ACADEMY PLASTIC HOBBY MODEL KIT 1/48 P-38F LIGHTINING "GLACIER GIRL"

The Lost Squadron
During the summer of 1942. one of World War II' s most fascinating sagas took place on the icy slopes of Greenland. A flight of World War II airplanes were being flown to England from the United States in support of the war in Europe. In the early morning of July 15, a Hight of two B-17 Bombers and six P-38 Fighters departed from BW1 (today Sondre Stromfjord) airbase on the west coast of Greenland headed for England. The planes were part of operation Bolero, code name for the growing allied force that would someday liberate occupied Europe from Hitler's armies. As the planes streamed over the barren landscape. they flew into a massive storm system near Iceland. In an attempt to avoid the storm, they climbed higher. But the cloud cover thickened, ice formed on the wings. and the inadequately protected pilots began to suffer from the severe cold. In desperation, the flight turned back for the safety of Greenland. But, again, they ran into storms. With fuel running low, the planes broke through the heavy cloud cover. However, when the flight established its location, the crews realized they were far from their base and would not have enough fuel to return safety. Their only chance for survival was to crash land on the glacial wastes of Greenland. Since the icecap appeared to be smooth, flat and hard, the first plane to attempt landing, a P-38, came in with its wheels down, Although the plane flipped over, the pilot, 1st. Lt. Brad McManus, sustained only minor injuries. Amazingly, all remaining aircraft got down without significant injuries to any of the men. It was the largest forced landing in Air Force history--including six P-38s. two B-17s and 25 crewmembers. They were stranded ten miles south of the Arctic Circle. Fortunately, after eleven days the men were rescued by a 5-man rescue team from a US Army weather station stationed at Angmagssalik, Greenland. The warplanes were abandoned on the glacier and after the first winter never to be seen again.

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