Sondrestrom air force base, greenland united states air. This book, air force bases, volume ii, contains fundamental data on. Sondrestrom air base is a former united states air force base in greenland. Vetfriends provides you access to its online community, subject to your compliance with the terms and conditions below the agreement. Sondrestrom air base, sondre stromfjord, vestgronland, greenland. First air refueling squadrons activated in preparation for the assignment of tanker aircraft, the 43d and 509th air refueling squadrons were activated at davismonthan air force base, arizona, and roswell air force base, new mexico, on 19 july. Chc and sikorsky commemorate historic transatlantic flight chc. His aircraft was part of a movement of b17s across the atlantic via sondrestrom bw8. An uncensored history of americas top secret military base by annie jacobsen, a higher call. Great photos and information about this base can be found at this site. Richard taylor obituary doylestown, oh akron beacon. At sondrestrom air base on 10 december 1952 contrails were reported at an estimated 50,000 feet on a heading of 019 degrees. Search the history of over 431 billion web pages on the internet.
Crews were regularly supplied and rotated by c aircraft of the 109th airlift wing staging through sondrestrom air base. Air force history and museums program publications. Air force historical support division books special studiesblue. Richard taylor obituary doylestown, oh akron beacon journal. It is located 2 miles 3 km southeast of bitburg, 20 miles 32 km north of trier, and 5 miles 217 km west of wiesbaden. Bgsf kangerlussuaq sondrestrom located in kangerlussuaq, greenland icao bgsf, iata sfj. Bitburg air base 19521994, former icao edab was a frontline nato base during the cold war. The thule air base is a military base in greenland belonging to the us.
Aug 29, 1976 a danish liason officer at the sondrestrom air base said 21 of the 19 passengers and 8 crew members on t he starlifter in greenland died. Kangerlussuaq or sondre stromfjord, sondrestrom air base and code name bluie west 8, as the place has often been better known was founded on october 7th 1941, under the supervision of colonel b. Blending nature, culture and history all year round. He retired from sondrestrom air base in greenland where his last assignment was sergeant. Sondrestrom air base greenland, also known as bluie west 8, was operational 19411992 and brought together. Sondrestrom air base greenland 4684th air base group. By enrolling as an member, you agree to be bound by these terms and conditions and the terms and conditions of any activity that you conduct on the website. The internet is absolutely chockfull of military memes. The weekly charter flight is bringing people and supplies. For the greenland civilian settlement, see kangerlussuaq. Get the best deals on air base when you shop the largest online. Greenland is the worlds largest island and has an ice cap which covers about fivesixths of the total area. At narsarssuak air base 6140n, 4610w u shaped contrails were seen forming in a southsoutheasterly direction.
Books air force historical support division home af. Airplane crash at sondrestrom air base, greenland, on. But yeah, theres still books on the shelves and magazines in the rooms. Search the history of over 424 billion web pages on the internet.
Sondrestrom settlement, a settlement in western greenland. E company, 506th regiment, 101st airborne from normandy to hitlers eagles nest. A view inside the abandoned dye2 station, greenland youtube. A number of vital intelligence sighting sic were reported from various sources in and around sondrestrom air base. Danair 707 stops to refuel at sondrestrom air base, greenland. The mushroom fields of gargantuan radar antennae along the towns surrounding slopes first appeared in that era, spreading and updating well into the late 1980s. There was bars, clubs and restaurants who served alcoholic beverages. A graduate of alleghany college, he lives in erie, pennsylvania. Get the best deals on air base when you shop the largest online selection at. The best in science fiction and fantasy publishing. Gone but not forgotten collection wandering i store. Unable to find his destination and running out of fuel, his crew searched the west coast for a flat place and set down successfully on the flat, rocky surface at marrak point. After his service in the marines, he then enlisted with the u. Danish sources said the passengers included thre children.
Easily view the current listings, photos, videos, real estate history for. Bgsfkangerlussuaq sondrestrom general airport information. In partnership with denmark, the air base supported efforts during world war ii. The base is approximately 11 mi 18 km westnorthwest of. The united states air force space command built the coldwar era thule air base in thule, greenland, in complete secrecy in the early 1950s. The afhsd was then know as the usaf historical division liaison office and, later, as the office of air force history. Sondre stromfjord was sondrestrom air base when i was stationed there with the u. The site is located 60 mi north of the arctic circle and 90 mi from the northeast end of kangerlussuaq fjord, formerly known by its danish name sondre stromfjord. Thomasons detailed survey unfolds the forceful and engrossing saga of the navys as well as the marine corps 20year struggle to achieve fighter parity with. Dye stations were equipped with the 600 mhz anfps30 longrange radar within geodesic domes of about 60 feet diameter. United states air force 66th photographic squadron, sondrestrom air base, douglas dc3 transport plane, united states air force. Located 60 miles north of arctic circle, 90 miles from the northeast end of sondre stromfjord, 12 miles westnorthwest of ravneklippen, and 70 miles west of holsteinsborg, greenland.
Hear more about dye2 and other abandoned military bases in. Sondrestromfjord air base, 25 october 1947 renamed. Airplane crash at sondrestrom air base, greenland, on augu. United states air force historical research agency. The accident took place right between the hangar and the airport hotel, only a few feet to the right of the runway.
Farreaching, well organized and wonderfully detailed is the way i would describe tommy thomasons u. Veteran firebird pilot buck buchanon on sondrestrom ramp holding a hidden bottle of champagne after flying his last firebird approach in 1968. The site is located 60 mi 97 km north of the arctic circle and 90 mi 140 km from the northeast end of kangerlussuaq fjord, formerly known by its danish name sondre stromfjord. Guidera had been shot in the leg on sentry duty wednesday night at clark air base when his weapon discharged as. Dod personnel and organizations may request a hard copy of any of our in print publications free of. Sondrestrom air base greenland the military standard. Airplane crash at sondrestrom air base, greenland, on august 28th 1976. A second agreement with the danes in 1951 allowed the americans to convert kangerlussuaq then sondrestrom air base into an antisoviet early warning and listening post. The destruction of the iraqi air force was probably one of the most complete such actions in the history of military aviation. List of former united states air force installations. Vintage sondrestrom air base greenland air force aviator scarf shawl 28x29. It was turned over to the greenland government in 1992 and is now a civilian community and airport, although the usaf operates a small air national guard detachment on the former base.
Chc and sikorsky commemorate historic transatlantic flight. Cannon air force base history base operating units. At thule air base in greenland, vigilance and community. Free shipping on many items browse your favorite brands. Sondrestrom air base closed guam andersen iceland keflavik airport closed italy aviano air base, italy san vito dei normanni air station closed japan misawa air base kadena air base, okinawa the netherlands camp new amsterdam closed panama howard air base, balboa panama closed philippines clark air base closed republic of korea. Guidera had been shot in the leg on sentry duty wednesday night at. Sondrestrom air base greenland 4684th air base group lise. Airforce lockheed starlifter c141a tail number 670008. Teague, a usaaf b17 pilot, discovered marrak point by accident on 5 june 1942. There is a lot of material that covers the almost constant moving from air base to air base, but the most enjoyable parts are the carrier launch, the challenging navigation at 50 feet above the sea, the bombing and the nighttime bailout from the bomb bay doors over. The contrails had a definite point of origin and could be seen forming. Earlier that year, on april 9th 1941, greenlands security was entrusted to the usa by the danish. If you didnt want to live your life in the bars and restaurants and stay drunk for all six months, the air force and dac had a various number of indoor activities. In 1983 jim baen had the opportunity to start his own independent company.
At narsarssuak air base 6140n, 4610w u shaped contrails were seen forming in a. Make offer robins air force base, georgia history book, 1982. Sondrestrom air base, originally bluie west8, was a u. Sheppard air force base booklet circa 1951 to 1953. Sondrestrom air base, 10 january 1952 base operating units. It was the official home of the united states air force 36th fighter wing for over 40 years as part of the united states air forces in europe. Military jokes army humor army memes army life military life military post military history air force humor air force quotes. This file is licensed under the creative commons attributionshare alike 4.
The first of these sightings was received by base operations on 19 july when the pilot of a mats c54 aircraft number 5529 sighted an unidentified aircraft at 64 35 n, 54 30 w, at an altitude of 4,000 feet. The base was named after sondre stromfjord on the west coast of greenland. The first extended overwater portion of the flight was a 260nm leg from cape dyer across the davis straight to sondrestrom air base, greenland on may 20. Cd specifications weight, wingspan, length, horsepower, etc history of the hercules ski model cd departs dye site hercules using jato for takeoff. Three of his books have been history book club selections. May 31, 2017 the first extended overwater portion of the flight was a 260nm leg from cape dyer across the davis straight to sondrestrom air base, greenland on may 20. Sondrestrom air base sondre stromfjord, vestgronland. Six months a year it was too cold to outdoor activities. The next day, the s61n climbed to 11,000 feet for a 350nm crossing of the massive greenland ice cap to kulusuk on the mountainous east coast. Sondrestrom air base history base operating units 417th base hq air base squadron, 26 september 1942 85th army air force base unit, 1 october 1945 1004th air base squadron redesignated 1234th air base squadron, 1 october 1948, 1 june. Although most of the former super bases have been demilitarized and today are abandoned facilities being reclaimed by the desert, a few were refurbished and were subsequently used by army, air force and marine units. The base is approximately 11 mi 18 km westnorthwest of ravneklippen and. A danish liason officer at the sondrestrom air base said 21 of the 19 passengers and 8 crew members on t he starlifter in greenland died. The development of strategic air command, 19461986 the.
1305 623 1531 791 730 46 482 324 205 1268 783 330 1536 1146 1020 984 758 1118 1327 1322 1312 400 497 668 209 523 1093 3 1485 110 1259 1149 904 473 160 168 694 1335 1050 586