=Ladd Field}}
| Was main transfer point for Lend-Lease aircraft from United States ATC pilots to Soviet Red Air Force pilots; aircraft then flown to Siberia after transfer.
|-
| [[Eielson Air Force Base|Mile 26 Field]]
| AK
| {{Coord|64|39|55|N|147|06|02|W|type:airport_region:US-AK|name=Mile 26 Field}}
| Axillary for Ladd AAB
|-
| [[Allen Army Airfield|Big Delta Army Air Field]]
| AK
| {{Coord|63|59|42|N|145|43|12|W|type:airport_region:US-AK|name=Big Delta Army Air Field}}
| Refueling/servicing airfield; 1464th AAFBU ATC Alaskan Division.
|-
| [[Tanacross Airport|Tanacross Air Base]]
| AK
| {{Coord|63|22|25|N|143|20|00|W|type:airport_region:US-AK|name=Tanacross Airport}}
| Refueling/servicing airfield; 1464th AAFBU ATC Alaskan Division.
|-
| [[Northway Airport|Northway Army Air Field]]
| AK
| {{Coord|62|57|40|N|141|55|50|W|type:airport_region:US-AK|name=Northway Army Air Field}}
| Refueling/servicing airfield; 1463d AAFBU ATC Alaskan Division.
|-
| [[Snag, Yukon|Snag]]
| YT
| {{Coord|62|21|12|N|140|24|15|W|type:airport_region:CA-YT|name=Snag Airstrip}}
| Abandoned. Emergency landing strip, constructed 1941 by Canadian government
|-
| [[Burwash Airport|Burwash Landing]]
| YT
| {{Coord|61|22|13|N|139|02|22|W|type:airport_region:CA-YT|name=Burwash Landing Airport}}
| Emergency landing strip, constructed 1941 by Canadian government
|-
| [[List of communities in Yukon#Silver City|Silver City]]
| YT
| {{Coord|61|01|49|N|138|24|17|W|type:airport_region:CA-YT|name=Silver City Airport}}
| Emergency landing strip, constructed 1941 by Canadian government
|-
| [[Aishihik, Yukon|Aishihik]]
| YT
| {{Coord|61|38|56|N|137|29|18|W|type:airport_region:CA-YT|name=Aishihik Airfield}}
| Abandoned, Emergency airstrip, constructed 1941 by Canadian government
|-
| [[Pine Lake Aerodrome|Pine Lake]]
| YT
| {{Coord|60|47|22|N|137|32|33|W|type:airport_region:CA-YT|name=Pine Lake Airfield}}
| Auxiliary refueling/servicing airfield, constructed 1941 by Canadian government
|-
| [[Champagne Landing, Yukon|Champagne]]
| YT
| {{Coord|60|47|17|N|136|28|33|W|type:airport_region:CA-YT|name=Champagne Landingstrip}}
| Emergency landing strip, constructed 1941 by Canadian government
|-
| [[Whitehorse/Cousins Airport|Cousins]]
| YT
| {{Coord|60|48|43|N|135|10|57|W|type:airport_region:CA-YT|name=Cousins Landingstrip}}
| Emergency landing strip
|-
| '''[[Erik Nielsen Whitehorse International Airport|RCAF Station Whitehorse]]'''
| YT
| {{Coord|60|42|45|N|135|04|09|W|type:airport_region:CA-YT|name=Whitehorse Airport}}
| Refueling/servicing airfield; 1462d AAFBU ATC Alaskan Division; also known as Whitehorse Army Air Base. Remained as joint RCAF/USAF base until about 1949; hosted Det.3, 1701st Air Transport Wing (MATS)<ref>[http://airforcehistoryindex.org/data/000/182/235.xml "AFHRA document 00182235."] ''airforcehistoryindex.org.'' Retrieved: 26 December 2011.</ref>
|-
| [[Johnsons Crossing, Yukon|Squanga Lake]]
| YT
| {{Coord|60|29|10|N|133|27|25|W|type:airport_region:CA-YT|name=Squanga Lake Airport}}
| Emergency landing strip
|-
| [[Teslin Airport|Teslin Lake]]
| YT
| {{Coord|60|10|22|N|132|44|26|W|type:airport_region:CA-YT|name=Teslin Lake Landingstrip}}
| Emergency landing strip
|-
| [[Swift River, Yukon|Pine Lake]]
| YT
| {{Coord|60|06|11|N|130|56|00|W|type:airport_region:CA-YT|name=Pine Lake Landingstrip}}
| Emergency landing strip (a.k.a. Daughney Aerodrome)
|-
| '''[[Watson Lake Airport|Watson Lake/Liard River]]'''
| YT
| {{Coord|60|06|31|N|128|50|51|W|type:airport_region:CA-YT|name=Watson Lake Airport}}
| Refueling/servicing airfield; 1461st AAFBU ATC Alaskan Division.
|-
| [[Smith River, British Columbia|Smith River]]
| BC
| {{Coord|59|53|30|N|126|25|46|W|type:airport_region:CA-BC|name=Smith River Airport}}
| Emergency landing strip
|-
| '''[[Fort Nelson Airport|Fort Nelson]]'''
| BC
| {{Coord|58|50|17|N|122|35|48|W|type:airport_region:CA-BC|name=Fort Nelson Airport}}
| Was main refueling/servicing point on route; 1460th AAFBU ATC Alaskan Division.<ref>[http://airforcehistoryindex.org/data/000/172/681.xml "AFHRA Document 00172681."] ''airforcehistoryindex.org.'' Retrieved: 26 December 2011.</ref> Remained as joint RCAF/USAF base until about 1949; hosted Det.2, 1701st Air Transport Wing (MATS)<ref>[http://airforcehistoryindex.org/data/000/182/227.xml "AFHRA document 00182227."] ''airforcehistoryindex.org.'' Retrieved: 26 December 2011.</ref>
|-
| [[Prophet River, British Columbia|Prophet River]]
| BC
| {{Coord|57|57|47|N|122|47|18|W|type:airport_region:CA-BC|name=Prophet River Airport}}
| Emergency landing strip
|-
| Beatton River
| BC
| {{Coord|57|22|48|N|121|24|41|W|type:airport_region:CA-BC|name=Beatton River Airport}}
| Emergency landing strip
|-
| [[Sikanni Chief, British Columbia|Sikanni Chief]]
| BC
| {{Coord|57|05|21|N|122|36|18|W|type:airport_region:CA-BC|name=Sikanni Chief Airport}}
| Emergency landing strip
|-
| '''[[Fort St. John Airport|Fort St. John]]'''
| BC
| {{Coord|56|14|14|N|120|44|24|W|type:airport_region:CA-BC|name=Fort St. John Airport}}
| Refueling/servicing airfield; 1459th AAFBU ATC Alaskan Division.
|-
| [[Dawson Creek Airport|RCAF Station Dawson Creek]]
| BC
| {{Coord|55|44|31|N|120|11|06|W|type:airport_region:CA-BC|name=Dawson Creek Airport}}
| Auxiliary refueling/servicing airfield
|-
| [[Beaverlodge Airport|Beaverlodge]]
| AB
| {{Coord|55|11|04|N|119|26|52|W|type:airport_region:CA-AB|name=Beaverlodge Airport}}
| Emergency landing strip
|-
| [[Grande Prairie Airport|Grande Prairie]]
| AB
| {{Coord|55|10|55|N|118|52|55|W|type:airport_region:CA-AB|name=Grande Prairie Airport}}
| Refueling/servicing airfield; 1457th AAFBU ATC Alaskan Division.
|-
| [[DeBolt Aerodrome|DeBolt]]
| AB
| {{Coord|55|14|06|N|118|02|19|W|type:airport_region:CA-AB|name=DeBolt Airport}}
| Emergency landing strip
|-
| [[Valleyview Airport|Valleyview]]
| AB
| {{Coord|55|01|58|N|117|17|42|W|type:airport_region:CA-AB|name=Valleyview Airport}}
| Emergency landing strip
|-
| [[Fox Creek Airport|Fox Creek]]
| AB
| {{Coord|54|22|48|N|116|46|00|W|type:airport_region:CA-AB|name=Fox Creek Airport}}
| Emergency landing strip
|-
| [[Whitecourt Airport|Whitecourt]]
| AB
| {{Coord|54|08|37|N|115|47|16|W|type:airport_region:CA-AB|name=Whitecourt Airport}}
| Emergency landing strip
|-
| [[Mayerthorpe Airport|Mayerthorpe]]
| AB
| {{Coord|53|56|13|N|115|10|41|W|type:airport_region:CA-AB|name=Mayerthorpe Airport}}
| Emergency landing strip
|-
| [[Glenevis, Alberta|Birch Lake]]
| AB
| {{Coord|53|46|16|N|114|33|43|W|type:airport_region:CA-AB|name=Birch Lake Airport}}
| Auxiliary airfield; now abandoned and obliterated
|-
| '''[[CFB Edmonton|RCAF Station Namao]]'''
| AB
| {{Coord|53|40|27|N|113|28|29|W|type:airport_region:CA-AB|name=CFB Edmonton}}
| Opened 1 November 1944. Additional Hub/refueling/servicing airfield in Edmonton. Remained as joint RCAF/USAF base until about 1949; hosted Det.1, 1701st Air Transport Wing (MATS)<ref>[http://airforcehistoryindex.org/data/000/182/244.xmll "AFHRA document 00182244."] {{webarchive|url=http://archive.wikiwix.com/cache/20110330113229/http://airforcehistoryindex.org/data/000/182/244.xmll |date=2011-03-30 }} ''airforcehistoryindex.org.'' Retrieved: 26 December 2011.</ref>
|-
| '''[[Edmonton City Centre (Blatchford Field) Airport|RCAF Station Edmonton]]'''
| AB
| {{Coord|53|34|26|N|113|31|30|W|type:airport_region:CA-AB|name=Blatchford Airport}}
| Activated 17 October 1942. Was HQ, Alaskan Wing, ATC; Hub/refueling/servicing airfield; 1450th/1451st/1452d AAFBU.<ref>[http://airforcehistoryindex.org/data/000/007/726.xml "AFHRA Document 00007726."] ''airforcehistoryindex.org.'' Retrieved: 26 December 2011.</ref>(Repairs performed at Edmonton by Aircraft Repair Ltd., led by [[Wilfred Leigh Brintnell]].<ref>{{Cite book |title=Naming Edmonton from Ada to Zoie |pages=35}}</ref>) 
|-
! style= colspan="4" | Great Falls-Edmonton
|-
| [[Ponoka Industrial (Labrie Field) Airport|Ponoka]]
| AB
| {{Coord|52|39|07|N|113|36|15|W|type:airport_region:CA-AB|name=Ponoka Airport}}
| Emergency landing strip
|-
| [[Lacombe Regional Airport|Lacombe]]
| AB
| {{Coord|52|29|17|N|113|42|42|W|type:airport_region:CA-AB|name=Lacombe Airport}}
| Emergency landing strip
|-
| [[Red Deer Regional Airport|RCAF Station Penhold]]
| AB
| {{Coord|52|10|42|N|113|53|21|W|type:airport_region:CA-AB|name=Red Deer Airport}}
| Auxiliary refueling/servicing airfield (now Red Deer Regional Airport)
|-
| [[Innisfail Aerodrome|Innisfail]]
| AB
| {{Coord|51|58|42|N|114|00|34|W|type:airport_region:CA-AB|name=Innisfail Aerodrome}}
| Emergency landing strip
|-
| [[Olds-Didsbury Airport|Olds]]
| AB
| {{Coord|51|42|39|N|114|06|20|W|type:airport_region:CA-AB|name=Olds Airport}}
| Auxiliary refueling/servicing airfield
|-
| [[Carstairs/Bishell's Airport|Carstairs]]
| AB
| {{Coord|51|34|50|N|114|03|08|W|type:airport_region:CA-AB|name=Carstairs Airport}}
| Emergency landing strip
|-
| [[Calgary/Airdrie Airport|Airdrie]]
| AB
| {{Coord|51|15|52|N|113|56|10|W|type:airport_region:CA-AB|name=Airdrie Airport}}
| Auxiliary refueling/servicing airfield
|-
| [[Calgary International Airport|Calgary]]
| AB
| {{Coord|51|07|15|N|114|01|17|W|type:airport_region:CA-AB|name=Calgary Airport}}
| Refueling/servicing airfield; 1457th AAFBU ATC Alaskan Division.
|-
| [[Calgary/Okotoks Air Park|Okotoks]]
| AB
| {{Coord|50|44|06|N|113|56|04|W|type:airport_region:CA-AB|name=Okotoks Airport}}
| Emergency airstrip
|-
| [[High River Airport|High River]]
| AB
| {{Coord|50|32|02|N|113|50|36|W|type:airport_region:CA-AB|name=High River Airport}}
| Auxiliary refueling/servicing airfield
|-
| [[Nanton, Alberta|Nanton]]
| AB
| {{Coord|50|22|19|N|113|39|42|W|type:airport_region:CA-AB|name=Nanton Airport}}
| 2 x {{Convert|2000|ft|abbr=on}} runway auxiliary refueling/servicing airfield, now abandoned and obliterated as farmland
|-
| [[Claresholm Industrial Airport|RCAF Station Claresholm]]
| AB
| {{Coord|50|00|10|N|113|37|38|W|type:airport_region:CA-AB|name=Claresholm Airport}}
| Auxiliary refueling/servicing airfield (now Claresholm Industrial Airport)
|-
| [[Lethbridge County Airport|RCAF Station Lethbridge]]
| AB
| {{Coord|49|37|47|N|112|47|23|W|type:airport_region:CA-AB|name=Lethbridge Airport}}
| Auxiliary refueling/servicing airfield (now Lethbridge County Airport)
|-
| [[Shelby, Montana|Shelby]]
| MT
| {{Coord|48|32|27|N|111|52|12|W|type:airport_region:US-MT|name=Shelby Airport}}
| Auxiliary refueling/servicing airfield
|-
| [[Conrad, Montana|Conrad]]
| MT
| {{Coord|48|10|06|N|111|58|33|W|type:airport_region:US-MT|name=Conrad Airport}}
| Auxiliary refueling/servicing airfield
|-
| '''[[Great Falls International Airport|Gore Field]]'''
| MT
| {{Coord|47|29|02|N|111|22|21|W|type:airport_region:US-MT|name=Great Falls International Airport}}
| 557th AAFBU, Ferrying Division, ATC; Group assembly and dispatch airfield for Lend-lease aircraft (now Great Falls International Airport)
|-
| '''[[Malmstrom Air Force Base|Great Falls Army Air Base]]'''
| MT
| {{Coord|47|30|28|N|111|11|03|W|type:airport_region:US-MT|name=Malmstrom Air Force Base}}
| HQ, Northwest Sector, Domestic Wing, ATC; Group assembly and servicing airfield for Lend-lease aircraft; passenger point of Embarkation (now Malmstrom Air Force Base)<ref>Mueller 1989 {{Page needed|date=December 2011}}</ref>
|-
! style= colspan="4"| Minneapolis-Edmonton
|-
| [[Vegreville Airport|Vegreville]]
| AB
| {{Coord|53|30|45|N|112|01|36|W|type:airport_region:CA-AB|name=Vegreville Airport}}
| Emergency landing airfield
|-
| [[Vermillion Airport|Vermillion]]
| AB
| {{Coord|53|21|23|N|110|49|40|W|type:airport_region:CA-AB|name=Vermillion Airport}}
| Emergency landing airfield
|-
| [[Lloydminster Airport|Lloydminster]]
| SK
| {{Coord|53|17|49|N|110|00|00|W|type:airport_region:CA-SK|name=Lloydminster Airport (OLD)}}
| Emergency landing airfield (closed about 1981 now abandoned, replaced by new airport on Alberta side of border)
|-
| '''[[North Battleford Airport|RCAF Station North Battleford]]'''
| SK
| {{Coord|52|46|09|N|108|14|40|W|type:airport_region:CA-SK|name=North Battleford Airport}}
| Refueling/servicing airfield (now North Battleford Airport)
|-
| '''[[RCAF Station Saskatoon]]'''
| SK
| {{Coord|52|10|15|N|106|41|59|W|type:airport_region:CA-SK|name=Saskatoon Airport}}
| Refueling/servicing airfield (now Saskatoon John G. Diefenbaker International Airport)
|-
| [[Humboldt Airport|Humboldt]]
| SK
| {{Coord|52|10|31|N|105|08|01|W|type:airport_region:CA-SK|name=Humboldt Airport}}
| Emergency landing airfield
|-
| [[Yorkton Municipal Airport|Yorkton]]
| SK
| {{Coord|51|15|54|N|102|27|42|W|type:airport_region:CA-SK|name=Yorkton Airport}}
| Refueling/servicing airfield
|-
| [[Russell Airport|Russell]]
| MB
| {{Coord|50|45|55|N|101|17|39|W|type:airport_region:CA-MB|name=Russell Airport}}
| Emergency landing airfield
|-
| [[Shoal Lake Airport|Shoal Lake]]
| MB
| {{Coord|50|27|25|N|100|36|34|W|type:airport_region:CA-MB|name=Shoal Lake Airport}}
| Emergency landing airfield
|-
| [[Minnedosa Airport|Minnedosa]]
| MB
| {{Coord|50|16|21|N|099|45|50|W|type:airport_region:CA-MB|name=Minnedosa Airport}}
| Emergency landing airfield
|-
| [[Neepawa Airport|Neepawa]]
| MB
| {{Coord|50|13|56|N|099|30|38|W|type:airport_region:CA-MB|name=Neepawa Airport}}
| Refueling/servicing airfield
|-
| '''[[Portage la Prairie/Southport Airport|RCAF Station Portage la Prairie]]'''
| MB
| {{Coord|49|54|11|N|098|16|26|W|type:airport_region:CA-MB|name=Portage la Prairie/Southport Airport}}
| Refueling/servicing airfield (now Portage la Prairie/Southport Airport)
|-
| '''[[CFB Winnipeg|RCAF Station Winnipeg]]'''
| MB
| {{Coord|49|53|20|N|97|14|05|W|type:airport_region:CA-MB|name=CFB Winnipeg}}
| Refueling/servicing airfield (now CFB Winnipeg)
|-
| [[Grand Forks Municipal Airport|Grand Forks]]
| ND
| {{Coord|47|55|44|N|097|06|02|W|type:airport_region:US-ND|name=Grand Forks Airport (OLD)}}
| Refueling/servicing airfield (note: NOT the current [[Grand Forks International Airport]] or [[Grand Forks AFB]]. This facility was closed after the war, and the land redeveloped)
|-
| '''[[Hector International Airport|Fargo]]'''
| ND
| {{Coord|46|55|14|N|096|48|57|W|type:airport_region:US-ND|name=Hector International Airport}}
| Refueling/servicing airfield; 575th AAFBU
|-
| [[Alexandria Municipal Airport|Alexandria]]
| MN
| {{Coord|45|51|56|N|095|23|40|W|type:airport_region:US-MN|name=Alexandria Airport}}
| Refueling/servicing airfield
|-
| [[St. Cloud Regional Airport|St. Cloud]]
| MN
| {{Coord|45|32|48|N|094|03|37|W|type:airport_region:US-MN|name=St. Cloud Airport}}
| Refueling/servicing airfield
|-
| '''[[Minneapolis-Saint Paul International Airport Joint Air Reserve Station|Wold/Chamberlain Field]]'''
| MN
| {{Coord|44|52|54|N|093|14|01|W|type:airport_region:US-MN|name=Minneapolis-Saint Paul Airport}}
| 1454th AAFBU, Alaskan Division, ATC (Station 11). Initially group assembly and dispatch airfield for Lend-lease aircraft; after 1943 controlled by [[Northwest Airlines]] under contract, coordinated passenger and cargo travelling on Northwest Staging Route. (now Minneapolis-Saint Paul International Airport)<ref>[http://airforcehistoryindex.org/data/000/175/615.xml "AFHRA Document 00175615."] ''airforcehistoryindex.org.'' Retrieved: 26 December 2011.</ref><ref>[http://airforcehistoryindex.org/data/000/175/619.xml "AFHRA Document 00175619."] ''airforcehistoryindex.org.'' Retrieved: 26 December 2011.</ref>
|-
|-
|}

==See also==

* [[North Atlantic air ferry route in World War II]]
* [[South Atlantic air ferry route in World War II]]
* [[South Pacific air ferry route in World War II]]
* [[West Coast Wing]] (Air Transport Command route to Alaska)
* [[Crimson Route]]

==References==
;Notes
{{Reflist|2}}
;Bibliography
{{Refbegin}}
* Carter, John D. "The Air Transport Command, The Army Air Forces in World War II, vol. 7" in Craven, Wesley Frank and James Lea Cate, eds. ''Services Around the World''. Washington, D.C.: Office of Air Force History, 1983.
* Chloe, John Hale. ''Top Cover for America: The Air Force in Alaska, 1920-1983.'' Missoula, Montana: Pictorial Histories Publishing Company, 1984. {{ISBN|0-933126-47-6}}.
* Cohen, Stan B. ''The Forgotten War: A Pictorial History of World War II in Alaska and Northwestern Canada, Volume 1.'' Missoula, Montana: Pictorial Histories Publishing Co., Inc., 1981. {{ISBN|0-933126-13-1}}.
* Cohen, Stan B. ''The Forgotten War: A Pictorial History of World War II in Alaska and Northwestern Canada, Volume 2.'' Missoula, Montana: Pictorial Histories Publishing Co., Inc., 1989. {{ISBN|978-0-933126-70-1}}.
* Cohen, Stan B. ''The Forgotten War: A Pictorial History of World War II in Alaska and Northwestern Canada, Volume 3.'' Missoula, Montana: Pictorial Histories Publishing Co., Inc., 1992. {{ISBN|978-0-929521-30-5}}.
* Conn, Stetson and Byron Fairchild. [http://www.history.army.mil/books/wwii/Framework/ch15.htm "The United States and Canada: Elements of Wartime Collaboration, The Western Hemisphere - The Framework of Hemisphere Defense, Chapter XV."] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101231112404/http://www.history.army.mil/books/wwii/Framework/ch15.htm |date=2010-12-31 }} ''United States Army in World War II.'' Washington, D.C.: [[United States Army Center of Military History]], 1989.
* Hays, Otis Jr. ''The Alaska-Siberia Connection: The World War II Air Route'' (Williams-Ford Texas A&M University Military History Series). College Station, Texas: Tamu Press, 1996. {{ISBN|0-89096-711-3}}.
* Mueller, Robert. ''Air Force Bases Volume I, Active Air Force Bases Within the United States of America on 17 September 1982.'' Washington, D.C.: Office of Air Force History, 1989.
* Smith, Blake. ''Warplanes to Alaska.'' Surrey, British Columbia: Hancock House Pub Ltd., 1998. {{ISBN|978-0-88839-401-9}}.
* Smith, Blake. ''Wings Over the Wilderness: They Flew the Trail of '42.'' Surrey, British Columbia: Hancock House Pub Ltd., 2008. {{ISBN|978-0-88839-595-5}}.
{{Refend}}

==External links==
{{Air Force Historical Research Agency}}
{{Commons category|Northwest Staging Route}}
*[http://www.alaskahighwayarchives.ca./en/chap5/index.php Yukon Archives page]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20090808063640/http://www.lend-lease.ru/ Allies and Lend-Lease Museum'', Moscow]

{{Soviet Union–United States relations|state=collapsed}}
{{authority control}}

[[Category:Aircraft ferrying]]
[[Category:Military history of Canada during World War II]]
[[Category:Soviet Union–United States relations]]
[[Category:Canada–Soviet Union relations]]
[[Category:Transport in British Columbia]]
[[Category:Transport in Yukon]]
[[Category:Aviation in Alaska]]
[[Category:Airports in Canada|*]]
[[Category:Airports in British Columbia|*]]
[[Category:Airports in Yukon|*]]
[[Category:Airports in Alaska|*]]