B-24 against German Weather Station

[hanshauprich]

On the 25. May 1943 the German Weather Station "Holzauge" at the Sabine Island in the Artic was bombed by USAAF B-24, flying the long way from an Airbase at Island. The attack was lead by Colonel Bent Balchen, an norwegian Polar Explorer, who fly at former times with Richard E. Byrd. From what BG where the "vier-mots"?

[shooshoobaby]

479th AntiSubmarine Group , probably 19th Sq.
Stationed Gander Lake Field , Newfoundland .
Mike

[Leendert]

Hans,

It took me a while, but I found a post on "armyairforces.com", dated 29 Sept 2005.
I've copied the text for you:

"I'm searching for any of the following persons who were crewmembers on two B-17Fs that on 13 and 25 May 1943 carried out bombing raids on a German weather and radio station at Sabine Island, on Greenland's northeast coast.

The B-17s employed were probably ones being ferried from the USA to England and not yet assigned to a Bomb Group. At least some of the crew (bombardiers and gunners) were assigned from the 1st Provisional Bombardment Flight in Greenland.

B-17F 41-24583: Capt. Kenneth H. Turner (pilot) 0-329838 1/Lt. Bruno A. Carr (co-pilot) 0-483567 1/Lt. Herbert Kurz (navigator) 0-791762 Pvt. Norman C. Anderson (engineer) 17078986 Pfc. Carl H. Brehme (asst. engineer) 12050934 Sgt. Ralph E. Coleman (radio op.) 35277567 T/Sgt. Richard A. Blodgett (radio op.) 11009772 S/Sgt. Edwin G. Insley (bombardier) 33064534 S/Sgt. William C. Galvin (gunner) 13060375 S/Sgt. Orville C. Howe (gunner) 6570005

B-17F 41-24500 "Annie Freeze": Capt. Fred P. Koupal (pilot) 0-350304 2/Lt. Charles P. Miller (co-pilot) 0-795066 1/Lt. Jack L. Brenner (navigator) 0-791557 M/Sgt. Earle D. Blake (engineer) 11013452 Sgt. Warren L. Blake (asst. engineer) 13045792 Sgt. Norman E. Tucker (radio op.) 36072629 S/Sgt. Buren J. Braud (bombardier) 14046678 S/Sgt. Fay Dunlop (gunner) 35380453 S/Sgt. Marvin L. Guthrie (gunner) 6388833

Ragnar J. Ragnarsson"


Regards,

Leendert
Brugge/Belgium

[Leendert]

Hans,

Mr Ragnarsson had another post on a B-24 related website as early as 1999, but unfortunatley no answers came forward.
In this he asked for more info on (the) two B-24s that were involved in the 25th May 1943 mission. As pilots he mentioned Lt. Utsay and Lt. Happel.

Regards,

Leendert
Brugge/Belgium

[hanshauprich]

Thanks for the top information! One question is still open: Lead Colonel Balchen the mission and was he on board at one of theplanes? Mybe as passenger?

The weather station was operated not only by Luftwaffe soldiers, Met. Personal where "Luftwaffenbeamte Meteologen B" (State employees)

[Leendert]

A thread of almost 10 years ago and perhaps under loads of dust...

B-24 pilots to be identified as 1st Lt Pierce T. Utsey, Jr and Lt Robert G. Happel.

B-24 serials a bit more difficult, but here goes.

The son of (deceased) Lt Happel found a picture of his dad's bomber: 42-40631 named "Crazy Dream".

For Lt Utsey Jr.: on 7 Jun 1943, so not so long after the Greenland air attack, he had an accident at Meeks Field, Iceland with 42-40615.

Sgt Sam Kupferberg (32341697) could be pulled out of the crashed 42-40615. He had serious burn injuries.
On wwiimemorial Sgt Kupferberg is listed with DNB, but I'm not sure if this is related to the Iceland crash.

Regards,

Leendert