Fort Levett: Difference between revisions

In 1914 the 50th Company CAC was moved from [[Fort McKinley]] to Levett. In 1917 the 9th, 22nd and 23rd companies of the Coast Defenses of Portland were assigned to Fort Levett. Maine National Guard CAC would be stationed at the fort in the 1920s. Plans for a new post telephone switchboard were approved April 9th, 1918. This new design would provide all around protection for the building which before was located in a flimsy Sewell building at whitehead. This new switchboard building was accepted for service in 1921. In 1920 an Anti-Aircraft Battery of two 3-inch guns was built. In 1932 a third gun was added to the Anti-Aircraft Battery along with .50 Anti Air Machine Guns and a 60-inch AA Sperry Searchlight.<gallery mode="packed" heights="75">

In 1942 the vacant Battery Daniels CRF station was selected to be converted into the Mines I secondary observation station. The CRF station which had been built in 1920, contained one level and a small manhole under the building. A second story was added, and the lower level was renovated. Two DPF pads would be installed along with new communications equipment. One oddity in this station is the use of a staple ladder to access the second floor rather than the traditional wood ladder used in all the other FC stations on the post.

This 8-story tower was built in 1942 and served (all DPF) Battery Foote on the 8th floor, Battery 201 at [[Cape Elizabeth MR]] on the 7th floor and Battery Ferguson on the 6th floor. The trees that have grown around the tower have acted as a barrier against the weather which in turn has allowed many original windows to survive, some still even function! This tower was disguised with haze paint that would make it blend in with the horizon.

Built in 1943 atop a 100ft steel girder tower this radar served Battery Ferguson. A concrete block operation building, and generator buildings (25kw generators) were located at the base of the tower. In 1948 the radar and tower were removed for scrap. The concrete block operations building remains, although the roof is missing. Of the two generator buildings neither were found upon quick inspection.

This 8-story tower was built in 1942 and served (all DPF)  Battery 202 at [[Jewell Island MR]] on the 8th floor, Battery Carpenter at [[Fort McKinley]] on the 7th floor and Gun-Group Five (G-5) on the 6th floor which comprised of the AMTB batteries 961 at [[Fort Williams]], 962 at [[Fort Levett]], 963 at [[Peaks Island MR]], Battery Mason at [[Fort Preble]] and Battery Keyes at [[Fort Williams]]. The command post for G-5 was either located on the sixth floor of the tower or the first floor. A unique Anti-Aircraft crow's nest was built on the top floor of the tower hanging off the back instead of being concealed within the structure.

This station was built in 1942 and was the gun-group one combined observation post and command post. Gun-Group 1 was comprised of the primary batteries at Fort Levett (Foote and Ferguson). This Groupement would switch around over the course of the war depending on what batteries were active at which forts. From January 1944 to 1945 G-1 consisted of Battery Foote and Steele.