Construction and Maintenance of the Alaska Highway Archives Gallery
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Les Cook’s heroic flight
In his account of Les Cook’s heroic flight, Fred Rust remarks that "To fly a plane up the valleys and land in the basin on that dark night seemed suicidal." On that dark night in November of 1942, Mr. Cook landed his plane safely at the Donjek River camp. A month later, he died tragically in Whitehorse. Mr. Rust also published the letter written by Mr. Cook’s wife after his death, thanking the U.S. Army officers for a watch they presented to his son, Les Jr., in memoriam.
Yukon Archives. Fred Rust, The 18th Engineers Regiment in Yukon Territory, 1945, Pages 62 and 63


Construction: Who and How

This old "dually", partially restored with new paint, saw much use on the Alaska Highway.The 1942 Dodge Carryall power wagon was accurately restored by the donor before coming to the Yukon Transportation Museum.


How to Build a Northern Road

Trans Canada-Alaska Railroad Survey crewPontoon bridge beside timber bridge Constructing a pile driven bridgeLooking at Stone MountainSurveyors at Slim’s Riversection of road Letter from George BlackPile driver during bridge constructionTelegram to G.A. JeckellCrew building a temporary bridgeA pile driverLaying corduroyThe Donjek RiverForging aheadHow to make new recruits into Alaska Highway construction workers.Operating roomU.S. Air Force Hospital wardTent CityAn outdoor mealMenu for July 31, 1945responsibility of the mess personnelThe U.S. Army 18th Engineers at Cracker Creek campA mess hall line-upoperated by Dowell Construction CompanyI want a houselog skyscrapersA truck floating on waterSwift River420 pound tireLabour conditionsMinimum wage ratesrough conditionsmen would drive the highway in stagesgroup of broken down trucks awaiting repaircontractor moving heavy equipmentPilot Les Cook with Northern Airways CF-BDZLes Cook’s heroic flightLes Cook’s heroic flightAlcan trucksLumber barge near CarcrossMiles Canyon list of the contractorsdeep mudMuddy rutsWooden culvertAerial view of WhitehorseWhitehorse looking west on Main StreetMacRae developed into a large maintenance campTime office No. 1 MHKCB Co.’s WhitehorseLow morale plagued Army engineers excerpt from a manuscriptexcerpt from a manuscriptgroup of soldiers posing


Mission Accomplished

ribbon from the dedication ceremonyMenu and signaturesMenu and signatures at dedication ceremonySoldier’s Summit ceremonyLetter to J.E. GibbenFront page of the Whitehorse StarPainted by the federal Department of Public Works, this wooden sign shows the November, 1942 date of the official opening of the Alaska Highway.
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