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| Search Crew Finds World War II Plane That Crashed in Greenland | Search Crew Finds World War II Plane That Crashed in Greenland |
| (about 5 hours later) | |
| The Coast Guard said Monday that a private team had located a World War II rescue plane that crashed on the southeast coast of Greenland 70 years ago with three service members on board. | The Coast Guard said Monday that a private team had located a World War II rescue plane that crashed on the southeast coast of Greenland 70 years ago with three service members on board. |
| The plane, a single-engine amphibious Grumman Duck, disappeared near Koge Bay, Greenland, during a snowstorm in November 1942. The Coast Guard said searchers had found the plane, which was carrying Lt. John Pritchard, Petty Officer First Class Benjamin Bottoms, both of the Coast Guard, and Cpl. Loren Howarth, of the Army Air Forces, encased in a glacier. | The plane, a single-engine amphibious Grumman Duck, disappeared near Koge Bay, Greenland, during a snowstorm in November 1942. The Coast Guard said searchers had found the plane, which was carrying Lt. John Pritchard, Petty Officer First Class Benjamin Bottoms, both of the Coast Guard, and Cpl. Loren Howarth, of the Army Air Forces, encased in a glacier. |
| The discovery caps a two-year joint effort between the Coast Guard and North South Polar Inc., which specializes in glacier searches for the military, aimed at finding the plane before the men’s closest relatives died and the glacier moved out to sea. | The discovery caps a two-year joint effort between the Coast Guard and North South Polar Inc., which specializes in glacier searches for the military, aimed at finding the plane before the men’s closest relatives died and the glacier moved out to sea. |
| Nancy Pritchard Morgan, 89, was in college when her brother Lieutenant Pritchard disappeared. She said that the recovery team’s finding was “the answer to many years of my prayers.” | Nancy Pritchard Morgan, 89, was in college when her brother Lieutenant Pritchard disappeared. She said that the recovery team’s finding was “the answer to many years of my prayers.” |
| After an attempt to locate the plane in 2010 failed, a 17-member team of scientists and safety personnel descended on the glacier again in August. | After an attempt to locate the plane in 2010 failed, a 17-member team of scientists and safety personnel descended on the glacier again in August. |
| Using historical records, ground-penetrating radar, a magnetometer and metal detectors, they scanned 10 sites before drilling where the equipment had picked up strong signals coming from beneath the ice. | Using historical records, ground-penetrating radar, a magnetometer and metal detectors, they scanned 10 sites before drilling where the equipment had picked up strong signals coming from beneath the ice. |
| The recovery team dug two six-inch-wide holes into the ice and lowered a scope camera. At 38 feet, the team saw black cables consistent with wiring used in World War II-era planes like the Duck. Video from the engine area of the plane showed components similar to those of the plane. | The recovery team dug two six-inch-wide holes into the ice and lowered a scope camera. At 38 feet, the team saw black cables consistent with wiring used in World War II-era planes like the Duck. Video from the engine area of the plane showed components similar to those of the plane. |
| “We knew we had something down there,” said Cmdr. James F. Blow, who coordinated and oversaw the mission for the Coast Guard and went on both expeditions. | “We knew we had something down there,” said Cmdr. James F. Blow, who coordinated and oversaw the mission for the Coast Guard and went on both expeditions. |
| The Grumman Duck crashed during a snowstorm on Nov. 29, 1942. Lieutenant Pritchard, the pilot, and Petty Officer Bottoms, the radio operator, were returning from the crash site of an Army Air Force B-17, where they picked up Corporal Howarth, the B-17’s radio operator. The Coast Guard said the men were trying to reach the Northland, a cutter in Comanche Bay, Greenland, when they encountered whiteout conditions and crashed. An Army air crew spotted the Duck’s wreckage a week later and said it saw no signs of life. The rest of the B-17 crew were rescued five months later. | The Grumman Duck crashed during a snowstorm on Nov. 29, 1942. Lieutenant Pritchard, the pilot, and Petty Officer Bottoms, the radio operator, were returning from the crash site of an Army Air Force B-17, where they picked up Corporal Howarth, the B-17’s radio operator. The Coast Guard said the men were trying to reach the Northland, a cutter in Comanche Bay, Greenland, when they encountered whiteout conditions and crashed. An Army air crew spotted the Duck’s wreckage a week later and said it saw no signs of life. The rest of the B-17 crew were rescued five months later. |
| “The three men aboard this aircraft were heroes who made the ultimate sacrifice for their country,” Commander Blow said in a statement announcing the finding. “The story of the Grumman Duck reflects the history and the mission of the Coast Guard, and by finding the aircraft we have begun to repay our country’s debt to them.” | “The three men aboard this aircraft were heroes who made the ultimate sacrifice for their country,” Commander Blow said in a statement announcing the finding. “The story of the Grumman Duck reflects the history and the mission of the Coast Guard, and by finding the aircraft we have begun to repay our country’s debt to them.” |
| Commander Blow said that recovering Lieutenant Pritchard and Petty Officer Bottoms would mean that all of the Coast Guard’s missing members from all wars would be accounted for. | Commander Blow said that recovering Lieutenant Pritchard and Petty Officer Bottoms would mean that all of the Coast Guard’s missing members from all wars would be accounted for. |
| The Coast Guard said the plane is to be dug up and the men’s remains repatriated. | The Coast Guard said the plane is to be dug up and the men’s remains repatriated. |
| “It would bring closure” if the men’s bodies were returned, Ms. Morgan said. “I hope it all happens.” | “It would bring closure” if the men’s bodies were returned, Ms. Morgan said. “I hope it all happens.” |
This article has been revised to reflect the following correction: | This article has been revised to reflect the following correction: |
| Correction: January 17, 2013 | |
An | A report in the National Briefing column on Tuesday about the locating of a World War II rescue plane that crashed in Greenland 70 years ago misidentified the military branch of one of those on board. Cpl. Loren Howarth was in the Army Air Forces — not in the Air Force, which was established as a separate service later. |