INTRODUCTION

In 1941 or early 1942 three "pirate" radio stations were formed by American servicemen in Alaska. Out of these stations grew the Armed Forces Radio and Television Service. The first, KRB, and the third, GAB, became KRAY in Sitka. Eventually licensed as WVCX, this may well be the first "community supported" radio service. The second was KODK in Kodiak, a station which was licensed before the Sitka station as WVCQ.

Susan Mc Clear of Sitka received a grant from the Alaska Historical Commission to research the history of these early radio stations. Charles Gilliam, one of the originators of the GAB station at Sitka helped locate and interview participants in the early stations. The final report to the Alaska Historical Commission and transcripts of interviews comprise this collection presented to the Alaska, Historical Library in 1984.