Glacier Girl

Twentyfive staff members required flight from your Presque Isle Airbase in Maine and headed for
your Uk. Flying six R-38s as companions for just two B-17s, the journey overseas expected stops to
refuel in Labrador, Greenland and Iceland on the road to England. The road from Greenland to
Iceland required the squadrons to fly-over mountains about the east shore of Greenland, throughout
the Denmark Strait and on the icecap to Reykjavik, Iceland.
As the squadrons leaped on the ice cap at twelve thousand legs, much blanket of clouds obscured
their view. They rose above the clouds to enhance awareness. Temperatures within the thin
atmosphere fallen to minus ten degrees Fahrenheit. Still ninety minutes from Iceland, the planes
joined a large size of cumulus clouds and were required to rise another two thousand feet. As you of
the pilots lost sensation in his arms, he ripped the jetis defroster from thisis growing and used it to
warm his gloves to create them warm enough to feel the settings. Since the flight advanced, their
feet became too numb to feel the rudder pedals.
Small P-38s fought to keep up connection with the T-17s as snow created on their wings. Radio
operators tried desperately to improve the airbase in Reykjavik or the temperature plane that has
been said to be traveling one hour ahead of them. Whilst the temperature became worse, and
missing any external conversation, the squadron chose to come back to the airbase in Greenland and
watch for better conditions. An hour later, while they contacted the east coast of Greenland, the
current weather conditions became worse.
After ninety minutes of traveling in dense cloud cover, the squadron began to operate low on gas
and decided to visit a destination for a area. Brad McManus, pilot of just one of the G-38s, decided to
territory with wheels down. He hoped that landing on wheels might allow him to take-off again after
more gas was decreased for the aircraft. Everything appeared to get nicely for that first several
hundred meters. Then abruptly, leading landing gear crashed through the ice and also the airplane
turned around, pinning the seat while in the ideal. McManus were able to reduce his solution of his
parachute harness and his safety belt as smoke-filled the cockpit.
Viewing the world from over, pilot Robert Wilson retracted his landing gear and slid to your sleek
halt about the ice. He raced the half mile back to the site of the collision to check on McManus.
Wilson's air billowed in wispy white clouds behind him as he went toward the smoke in the dead
aircraft. McManus stepped out of under among the wings of the downed airplanes and stated,
"Didn't think I'd make it, did you?" Because the two pilots waved, the remaining squadron responded
with slow moves as well as other aerial acrobatics.
One at a time another P-38s stumbled to the snow. The N-17s remained aloft for almost another half
hour, spending the remaining fuel before joining the other planes about the frozen surface. Not
really a simple staff member was lost throughout the landings, but there is no time to enjoy. The
crewman turned their emphasis to emergency and rescue.
The Lost Squadron
Rations were collected and split to last for 2 months. The men wore shades at all times to avoid
snow-blindness, and avoided eating too much snow because it would bring about sore throats. The
staff hack sawed holes into both ends of air bottles and linked them to engine manifold pipes, with
oil exhausted from motors and great through these devices on parachute straps the construction

became elementary space heaters to fight the freezing conditions.

After three nights around the ice, one of the radio operators obtained a Morse code communication
to verify their situation and position. Later that time, enthusiasm attached as items were decreased
by parachute. The excitement waned as the crew people observed powerful winds bring the
parachutes as well as the materials far out of site on the horizon. As added efforts to provide
supplies triggered similar catastrophe, the stranded airmen designed scavenging events to look for
the scattered supplies. While materials were ultimately compiled and organized, the team members
recognized with a square dancing on the wing of one of the T-17s.
Back in the airbase, people coordinated products and devised plans to save the Lost Squadron.
Meanwhile, about the ice, the men passed many more times playing radio broadcasts from England.
Another favorite diversion was to sit down on burlap bags and keep parachutes, racing one another
as powerful winds ripped their parachutes throughout the snow. Ultimately a ship, skiing and
dogsled team were dispatched to retrieve the crewmen.
The P38 Pilots restored personal affects, fired.45 slugs into electric gear to preserve it from
dropping into the palms of Nazi scavengers, and prepared for your long journey to satisfy their
rescuers. McManus eliminated a clock from his instrument panel being a keepsake. The men
marched through knee deep snow and snow all night, ultimately collapsing at the edge of a cliff
around the ocean's edge. They took turns watching over each other as they slept. When they were
acquired by a Coast Guard Cutter, the males were treated to showers, the single girls handbook
dried clothes as well as a great dinner before being sent to new jobs.

Fifty Years Later

On July 15, 1992, 74 year old Brad McManus stood about the ice cap surrounded by the bits of a P38 flown by his late friend Harry Smith. The aircraft was buried under 268 feet of snow. The target
was to rescue one of many airplanes in the Lost Squadron. Special equipment was applied to look a
pit and burn the snow by distributing heated water and moving it out. It took several month to
complete looking the hole towards the airplane. It got twenty five minutes to descend to the base of
the gap, where water hoses carved out a cave across the airplane. After another four weeks, the
airplane was disassembled and carefully taken off the icy grave.
The procedure of restoring the R-38 has been reported to be "the finest recovery of any warbird
actually done." Many professionals contributed experience in things and services for the energy.
Among these initiatives, T. F. Goodrich Aerospace in England rebuilt landing gear and wheels. A
California firm designed a brand new canopy. The Smithsonian Institution offered ten reels of
microfilm and stacks of photocopies of time aviation maintenance and handbooks, parts and repair

manuals.
At that time with this writing, Glacier Girl is at the Planes of Reputation in Chino, California, where
installation of modern avionics carries a GPS navigation system, gyros and a stereo. The Lightningis
Allison V-1710 applications will soon be evaluated and extra fuel tanks attached. When the airplane
is prepared, it will be flown home towards the Lost Squadron's home base in Middlesboro, Kentucky.
Then it'll retrace the initial flight route from Presque Isle, Maine through Goose Bay Labrador,
Greenland, Reykjavik Iceland, Prestwick Scotland and on to England for that 4th of July Duxford
Airshow. The purpose of the trip will be to complete a vacation started