[ceejayoz]

I think you're misreading that article.

> AT THE TIME, NORAD had 20 fighters on armed alert throughout the North American continent. Only 14 were in the continental U.S. at seven bases; the rest were in Alaska and Canada. Within 18 hr., 300 fighters would be on alert at 26 locations.

It's not saying they sent them all to Alaska. They're saying of the 20 alert fighters - pretty standard numbers in peacetime - six were in Alaska and Canada.