News-Info-Alerts

To: ALL

From: Andi Wolos & Bob Necci

(POW-MIA InterNetwork)

Re: Loss Knows No Boundaries

Date: August 24, 2001

"Air Force rescue squadron helps recover remains
by Navy Petty Officer 2nd Class Stephen Sheedy
Iceland Defense Force Public Affairs

08/24/01 - NAVAL AIR STATION KEFLAVIK, Iceland (AFPN) -- The 56th Rescue Squadron here teamed up with the Royal Air Force Mountain Rescue Service on Aug. 13 to recover the remains of four British airmen killed in an air crash south of Akureyri.

What made this particular recovery mission unique is that the aircraft and the remains of the airmen have been buried in a glacier for 50 years.

On May 26, 1941, a British Fairey Battle left Melgerdi Field near Akureyri, Iceland, with four crewmen and passengers. Shortly after takeoff, the plane crashed in the fog on the mountain range south of Akureyri, killing all aboard.

While British troops discovered the wreck two days later, the decision was made not to make a recovery effort because of the treacherous terrain in the area.

The plane was covered over with snow and ice through the decades.

It was not rediscovered until 1999 when representatives from the Sulur Mountain Rescue Service found the wreck.

An expedition went to the site in 2000 to recover the remains of the victims and the wreckage of the aircraft; however, the mission had to be abandoned before it was complete. Last week, the RAF went back to the crash site to complete the recovery.

"Our main aim was to remove parts of the wreck and any remaining personal effects to prevent trophy hunters from getting hold of them," said Royal Air Force Flight Sgt. Pete Winn.

Besides the RAF Mountain Rescue Service and the Icelandic Sulur Mountain Rescue Team, British officials requested the help of the 56th Rescue Squadron.

The 56th RS was tasked with logistical support, said Maj. Javier Casanova, 56th RS aircraft commander.

"Our job was to provide helicopter transportation and support to the Royal Air Force Mountain Rescue Service in the recovery efforts," Casanova said.

The mission required 56th Rescue Squadron crews, who fly the HH-60G Pave Hawk, to handle two different tasks. On Aug. 13, aircrews flew the British and Icelandic climbers and their equipment to the site. They returned to fly the mountaineers out Aug. 16. They also transported any remains and wreckage they discovered back to Akureyri.

While on paper the mission was a routine transport job, flying in Northern Iceland provided the aircrew with some challenges.

"The challenging part was that the ceilings were right on the top of the ridgelines," said 1st Lt. Bernie Smith, 56th RS co-pilot. "The (aircrew) had to hunt and guide their way through the valleys. It's unpredictable to fly through canyons like that because the winds can do some crazy things."

Flying the mountaineers to the site was straight forward since the weight distribution on the helicopter could be determined beforehand; however, the weight distribution was uncertain for the return flight, Smith said.

"The initial concern was we didn't have a clear picture of what we would be extracting from the landing site," he said. "We knew the distance was only 18 miles north to Akureyri but we were worried about the weight distribution if there were any heavy aircraft parts. We were also concerned about airlifting any human remains."

However, it turned out to be a smooth operation.

"The RAF was very professional and they had everything but the largest pieces of wreckage, such as the propeller of the plane, bagged up so the helicopter wasn't cluttered," Smith said.

While on the surface, this was a routine mission for the 56th Rescue Squadron, for some of the participants it meant something more. For Casanova it was an opportunity to thank the RAF Mountaineer Rescue Service for helping to find American aviators when two F-15s crashed in the Scottish Highlands in March 2001.

"I'm thankful we were given the opportunity to help out the British government to recover their aircraft," Casanova said. "I'm also glad we were able to help out the Royal Air Force Mountain Rescue Service because they did a great job in finding our downed pilots in Scotland. I was able to return the favor."

For Smith, the assignment was his first mission.

"I'm a pretty new pilot, it was all training up to that assignment and it turned out to be a rewarding mission," Smith said. "There are relatives of the crash victims still alive and helping to bring back the remains helped provide closure."