Distant Early Warning Line

Construction began in November 1954. Operational July 1957. In all, 58 DEW Line stations were built, including 30 in Canada from Cape Dyer, NWT to Komakuk Beach, Yukon.

Between 1988 and 1993, most stations were deactivated. Those that remained were upgraded as part of the new North Warning System.

Distant Early Warning Line Stations:

Komakuk Beach, YT
DEW operations ceased 4 August 1993
NWS site established October 1990

Stokes Point, YT
“I” site operations ceased 1963
NWS site established July 1991

Shingle Point, YT
DEW operations ceased June 1989
NWS site established June 1989

Tununuk Camp, NT
“I” site operations ceased 1963

Storm Hills, NT
NWS site established November 1990

Tuktoyaktuk (Tuktoyaktuk/James Gruben Airport), NT
DEW operations ceased 13 September 1993
NWS site established September 1990

Atkinson Point, NT
“I” site operations ceased 1963

Liverpool Bay, NT
NWS site established November 1990

Nicholson Peninsula, NT
DEW operations ceased 9 September 1993
NWS site established October 1990

Horton River a.k.a. Malloch Hills, NT
“I” site operations ceased 1963
NWS site established June 1991

Cape Parry, NT
DEW operations ceased August 1989
NWS site established August 1989

Pierce Point, NT
“I” site operations ceased 1963

Fort Nelson, BC
Operations ceased 1963

Keats Point, NT
NWS site established July 1991

Clinton Point, NT
DEW operations ceased 3 September 1993

Croker River, NU
NWS site established August 1991

Clifton Point, NU
“I” site operations ceased 1963

Harding River, NU
NWS site established September 1991

Cape Young, NU
DEW operations ceased 31 August 1993

Bernard Harbour, NU
NWS site established September 1991

Bernard Harbour, NU
“I” site operations ceased 1963

Lady Franklin Point, NU
NWS site established June 1989
DEW operations ceased June 1989

Ross Point, NU
“I” site operations ceased 1963

Waterways a.k.a. Stoney Mountain, AB
Operations ceased 1964

Edinburgh Island, NU
NWS site established October 1991

Byron Bay, NU
DEW operations ceased 21 August 1993

Cape Peel West, NU
NWS operations ceased October 1991

Cape Peel, NU
“I” site operations ceased 1963

Cambridge Bay (Cambridge Bay Airport), NU
NWS site established September 1989
DEW operations ceased September 1989

Sturt Point, NU
NWS site established October 1991

Sturt Point, NU
“I” site operations ceased 1963

Jenny Lind Island, NU

DEW operations ceased 1992
NWS site established October 1990

Hat Island, NU
“I” site operations ceased 1963
NWS site established September 1991

Gladman Point, NU
NWS site established October 1990
DEW operations ceased

Gjoa Haven (Gjoa Haven Airport), NU
NWS site established October 1990

Matheson Point, NU
“I” site operations ceased 1963

Bird, MB
Operations ceased 1963

Shepherd Bay, NU
NWS site established July 1989
DEW operations ceased July 1989

Simpson Lake, NU
“I” site operations ceased 1963
NWS site established September 1991

Pelly Bay (Kugaaruk Airport), NU
NWS site established September 1991
DEW operations ceased 1992

Keith Bay, NU
“I” site operations ceased 1963

Mackar Inlet, NU
DEW operations ceased 1992

Cape McLoughlin, NU
NWS site established July 1992

Lailor River, NU
NWS site established August 1992

Scarpa Lake, NU
“I” site operations ceased 1963

Hall Beach (Hall Beach Airport), NU

DEW operations ceased September 1989
NWS site established September 1989

Rowley Island, NU
NWS site established August 1991

Bray Island, NU
“I” site operations ceased 1963
NWS site established August 1991

Longstaff Bluff, NU
NWS site established November 1990
DEW operations ceased 1991

Nudluardjk Lake a.k.a. West Baffin, NU
“I” site operations ceased 1963
NWS site established October 1991

Dewar Lakes, NU
NWS site established July 1989
DEW operations ceased July 1989

Kangok Fjord, NU
NWS site established September 1992

Ekalugad, NU
“I” site operations ceased 1963

Cape Hooper, NU
NWS site established December1990
DEW operations ceased 1991

Kivitoo, NU
“I” site operations ceased 1963

Resolution Island (CFS Resolution Island), NU
NWS site established September 1991
Pinetree operations ceased November 1961

Loks Land, NU
NWS site established August 1992

Cape Kakiviak, NL
NWS site established July 1992

Brevoort Island, NU
NWS site established October 1988

Broughton Island a.k.a. Qikiqtarjuaq (Qikiqtarjuaq Airport), NU
NWS site established December1990
DEW operations ceased 1991

Cape Mercy, NU
NWS site established July 1992
Saglek (CFS Saglek), NL
NWS site established November 1988
Durban Island, NU
“I” site operations ceased 1963
Cape Kiglapait, NL
NWS site established August 1992
Cape Dyer, NU
NWS site established August 1989
DEW operations ceased August 1989
Big Bay, NL
NWS site established September 1992
Tukialik, NL
NWS site established October 1992
Cartwright (Cartwright Air Station), NL
NWS site established November 1988
Pinetree operations ceased June 1968