zwiebel
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An American Douglas A-20 Havoc, missing in Siberia since WW2, has finally been located.
'The aircraft was lost in the taiga over Kemerovo region in western Siberia 71 years ago en route to the eastern front in Europe from Alaska. '
'Wreckage of the bomber had been spotted by a hunter in the taiga 48 years ago but despite some parts being clearly visible from the air, he was unable to retrace his steps to the crash site in the 4,129 square kilometre Kuznetsky Alatau wildlife reserve.'
Another research team stumbled upon the wreckage last month, which was in surprisingly good condition with the tail number F216 still clearly visible. No remains of the 4-man crew were found, sadly, but military records may show who they were. Russian authorities say the plane was lent by the US as part of the lend lease program to the Red Army, and would have had a Soviet crew for the flight over Siberia. It's not known what will happen to the wreckage.
http://siberiantimes.com/other/others/news/first-pictures-of-us-warplane-lost-over-siberia-in-1943/
*Laughing out loud at myself, because I didn't believe what the article said about having a Soviet crew. If the planes flew from Alaska, how would it have a Soviet Crew? There weren't any Soviet troops in Alaska. I was deeply suspicious.
Much reading later.....Oh yes there were. All to do with the war in the Pacific really, but it meant the US wanted an open route from Alaska to Siberia and lent 'Uncle Joe' Stalin planes. He agreed, but only if Soviet troops could fly the planes over there. So a base for them was built in Alaska.
BBM
'Gambell, St. Lawrence Island
Constructed 1943 by Air Transport Command, used as refueling/servicing airfield for transfer of Lend-Lease aircraft to Siberia; Transferred to Eleventh Air Force, then to Alaskan Air Command, 1945 and closed, turned over to War Assets Administration for disposition, 1946. Jurisdiction transferred to private ownership in 1950 and now Gambell Airport.
http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alaska_World_War_II_Army_Airfields
The planes for the Soviet Union were flown by way of the Northwest Staging Route to Ladd Field at Fairbanks.....The first planes from the continental United States reached Fairbanks in September 1942 and, after inspection and acceptance by the Russians, were flown off by them before the end of the month......the air route operated by the Army through northwestern Canada and across Alaska served principally and very largely the purpose of delivering airplanes to the Russians, an activity which continued unabated until the summer of 1945.
http://www.history.army.mil/books/wwii/Guard-US/ch10.htm
'The aircraft was lost in the taiga over Kemerovo region in western Siberia 71 years ago en route to the eastern front in Europe from Alaska. '
'Wreckage of the bomber had been spotted by a hunter in the taiga 48 years ago but despite some parts being clearly visible from the air, he was unable to retrace his steps to the crash site in the 4,129 square kilometre Kuznetsky Alatau wildlife reserve.'
Another research team stumbled upon the wreckage last month, which was in surprisingly good condition with the tail number F216 still clearly visible. No remains of the 4-man crew were found, sadly, but military records may show who they were. Russian authorities say the plane was lent by the US as part of the lend lease program to the Red Army, and would have had a Soviet crew for the flight over Siberia. It's not known what will happen to the wreckage.
http://siberiantimes.com/other/others/news/first-pictures-of-us-warplane-lost-over-siberia-in-1943/
*Laughing out loud at myself, because I didn't believe what the article said about having a Soviet crew. If the planes flew from Alaska, how would it have a Soviet Crew? There weren't any Soviet troops in Alaska. I was deeply suspicious.
Much reading later.....Oh yes there were. All to do with the war in the Pacific really, but it meant the US wanted an open route from Alaska to Siberia and lent 'Uncle Joe' Stalin planes. He agreed, but only if Soviet troops could fly the planes over there. So a base for them was built in Alaska.
BBM
'Gambell, St. Lawrence Island
Constructed 1943 by Air Transport Command, used as refueling/servicing airfield for transfer of Lend-Lease aircraft to Siberia; Transferred to Eleventh Air Force, then to Alaskan Air Command, 1945 and closed, turned over to War Assets Administration for disposition, 1946. Jurisdiction transferred to private ownership in 1950 and now Gambell Airport.
http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alaska_World_War_II_Army_Airfields
The planes for the Soviet Union were flown by way of the Northwest Staging Route to Ladd Field at Fairbanks.....The first planes from the continental United States reached Fairbanks in September 1942 and, after inspection and acceptance by the Russians, were flown off by them before the end of the month......the air route operated by the Army through northwestern Canada and across Alaska served principally and very largely the purpose of delivering airplanes to the Russians, an activity which continued unabated until the summer of 1945.
http://www.history.army.mil/books/wwii/Guard-US/ch10.htm
