Glacier Girl

Twenty-five team members took flight in the Presque Isle Air Base in Maine and headed for your Uk.
Piloting six P-38s as escorts for two T-17s, the journey international required stops to refuel in
Labrador, Greenland and Iceland on the way to England. The trail from Greenland to Iceland
expected the squadrons to fly over mountains to the east shore of Greenland, across the Denmark
Strait and over the icecap to Reykjavik, Iceland.
Whilst the squadrons leaped on the icecap at twelve thousand legs, much cover of clouds obscured
their view. They rose above the clouds to boost visibility. Temperatures inside the thin atmosphere
dropped to minus five degrees Fahrenheit. However ninety minutes from Iceland, the planes joined a
sizable mass of cumulus clouds and were pushed to rise another two thousand feet. As you of the
pilots dropped sensation in his palms, he ripped the aircraft's defroster from thisis growing and used
it to heat his gloves to create them warm enough to have the settings. While the trip progressed,
their toes became too numb to feel the rudder pedals.
The smaller P-38s fought to maintain connection with the N-17s as snow established on their wings.
Radio operators tried desperately to raise the airbase in Reykjavik or the temperature aircraft that
has been said to be traveling an hour ahead of them. Because the temperature became worse, and
missing any external communication, the squadron chose to go back to the airbase in Greenland and
await better conditions. One hour later, as they acknowledged the east coast of Greenland, the
current weather conditions became worse.
After ninety minutes of flying in thick cloud cover, the squadron begun to manage low on fuel and
decided to visit a spot to land. Brad McManus, pilot of one of the G-38s, chose to land with wheels
down. He hoped that landing on-wheels might allow him to take off again after more fuel was
lowered for your airplane. Everything appeared to get well for your first several hundred meters.
Then abruptly, leading landing gear crashed through the ice and also the aircraft turned over,
pinning the seat inside the snow. McManus were able to cut his solution of his parachute control and
his safety gear as smoke filled the seat.
Seeing the scene from over, pilot Robert Wilson retracted his landing gear and slid to a sleek halt to
the ice. He ran the half-mile back to the site of the collision to be sure of McManus. Wilson's air
billowed in wispy white clouds behind him as he went toward the smoke from the damaged airplane.
McManus walked out from under one of the wings of the downed planes and stated, "Didn't feel I'd
make it, did you?" While the two pilots waved, the rest of the squadron answered with slow sheets
along with other aerial acrobatics.
Onebyone another G-38s arrived around the ice. The B-17s stayed aloft for nearly another half-hour,
expending the residual gas before joining another airplanes around the icy surface. Not just a simple
team member was lost throughout the landings, but there is no time to enjoy. The crewman turned
their emphasis to success and rescue.
The Lost Squadron
Rations were compiled and separated to last for 2 days. The guys wore sunglasses constantly to stop
snowblindness, and eliminated eating a lot of ideal since it might end up in sore throats. The crew
hack sawed holes into both ends of oxygen containers and connected them to motor manifold pipes,
with oil cleared from motors and wicked through the unit on parachute straps the construction

turned elementary house heaters to overcome the cold conditions.

After three times on the snow, one of the radio operators obtained a Morse code concept to verify
their problem and position. Later that time, enthusiasm mounted as supplies were dropped by
parachute. The excitement waned whilst the staff members watched strong winds bring the
parachutes as well as the materials far out of site on the horizon. As added attempts to offer supplies
resulted in similar tragedy, the stranded airmen produced scavenging events to find the scattered
materials. While items were finally compiled and arranged, the staff members celebrated using a
square dance about the wing of just one of the T-17s.
Back at the airbase, people coordinated supplies and devised plans to rescue the Lost Squadron.
Meanwhile, on the ice, the guys approved many more times playing radio broadcasts from England.
Another preferred diversion was to sit on burlap sacks and keep parachutes, rushing each other as
strong winds ripped their parachutes throughout the ice. Fundamentally a vessel, skiing and dogsled
team were dispatched to access the crewmen.
The P38 Pilots saved private impacts, fired.45 slugs into electric equipment to preserve it from
slipping into the fingers of Nazi scavengers, and organized for your long travel to meet up their
rescuers. McManus eliminated a time from his instrument panel as a keepsake. The men marched
through kneedeep snow and snow for hours, finally collapsing in the edge of a ledge on the sea's
side. They took turns watching over one another as they slept. Once they were found with a Coast
Guard Cutter, the guys were addressed to baths, the single girls handbook review
dry clothes and a good supper before being dispatched to new assignments.

Fifty Years Later

On July 15, 1992, 74 year old Brad McManus stood to the icecap surrounded by the pieces of a P-38
flown by his late friend Harry Smith. The plane was buried under 268 feet of snow. The goal was to
rescue among the planes from your Lost Squadron. Special equipment was applied to get a gap and
burn the snow by moving warm water and putting it out. It got several month to perform searching
the opening for the airplane. It got twentyfive minutes to descend towards the bottom of the pit,
where water tubes created out a cave across the plane. After another four weeks, the aircraft was
disassembled and carefully removed from the icy grave.
The method of restoring the G-38 hasbeen reported to be "the finest repair of any warbird actually
done." Many specialists led expertise in items and services for the effort. Among these efforts, T. F.
Goodrich Aerospace in England rebuilt landing gear and brakes. A Pennsylvania company created a
brand new cover. The Smithsonian Institution supplied seven reels of microfilm and loads of
photocopies of period aviation maintenance and handbooks, parts and repair manuals.
At that time of this writing, Glacier Woman happens to be at the Airplanes of Reputation in Chino,
California, where installing modern avionics carries a GPS navigation system, gyros and a stereo.
The Lightningis Allison V-1710 applications will soon be examined and further fuel tanks attached.
Once the plane is ready, it will be flown home for the Lost Squadron's home-base in Middlesboro,
Kentucky. Then it'll retrace the first flight path from Presque Isle, Maine through Goose Bay
Labrador, Greenland, Reykjavik Iceland, Prestwick Scotland and on to England for your 4th of July
Duxford Airshow. The goal of the journey will be to complete a vacation started