My Gal Sal (aircraft)
Encyclopedia
My Gal Sal was the nickname of a World War II
B-17E-BO Flying Fortress whose pilot was forced to land it on the Greenland
icecap. Many years later it was recovered and taken to the USA to be restored. It is one of only three intact B-17E's in existence.
On 27 June 1942, B-17E, 41-9032 - part of the 342nd Bomb Squadron of the 97th Bomb Group - was one of 13 B-17s flying the Labrador-to-Greenland leg of a ferry flight to the United Kingdom
as part of Operation Bolero
, the military build-up in Europe. Bad weather broke up the flight; five B-17s returned to Labrador, while the remainder continued on to Greenland. Over Greenland three of the aircraft were forced to land by the weather, including My Gal Sal.
All of the crew were soon rescued, but the aircraft were abandoned, not to be seen again until a 1964 overflight by a U.S.A.F. reconnaissance aircraft. At that time, My Gal Sal appeared to be intact. 31 years later, My Gal Sal was recovered from the ice, although high winds had flipped the plane completely over and damaged it. The plane is currently being restored to a static configuration at Cincinnati-Blue Ash Airport (ICAO designation: KISZ) in Cincinnati
.
On July 15, 1942, six P-38F's
of the 1st Fighter Group
and its B-17 escort were also forced down on the Greenland icecap by bad weather after unsuccessfully attempting to fly to Iceland
. One of the P-38s has been recovered and restored as Glacier Girl
.
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
B-17E-BO Flying Fortress whose pilot was forced to land it on the Greenland
Greenland
Greenland is an autonomous country within the Kingdom of Denmark, located between the Arctic and Atlantic Oceans, east of the Canadian Arctic Archipelago. Though physiographically a part of the continent of North America, Greenland has been politically and culturally associated with Europe for...
icecap. Many years later it was recovered and taken to the USA to be restored. It is one of only three intact B-17E's in existence.
On 27 June 1942, B-17E, 41-9032 - part of the 342nd Bomb Squadron of the 97th Bomb Group - was one of 13 B-17s flying the Labrador-to-Greenland leg of a ferry flight to the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
as part of Operation Bolero
Operation Bolero
Operation Bolero was the commonly used reference for the code name of the United States military troop buildup in Great Britain during World War II in preparation for the initial cross-channel invasion plan known as Operation Roundup...
, the military build-up in Europe. Bad weather broke up the flight; five B-17s returned to Labrador, while the remainder continued on to Greenland. Over Greenland three of the aircraft were forced to land by the weather, including My Gal Sal.
All of the crew were soon rescued, but the aircraft were abandoned, not to be seen again until a 1964 overflight by a U.S.A.F. reconnaissance aircraft. At that time, My Gal Sal appeared to be intact. 31 years later, My Gal Sal was recovered from the ice, although high winds had flipped the plane completely over and damaged it. The plane is currently being restored to a static configuration at Cincinnati-Blue Ash Airport (ICAO designation: KISZ) in Cincinnati
Cincinnati, Ohio
Cincinnati is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio. Cincinnati is the county seat of Hamilton County. Settled in 1788, the city is located to north of the Ohio River at the Ohio-Kentucky border, near Indiana. The population within city limits is 296,943 according to the 2010 census, making it Ohio's...
.
On July 15, 1942, six P-38F's
P-38 Lightning
The Lockheed P-38 Lightning was a World War II American fighter aircraft built by Lockheed. Developed to a United States Army Air Corps requirement, the P-38 had distinctive twin booms and a single, central nacelle containing the cockpit and armament...
of the 1st Fighter Group
1st Operations Group
The 1st Operations Group is the flying component of the 1st Fighter Wing, assigned to the USAF Air Combat Command. The group is stationed at Langley Air Force Base, Virginia. The 1st Operations Group is the oldest major air combat unit in the United States Air Force, being a successor organization...
and its B-17 escort were also forced down on the Greenland icecap by bad weather after unsuccessfully attempting to fly to Iceland
Iceland
Iceland , described as the Republic of Iceland, is a Nordic and European island country in the North Atlantic Ocean, on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge. Iceland also refers to the main island of the country, which contains almost all the population and almost all the land area. The country has a population...
. One of the P-38s has been recovered and restored as Glacier Girl
Glacier Girl
Glacier Girl is a Lockheed P-38F-1-LO Lightning World War II fighter plane, 41-7630, c/n 222-5757, that was restored to flying condition after being buried beneath the ice of the remote Greenland Ice Sheet for over 50 years.- History :...
.