This is the day we get special attention from Warbirds coming from different part of the country. Glacier Girl is one of the WW2 era early varient P-38.
Glacier Girl: A Remarkable Rescue
- Historical Context:
- In 1942, Glacier Girl was a brand-new Lockheed P-38F Lightning, one of hundreds of airplanes sent as part of the U.S. Army Air Force’s ambitious plan during World War II.
- These planes were tasked with base-hopping across the North Atlantic, from Maine to Great Britain, as part of Operation Bolero1.
- The Lost Squadron:
- On July 15, 1942, poor weather and limited visibility forced six P-38 fighters of the 94th Fighter Squadron (1st FG) and two B-17 bombers to return to Greenland during their journey to Britain.
- The crew members were rescued, but Glacier Girl, along with the other fighters and B-17s, was buried under 268 feet (82 meters) of snow and ice over the ensuing decades2.
- The Recovery:
- Fifty years later, in 1992, members of the Greenland Expedition Society successfully brought Glacier Girl to the surface after years of searching and excavation.
- The plane was eventually transported to Middlesboro, Kentucky, where an incredible restoration effort began2.
- Restoration and Flight:
- The excavation of Glacier Girl was documented in an episode of The History Channel’s Mega Movers series titled “Extreme Aircraft Recovery.”
- In October 2002, after meticulous restoration, Glacier Girl took to the skies once again.
- Its return flight across the Atlantic Ocean was an attempt to complete the journey it had begun 65 years earlier2.
- Challenges and Triumphs:
- On June 22, 2007, Glacier Girl departed Teterboro Airport, New Jersey, aiming to reach Duxford, England.
- Unfortunately, a coolant leak in the right engine grounded the plane in Goose Bay, Labrador on June 28.
- Repairs were completed, and Glacier Girl returned to the U.S., where it now graces air shows across the country2.
- Legacy and Exploration:
- Glacier Girl’s remarkable rescue inspired further missions. In 2016, a team planned to extract another P-38 from the ice in Greenland.
- Led by explorers, they aimed to recover the P-38 Echo, piloted by Capt. Robert Wilson, and donate it to a museum.
- The glacier’s movement made the salvage mission challenging, but their determination persisted2.
In summary, Glacier Girl’s story is one of resilience, ingenuity, and the unwavering spirit of those who refuse to let history remain frozen in time. 🛩️
