[Lancia037Rally]

Was flipping through the cable channels and low & behold, there was Wee Gee Smith (former Carl Merrill service guy and brother to Lance Smith of Vermont Sportcar/Mitsubishi USA) being interviewed on the History Channel.
The program was about the recovery, restoration and first flight after 50 years of a P38 Lightning vintage warplane. The plane had crashlanded on a Greenland icecap during World War II and when was relocated, it was buried 250 feet in ice. Wee Gee was involved in the recovery which seemed to be a logistical nightmare.
The show was titled The Lost Squadron. Don't know if History Channel will air this again soon but if they do, check it out.

 

[Morgan]

If you get the chance, you should ask Weegie about it, it is an amazing story! I went and saw the plane (and museum) last year on my way back from Cherokee trails, it is spectacular!

http://thelostsquadron.com/museum.html

 

[PJ]

Did they actually get it out? I was watching the program but went out for a bike ride and missed the last 20 minutes of the show. Very interesting indeed.

 

[Morgan]

Yes, they actually melted a hole down to it then melted the ice around it. Dissmanteled it and then later restored it, and it had it's first flight in October 2002, the other five planes are still buried there

http://thelostsquadron.com/recovf2.jpg

http://thelostsquadron.com/gallery/pic003.jpg