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| USAAF 46th RS  NASA May 14, 2014 |
Pilot 1st Lt Vern H. Arnett (survived) Grant County, OK Co-Pilot 1st Lt John G. Lesman (survived) Kearny, NJ Engineer 2nd Lt Robert L. Luedke (survived) West Point, NB Radar 1st Lt. Howard R. Adams (survived) Roulette, PA Navigator 1st Lt. Burl Cowan (survived) New Orleans, LA Astral Navigator 1st Lt. John G. Lesman (survived) Engineer 1st Lt Talbot M. Gates (survived) Radio TSgt Robert Leader (survived) Philadelphia, PA Electrical MSgt Lawrence Yarborough (survived) Photographer SSgt Paul R. McNamara (survived) Photographer SSgt Ernest C. Stewart (survived) Force Landed February 21, 1947 Aircraft History Built by Boeing in Wichita, Kansas completed in early August 1945. Constructor Number 13656. On August 9, 1945 delivered to the U.S. Army Air Force (USAAF) as B-29-95-BW Superfortress serial number 45-21768. Also known as "768" for the last three digits of the serial number. After delivery, placed in storage at Davis-Monthan Army Airfield. In the middle of 1946, assigned to the 46th Reconnaissance Squadron (46th RS) and was one of six B-29s in the squadron converted into the F-13 long range photographic reconnaissance version with cameras, long range fuel tanks and retained defensive armament and bombsight. Nicknamed "Kee Bird" in double quotation marks painted yellow with the nose art of a white bird walking on snow with the lower portion of the fuselage and wings painted black. In June 1946 moved with the squadron to Ladd Field near Fairbanks in Alaska. This B-29 completed six reconnaissance mission mapping the North Pole as part of "Project Nanook". Mission History On February 21, 1947 took off from Ladd Field piloted by 1st Lt. Vern H. Arnett on its seventh mission, a reconnaissance mission over the geographic North Pole then was scheduled to return to Ladd Field on February 21, 1947 at 10:00am. The B-29 had enough fuel to remain airborne for 26 hours. The B-29 reached the geographic North Pole, then made a 70° turn to the southeast, then a 120° turn to the southwest. The pilot became disoriented over the polar icepack just north of 85°N, then began to fly to the south, then east until turning west over northern Greenland. On February 21, 1947 at 7:56am the bomber broke radio silence and sent a radio message picked up by Point Barrow CAA Radio Station stating that they had no means of steering as the sun was too low and entered a storm at 24,000' and were "over land but do not know where". Afterwards, another radio message was received at 9:58am stating they had four minutes of fuel left and would crash land on ice or land, but did not give their position. Minutes later, force landed atop a frozen lake on Humboldt Glacier in Greenland. Fates of the Crew None of the crew were hurt in the landing. Afterwards, the crew remained with the bomber and had sufficient winter clothing and a food supply to last roughly two weeks. Their radio still worked and were able to transmit messages with their approximate location then took celestial observations to refine the position. Search After the bomber went missing, search missions were organized and all American aircraft in Alaska were alerted to search. The first search was by B-17 Flying Fortress from 5th Emergency Rescue Squadron (5th ERS) that flew to Point Barrow but returned to Ladd Field without result. The first to search mission was flown by B-29 45-21871 piloted by Captain Richmond McIntyre that searched from MacKenzie Bay, Greenland westward. During the flight, they were informed the downed crew were in contact and given their position but due to a lack of fuel was ordered to discontinue their search and return to Ladd Field. The second search was flown by B-29 "Boeing's Boner" 45-21762 loaded with rescue supplies and flew directly to the reported position as the downed crew took celestial observations to refine their position and spotted the downed bomber and crew and dropped supplies. A note was dropped instructing the crew to destroy the radar, Loran, and the IFF sets, and to bring back, when they were evacuated, all exposed film, airplane files, and maps. Afterwards, the search plane returned to Ladd Field. Rescue To rescue the crew, two C-54D Skymasters based at Westover Field in Massachusetts were flown via Goose Bay Airfield, Labrador to Thule Airfield in Greenland. On February 24, 1947 at 1:31pm a C-54D Skymaster 42-72640 piloted by Lt Bobbie J Cavnar was fitted with JATO bottles landed at Thule Airfield and took off again at 2:10pm accompanied by C-54D Skymaster 42-72643 to provide overwatch and support. Approaching they spotted a column of black smoke from the crew burning engine oil and rubber rafts to mark their position. After making two passes, C-54D Skymaster 42-72640 landed with little difficulty at 3:43pm then taxied nearby back and forth to create a improvised runway and all non-essential equipment was removed as the downed crew boarded and took off with JATO rocket assistance at 4:25pm. Aboard, the medical officer Lt Pope examined the crew and found them to be in good condition aside from cases of mild shock and exposure and were allowed to sleep on the return flight to Thule landing at 6:40pm and given a steak dinner then at 10:00pm took off again bound for Westover Field landing on February 25, 1947 at 12:43am. Wreckage The B-29 was written ff and abandoned. Until 1995, this B-29 remained in situ undisturbed at Lat 80°15′45.40″N Long 60°32′53.57″W and is often partially or completely covered by snow and ice. Recovery In July 1994 a salvage effort, called Kee Bird LLC led by American Darryl D. Greenamyer attempted to repair the B-29 and fly it out. On May 21, 1995 with the engines running, an on board power unit accidentally caught fire and and the resulting fire destroying most of the bomber. Memorials Arnett died December 25, 1947 piloting B-29 "Clobbered Turkey" 45-21775 that crashed on eastern slope of Mount Hot Springs, 90 miles north of Nome, Alaska. The entire crew survived with several injured including one seriously. Arnett and navigator Frederick Sheetz attempted to hike from the crash site to Shishmaref for help and died of exposure. The rest of the crew were later rescued. Afterwards, his remains were recovered and was buried at Forest Lawn Memorial Park in Glendale, CA in Whispering Pines Plot, Lot 1640 Space 3. Luedke continued in the U.S. Air Force (USAF) and served in the Korean War and Vietnam War. He retired with the rank of Major. Luedke died on November 15, 2008 at age 85. He is buried at Fort Logan National Cemetery at section 49, site 305. Adams continued in the U.S. Air Force (USAF) and served in World War II bombing Japan and in the Vietnam War as a Chief of Covert Actions in Laos and served in the Strategic Air Command (SAC) and The Tactical Air Command (TAC). For his service he earned the Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC), Air Medal, Silver Star and Bronze Star and retired in 1971 with the rank of Lt. Colonel. Adams died on July 7 2013 at age 90. He is buried at Arlington National Cemetery in section 8, grave 6622. Cowan died on June 26, 1994 at age 76. He was cremated and has no known grave. Lesman continued in the U.S. Air Force (USAF) and served in the Korean War. He retired with the rank of Lt. Colonel. Lesman died on July 28, 2010 at age 86. On November 8, 2010 buried at Arlington National Cemetery in section 54, site 2807. Gates details unknown. Leader died on September 15, 1995 at age 77. He is buried at Mount Sharon Cemetery in Springfield, PA. Yarborough details unknown. McNamara details unknown. Stewart details unknown. Relatives Rick Adams (son of Howard R. Adams) References Note, B-17G-40-BO "Key Bird" 42-97068 assigned to the 95th BG, 336th BS had the same nickname but different spelling NARA World War II Army Enlistment Records - John G. Lesman NARA World War II Army Enlistment Records - Robert Leader NARA World War II Army Enlistment Records - Ernest C. Stewart USAF Serial Number Search Results - B-29-95-BW Superfortress 45-21768 Narrative Report of Rescue B-29 Survivors in Greenland via Wayback Machine November 27, 2006 NOVA "B-29 Frozen In Time" documents the attempted salvage and destruction B29KeeBird.net via Wayback Machine November 27, 2006 FindAGrave - 1LT Vern Howard Arnett (photos, grave photo) FindAGrave - John George Lesman (photo, grave photo) Arlington National Cemetery (ANC Explorer) - John G. Lesman (grave photos) FindAGrave - Robert Lee “Lucky” Luedke (photo, grave photo) FindAGrave - LTC Howard Raymond Adams (grave photos) FindAGrave - Burl Cowan FindAGrave - John George Lesman (photo, grave photo) FindAGrave - Robert “Bucky” Leader (photo, obituary) Contribute Information Are you a relative or associated with any person mentioned? Do you have photos or additional information to add? Last Updated March 8, 2025 |
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