British North Greenland expedition

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TheGreenGoblin
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British North Greenland expedition

#1 Post by TheGreenGoblin » Wed May 26, 2021 10:22 am

I was interested to read about an RAF supported British expedition to Greenland between 1951-1954 in the Summer Edition of the Catalina Society's newsletter. Initially I misread the article and for a moment laboured under the misapprehension that it had been a wholly RAF affair, which would have stretched the bounds of credulity too far given that, that the RAF (and air forces generally) seem, usually, to leave this rugged freezing and sweating type of stuff to tough naval and army types, while the more urbane airmen blow froth from their beer and wax their moustaches, for the delectation of the adoring ladies in the warmth of the local pub back at base, whether it be Blighty or elsewhere! =))

Nonetheless, I am pleased to report that, the RAF did add some serious airborne support muscle to this interesting Arctic endeavour.

British North Greenland Expedition
By 1950 it had been almost forty years since a publicly funded British polar expedition had been attempted. In contrast to the days of Scott and Shackleton, it was now possible to support such a venture with both motor and air transport. The British North Greenland Expedition (BNGE), a combined scientific and military venture to a remote region within 800 miles of the North Pole and headed by a Royal Navy Lieutenant-Commander, would not have been possible without the support of military aviation, mostly in the shape of the Royal Air Force’s Coastal and Transport Commands.
Flying Officer Ian Burgh's Account

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ian16th
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Re: British North Greenland expedition

#2 Post by ian16th » Wed May 26, 2021 11:09 am

Interesting reading the Wiki account.
During the supply operation, on 16 September 1952, Hastings No. WD492 of 47 Squadron, having already made a series of parachute drops, was making the second in series of free fall drops at an altitude of only 50 feet (15 m), when it was caught in a white-out, and made a forced belly landing. Three members of the crew were injured, and sheltered in the intact fuselage of the aircraft until air-lifted out by a Grumman HU-16 Albatross of the United States Air Force. The rest of the crew were recovered two days later by a rocket assisted USAF Douglas C-47.
Very lucky to not have any fatalities.
Cynicism improves with age

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