To Find the P-38
Mission Success

The mission was a 100% success, we had located the airplane in a lake we expected to find it in. Frank had done a good job of describing the rock, Oscar had picked the right lake, Jim had best placed the airplane in the water in relation to the rock--all from memories etched in their minds of a small window in time over 52 years ago. Our equipment had worked perfectly, once the outboard decided to run! Side Scan Sonar is a tremendous piece of electronics! Everybody was in good spirits as we approached the GOOSE and Crayton made the comment, "at least we don't have to look in another lake!" The raft was off loaded, Crayton and James got out of the diving gear, we were all busy re-packing the gear, deflating the raft and loading the GOOSE. The wind had settled down a bit but the fog was still rolling in and out.

It was later than we wanted and time to get going. Mark got the engines started and began the water taxi to the north end of the lake, turned into the wind and started adding power. The GOOSE rose out of the water and climbed up on the step. The take off run was a bit sluggish, the fresh water not being as buoyant as the salt water. The airplane continued to accelerate, the rock passing us on the left side. The final resting place of the P-38 came into view on the right side, we were still not flying. The water was not very deep at the southern end, the speed continued to build. We all glanced out the right side and saw the debris on the shore go by us, the GOOSE struggled into the air and we were flying. The time was 5:45pm.

The trip back to ATKA, where we refueled for the final leg to Dutch Harbor, was quiet and solemn. Each of us relived in our minds the events of the past week. Approaching the western end of ATKA, Mark gave us an "up close and personal" look at a B-24 that lies in BETCHAVIN COVE. The old bomber was low on fuel in bad weather and the crew had bellied her in on the beach long ago. The fuselage is broken at the waist, but not a bent propeller blade or a mark on the wings. All the cowlings are still in place, the belly is torn up from the landing but the airplane is in remarkably good shape.

We landed at ATKA and refueled, Mike Swetzof came down to the airport to see us off. We left him with the remaining gasoline from the outboard and generator, all the food from our survival packs, anything we didn't want to take back stateside with us. Departing ATKA, Mark gave us a birds eye view of Mt. KORIGAN, which is an active volcano. He circled the crater rim so we could all look down into the throat of the volcano which was venting steam. The air had a foul smell of sulfur, everyone was smiling, a first for all onboard.

Rolling out eastbound, we settled in for the two hour flight to Dutch Harbor. To our delight, the sky was mostly clear, a rare day in the Aleutians! Crossing the east end of UMNAK ISLAND, Fort Glen came into view. We were amazed at the size of the old air base and the number of buildings still standing.

The sun had already set when we reached Dutch Harbor and it was a bit darker than Mark would have liked it. Fortunately, the weather had remained good and the GOOSE touched down at 10:10pm. Because it was scheduled out at first light in the morning, we off loaded our gear and lay out all that's wet to dry. Mark gave us a ride to the Grand Aleutian Hotel and we checked in, then headed for the Dutch Harbor Cafe where we talked the good lady there into feeding us. Mark joined us for a cold beer, we were all in good spirits, talked about the best way to recover what remains come the summer of 96. Mark drove us back to the hotel at 1:30am and we turned in---so ends day six.

Monday 28 August 95 Dutch Harbor

We all met for breakfast about 7:30am, checked out and headed for the airport at 8:30am. I called Frank Friedman before we left the hotel, Frank was not in so I left a message on his machine. We spent the morning re-packing all the gear in the shipping crates, returned the rented diving tanks and delivered the crates to Alaska Air Freight. I settled up the bill for the GOOSE charter with PenAir, said good-bye to our new made friends and departed Dutch Harbor for Anchorage at 12:10pm.

Mr. Orin Seybert, owner of PenAir, met us at the Anchorage airport and we had a good chat about the trip. We talked with him about our future plans and thanked him for the good services provided by his people. The Alaska flight to Seattle was delayed a bit because of a mechanical problem, we departed about a 1/2 hour late. Arriving in Seattle, all gathered up their gear at the baggage claim, say good bye and each of us head for home--so ended day seven.