Nonstop flight route between Camp Douglas, Wisconsin, United States and Shemya, Alaska, United States:

About this route:

A direct, nonstop flight between Volk Field Air National Guard Base (VOK), Camp Douglas, Wisconsin, United States and Eareckson Air Station (SYA), Shemya, Alaska, United States would travel a Great Circle distance of 4,103 miles (or 6,603 kilometers).

A Great Circle is the shortest distance between 2 points on a sphere. Because most world maps are flat (but the Earth is round), the route of the shortest distance between 2 points on the Earth will often appear curved when viewed on a flat map, especially for long distances. If you were to simply draw a straight line on a flat map and measure a very long distance, it would likely be much further than if you were to lay a string between those two points on a globe. Because of the large distance between Volk Field Air National Guard Base and Eareckson Air Station, the route shown on this map most likely appears curved because of this reason.

Try it at home! Get a globe and tightly lay a string between Volk Field Air National Guard Base and Eareckson Air Station. You'll see that it will travel the same route of the red line on this map!

Departure Airport Information:

Arrival Airport Information:

Facts about Volk Field Air National Guard Base (VOK):

• At around midnight on 25 October 1962, a guard at the Duluth Sector Direction Center saw a figure climbing the security fence.
• The furthest airport from Volk Field Air National Guard Base (VOK) is Margaret River Airport (MGV), which is located 10,917 miles (17,570 kilometers) away in Margaret River, Western Australia, Australia.
• Volk Field Air National Guard Base (VOK) currently has only 1 runway.
• Because of Volk Field Air National Guard Base's relatively low elevation of 912 feet, planes can take off or land at Volk Field Air National Guard Base at a lower air speed than at airports located at a higher elevation. This is because the air density is higher closer to sea level than it would otherwise be at higher elevations.
• The closest airport to Volk Field Air National Guard Base (VOK) is Sparta/Fort McCoy Airport (CMY), which is located 24 miles (39 kilometers) W of VOK.
• In 1954 the federal government leased the field from the State of Wisconsin for use as a permanent field training site.
• During the Cuban missile crisis a majority of B-47 bombers with capability to drop nuclear payloads were "dispersed" to Volk, among other bases, to make it harder for the Soviets to threaten USAF assets.
• By 1903 the camp had expanded to over 800 acres and was used for training by the then reorganized National Guard.

Facts about Eareckson Air Station (SYA):

• The furthest airport from Eareckson Air Station (SYA) is Cape Town International Airport (CPT), which is located 10,668 miles (17,168 kilometers) away in Cape Town, South Africa.
• The closest airport to Eareckson Air Station (SYA) is Casco Cove Coast Guard Station (ATU), which is located 40 miles (65 kilometers) WNW of SYA.
• The mission of Eleventh Air Force was to take advantage of the new airfields on Shemya and Attu, and carry out offensive operations against the enemy forces in the Kuriles.
• The Korean War brought extensive use by the Military Air Transport Service for the logistical support of Korea and Japan.
• Because of Eareckson Air Station's relatively low elevation of 97 feet, planes can take off or land at Eareckson Air Station at a lower air speed than at airports located at a higher elevation. This is because the air density is higher closer to sea level than it would otherwise be at higher elevations.
• The 404th Bombardment Squadron flew B-24 Liberator heavy bombers along with one Beechcraft AT-7, which was used for navigator training.
• In August, after the Soviet Union declared war against the Japanese Empire, B-24s were dispatched on reconnaissance and intelligence-gathering missions to observe the Russian activity in the Kuriles.
• In addition to being known as "Eareckson Air Station", other names for SYA include "Shemya Air Force Base", "Shemya Army Airfield" and "  ".
• On 27 January 1992 the 5073rd Air Base Group located at Shemya AFB was re-designated as the Pacific Air Forces Eleventh Air Force 673d Air Base Group.
• Eareckson Air Station (SYA) currently has only 1 runway.