Coast Guard in Alaska late 1930's Will Rogers crash scene

[Bob Hudson]

I have not identified this guy, although I do know he is linked to some people whose story can be found in a thread at http://www.usmilitariaforum.com/forums/index.php?/topic/215203-purple-heart-kia-b-17-raid-on-bremen-dec-1943/

 

He was aboard the US Coast Guard Cutter Northland and one of the photos is dated July 1936. The Northland was taken out of service in 1938 after her last Arctic cruise (although quickly brought back into service for duty elsewhere (see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USCGC_Northland_(WPG-49) ).

 

She had a full rig of auxillary sails but in 1936 her masts were trimmed. At least one photo below (the one with the guy in a leather flight jacket) shows in the background the kind of rigging you'd except on a sailing ship, so some of these may have been taken before the transformation.

 

 

 

 

[Bob Hudson]

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[Bob Hudson]

These are all quick and dirty photos of the originals so they don't show all the detail in the originals.

 

 

 

 

[Bob Hudson]

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[Bob Hudson]

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[Bob Hudson]

One intact airplane and two crashed airplanes: not uncommon in Alaska even today, 78 years later.

 

 

 

[Bob Hudson]

Catch of the day:

 

 

 

[Bob Hudson]

The back of one of these town photos notes how it looks a lot better from a distance

 

 

 

 

 

[Bob Hudson]

After leaving the Northland he apparently got stationed in Seattle where he met a WAC:

 

[Linedoggie]

One intact airplane and two crashed airplanes: not uncommon in Alaska even today, 78 years later.

 

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Isnt this Wiley Posts Lockheed Orion that he and Will Rogers were killed in?

[1SG_1st_Cav]

Very interesting pictures of a time long ago. Thanks ~ Danny

[Bob Hudson]

Isnt this Wiley Posts Lockheed Orion that he and Will Rogers were killed in?

 

You are right! Those are crash photos. Here's from another website:

 

 

And here's his photo and the writing on the back of the one showing the pontoons:

 

 

 

From another angle:

 

[Bob Hudson]

By the way, the "intact" aircraft is from Mirow Air Service, which ran scheduled services in Alaska from about 1935 until it was absorbed into Alaska Air Lines in the early 1940s.

 

This Coastguardsman was on the scene apparently not long after the crash as his ship, the Northland, was making its summer visit to Point Barrow on the Arctic Circle. Right after the crash the newpapers speculated on how the bodies of Will Rogers and Wiley Post would be brought back to the States.

 

One paper reported:

 

"Bodies of the famous air duo were placed in the whale boat and brought here where they were taken to the Presbyterian Mission hospital by DR. HENRY GRIEST, its superintendent. They will be held here until the Coast Guard Cutter 'Northland' returns to take them to Nome. The 'Northland' left Point Barrow only yesterday after its annual summer visit when it brings a doctor, dentist, United States commissioner, and supplies for the government employes here. The 'Northland' probably will take the bodies to Nome, but perhaps to the States."

 

While another speculated airplanes would fly them back:

 

"The tragedy occurred during the height of the short arctic summer. Barrow is more than 300 miles inside the arctic circle, at the end of Alaska’s northernmost point. Even yet, Barrow’s “harbor” in the Arctic ocean roadstead is open only at intervals to shipping and the coast guard cutter Northland is held in the icepack off Wainwright, 75 miles southwest of here, after her annual visit here.

Northland radioed that her arrival time at Barrow is “very indefinite because conditions are unfavorable. “Only feasible method of quick removal of bodies is by airplane, the Northland advised. At Fairbanks planes of the Pacific Alaska Airways were reported in readiness to come to Barrow to fly the bodies out if desired."

The Northland was turned around and sent to Point Barrow, but the bodies were flown out, in a plane piloted by Joe Crosson, who'd been a friend of both men.

[Leatherwringer]

Incredible pics! Great story too

[m1ashooter]

Love the pictures of Alaska. I've had a love for the Great Land since I was in HS and my Alaskan assignment was the best of my USAF career.

[Bob Hudson]

I've been trying to find the name of this CG sailor, with no luck. I know the name and family info for his girlfriend, but not him. After the Northland he was aboard the ship CG 68006, shown in a couple of photos. She put a caption on one in which she calls it the Carmelita, not the type of handle you'd expect in Coast Guard service.

 

Well, I found that the Carmelita is still with us, and that she operated as a motor yacht before entering Coast Guard service in WWII. She was built in 1935 and even with her civilian clothes on, can clearly be matched to CG 68006.

 

 

 

 

So now I know the history of his boat and girlfriend, but still nothing about him (:

[Bob Hudson]

I did some high-resolution scans of these two photos to show some of the details in them: