Comments on: Exhuming the Glacier Girl http://www.damninteresting.com/exhuming-the-glacier-girl/ A collection of Damn Interesting things Sat, 11 Feb 2012 01:49:52 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: badmoonryzn http://www.damninteresting.com/exhuming-the-glacier-girl/#comment-25358 badmoonryzn Thu, 24 Sep 2009 06:38:43 +0000 http://www.damninteresting.com/?p=297#comment-25358 These old airplanes represent an important time in history where we could have lost our freedom. Look mow many countries did lose theirs for a while. The aircraft were a big part of how we won the war an I think it is important no one ever forgets how and why that war came about and how it ended. Many of us lost fathers, brothers and other loved ones in the time from 1941 to 1946 and those young men of an average age of 18 never got to experience what we have today. They gave their lives so we can live in freedom with all kinds of toys to play with. I think the Air Force should take care of a few of these airplanes. Think about what those people thought of back then and what technology they never got to see because of their sacrifices. No, I am glad someone took the time and money to rebuild the P-38 so we can all give some thought to those years and all of the people who gave their lives so we may live in peace. I think there was somewhere near 60 million lives lost during WW2. That is a lot of people. It is hard to even comprehend, so we need to never forget what caused that mess. No amount of money is too much if we can keep something like that from happening again. I wish the government had thought ahead to preserve some more of the great airplanes. Considering how much money the current administration is throwing away now which accounts for more than any have spent in the last 50 years I would want to see as many of these old planes taken care of and flown by our own Air Force just for the people to see. It would be nice to see one of the SR-71s fly every once in a while, but they cost a million or two just to put up in the air, but still I would like to see one fly at an airshow once ot twice a year. I love this country and all of our achievements. Is there room for improvement, yes always. We must always strive for improvement, however I cannot thing of a better place to live than right here in the good ol’ USA! These old airplanes represent an important time in history where we could have lost our freedom. Look mow many countries did lose theirs for a while. The aircraft were a big part of how we won the war an I think it is important no one ever forgets how and why that war came about and how it ended. Many of us lost fathers, brothers and other loved ones in the time from 1941 to 1946 and those young men of an average age of 18 never got to experience what we have today. They gave their lives so we can live in freedom with all kinds of toys to play with. I think the Air Force should take care of a few of these airplanes. Think about what those people thought of back then and what technology they never got to see because of their sacrifices. No, I am glad someone took the time and money to rebuild the P-38 so we can all give some thought to those years and all of the people who gave their lives so we may live in peace. I think there was somewhere near 60 million lives lost during WW2. That is a lot of people. It is hard to even comprehend, so we need to never forget what caused that mess. No amount of money is too much if we can keep something like that from happening again. I wish the government had thought ahead to preserve some more of the great airplanes. Considering how much money the current administration is throwing away now which accounts for more than any have spent in the last 50 years I would want to see as many of these old planes taken care of and flown by our own Air Force just for the people to see. It would be nice to see one of the SR-71s fly every once in a while, but they cost a million or two just to put up in the air, but still I would like to see one fly at an airshow once ot twice a year. I love this country and all of our achievements. Is there room for improvement, yes always. We must always strive for improvement, however I cannot thing of a better place to live than right here in the good ol’ USA!

]]> By: johnsparky505 http://www.damninteresting.com/exhuming-the-glacier-girl/#comment-21686 johnsparky505 Wed, 04 Jun 2008 06:31:35 +0000 http://www.damninteresting.com/?p=297#comment-21686 By the time I was born early in 1959, the P-38 Lightning was fast becoming a distant memory. When the Discovery channel came to be, I was infatuated with a show called "Wings", telling stories of how, and why these planes were needed. For some reason the P-38 became my favorite. I loved learning about the designer, Kelly Johnson. He was a genius, mastermind at the Lockheed Aircraft Co. The old footage from the late 1930's and 1940's was cool too! I went to an air show at Grissom Air Reserve Base in Indiana once, and there was a "38" there. You should have seen the look on the pilots face when I walked up and asked him," Is this a "J" model?" Shocked he said, "yes, how old are you?" I told him and he asked me how the heck I knew that. I told him,,"well sir,,,I watch wayyy too much tv." LOL. So when I first read about Glacier Girl in Readers Digest,,I was hooked. And when I saw the program on TV,,more than once I was elated. It IS an important part of history. And the way these people came together to bring her up and restore her was nothing less than phenominal!!! By the time I was born early in 1959, the P-38 Lightning was fast becoming a distant memory. When the Discovery channel came to be, I was infatuated with a show called “Wings”, telling stories of how, and why these planes were needed. For some reason the P-38 became my favorite. I loved learning about the designer, Kelly Johnson. He was a genius, mastermind at the Lockheed Aircraft Co. The old footage from the late 1930′s and 1940′s was cool too! I went to an air show at Grissom Air Reserve Base in Indiana once, and there was a “38″ there. You should have seen the look on the pilots face when I walked up and asked him,” Is this a “J” model?” Shocked he said, “yes, how old are you?” I told him and he asked me how the heck I knew that. I told him,,”well sir,,,I watch wayyy too much tv.” LOL. So when I first read about Glacier Girl in Readers Digest,,I was hooked. And when I saw the program on TV,,more than once I was elated. It IS an important part of history. And the way these people came together to bring her up and restore her was nothing less than phenominal!!!

]]> By: supercalafragalistic http://www.damninteresting.com/exhuming-the-glacier-girl/#comment-16604 supercalafragalistic Thu, 02 Aug 2007 02:15:53 +0000 http://www.damninteresting.com/?p=297#comment-16604 <p>When I read this article I thought of my father and how much excitement he had toward repairing a 1967 Gleaner Combine. If a person is mechanically inclined the thought of repairing an old aircraft must be a most tintilating endeavor.</p> When I read this article I thought of my father and how much excitement he had toward repairing a 1967 Gleaner Combine. If a person is mechanically inclined the thought of repairing an old aircraft must be a most tintilating endeavor.

]]> By: dovesdescent http://www.damninteresting.com/exhuming-the-glacier-girl/#comment-15745 dovesdescent Tue, 19 Jun 2007 15:43:32 +0000 http://www.damninteresting.com/?p=297#comment-15745 <p>First of all, to all of you who find this to be a waste of money...you can't put a price on fulfilling your dreams. Roy's dream was to recover, restore, and recapture the heart of Glacier Girl and it's mission. He succeeded...with flying colors I might add. </p><p> The heart of aviation can't be explained...it simply is what it is. Glacier Girl is, was, and always will be an example of just how deep the love can flow. I am originally from Middlesboro, and my husband is a private pilot. We've flown in and out of 1A6 MANY times and made it a point to stop in to see Glacier Girl as often as possible. I owe a LOT to the team that oversees the airport (Glynna, John, Teresa, Jeff), the crew that helped restore the P-38 (thanks Rob--I'm glad SOMEONE came in here to defend her!), and to the men responsible for its recovery (especially Roy & Bob). In September 2006, Bob Cardin and the Brown family allowed my husband and I to experience the most wonderful and awesome day of our lives...we were married in front of Glacier Girl at 1A6. Strange? Maybe, but we love the Glacier Girl and everything for which she stands. Hope, dreams, freedom, success. THAT is what Glacier Girl is about. To say that the expense that Roy Shoffner shelled out was a waste is to say that his dreams were trash. To say that the project was worthless is to say that reaching your goals is unimportant. The men were on a mission. That mission WILL be completed...and that is important. If you don't see the point, then move on. </p> First of all, to all of you who find this to be a waste of money…you can’t put a price on fulfilling your dreams. Roy’s dream was to recover, restore, and recapture the heart of Glacier Girl and it’s mission. He succeeded…with flying colors I might add.

The heart of aviation can’t be explained…it simply is what it is. Glacier Girl is, was, and always will be an example of just how deep the love can flow.

I am originally from Middlesboro, and my husband is a private pilot. We’ve flown in and out of 1A6 MANY times and made it a point to stop in to see Glacier Girl as often as possible. I owe a LOT to the team that oversees the airport (Glynna, John, Teresa, Jeff), the crew that helped restore the P-38 (thanks Rob–I’m glad SOMEONE came in here to defend her!), and to the men responsible for its recovery (especially Roy & Bob). In September 2006, Bob Cardin and the Brown family allowed my husband and I to experience the most wonderful and awesome day of our lives…we were married in front of Glacier Girl at 1A6. Strange? Maybe, but we love the Glacier Girl and everything for which she stands. Hope, dreams, freedom, success. THAT is what Glacier Girl is about.

To say that the expense that Roy Shoffner shelled out was a waste is to say that his dreams were trash. To say that the project was worthless is to say that reaching your goals is unimportant. The men were on a mission. That mission WILL be completed…and that is important. If you don’t see the point, then move on.

]]> By: BobTheMad http://www.damninteresting.com/exhuming-the-glacier-girl/#comment-15521 BobTheMad Sat, 09 Jun 2007 20:10:48 +0000 http://www.damninteresting.com/?p=297#comment-15521 <p>The History Channel has a good 1-hour documentary on this project on the "Mega Movers" show. It shows a lot of the equipment they used and the difficulties that they encountered.</p><p>DI!</p> The History Channel has a good 1-hour documentary on this project on the “Mega Movers” show. It shows a lot of the equipment they used and the difficulties that they encountered.

DI!

]]> By: Robert Grosvenor http://www.damninteresting.com/exhuming-the-glacier-girl/#comment-13492 Robert Grosvenor Wed, 21 Mar 2007 19:00:13 +0000 http://www.damninteresting.com/?p=297#comment-13492 <p>Hi there.</p><p> The P-38F "Glacier Girl" was sold in November 2006 for $5,000,000.00 U.S. Dollars, to Provenance Fighters. It was then sold in February, 2007 for $7.2 million dollars to someone else.(I hear it is going to live in Texas). No Way did Shoffner ever have more than $3 mil tied up in this project. They plan to fly it to Duxford, England this summer, then to Oshkosh this fall. Just thought you guys who said it was wasted money would like to see what a true INVESTMENT really is. 2.2 mil in 3 months aint too shabby! Rob Grosvenor</p> Hi there.

The P-38F “Glacier Girl” was sold in November 2006 for $5,000,000.00 U.S. Dollars, to Provenance Fighters.
It was then sold in February, 2007 for $7.2 million dollars to someone else.(I hear it is going to live in Texas).
No Way did Shoffner ever have more than $3 mil tied up in this project.
They plan to fly it to Duxford, England this summer, then to Oshkosh this fall.
Just thought you guys who said it was wasted money would like to see what a true INVESTMENT really is.
2.2 mil in 3 months aint too shabby! Rob Grosvenor

]]> By: mrb17f http://www.damninteresting.com/exhuming-the-glacier-girl/#comment-13141 mrb17f Tue, 06 Mar 2007 03:25:21 +0000 http://www.damninteresting.com/?p=297#comment-13141 <p>I have followed the Glacier Girl since they brought it up. I have met Bob Cardin, Roy Shoffner, and Steve Hinton. I'm sure, as a WWII aircraft lover, I am not alone in believing this plane could be the 8th wonder of the world!! To think that someone would say that was money wasted, is beyond comprehension! This beautiful aircraft was put together over several years, not for any kind of profit, but for future generations to see and learn from. All of the people who fly these warbirds, and the behind the scene mechanics that work on them, know there is something magic about these "girls". We, as Americans, should never forget all of the brave men and women who sacrificed much during those years, and I for one, salute them all. I was there for Glacier Girls first flight, and of the 20,000 people there, when those tires lifted off the asphalt for the first time in 60 years, there wasn't a dry eye there. Now, it's time for her to take another mission, to complete her initial orders from 1942. Good luck Bob, and we will be watching!!</p> I have followed the Glacier Girl since they brought it up. I have met Bob Cardin, Roy Shoffner, and Steve Hinton. I’m sure, as a WWII aircraft lover, I am not alone in believing this plane could be the 8th wonder of the world!! To think that someone would say that was money wasted, is beyond comprehension! This beautiful aircraft was put together over several years, not for any kind of profit, but for future generations to see and learn from. All of the people who fly these warbirds, and the behind the scene mechanics that work on them, know there is something magic about these “girls”. We, as Americans, should never forget all of the brave men and women who sacrificed much during those years, and I for one, salute them all. I was there for Glacier Girls first flight, and of the 20,000 people there, when those tires lifted off the asphalt for the first time in 60 years, there wasn’t a dry eye there. Now, it’s time for her to take another mission, to complete her initial orders from 1942. Good luck Bob, and we will be watching!!

]]> By: Tink http://www.damninteresting.com/exhuming-the-glacier-girl/#comment-12107 Tink Fri, 26 Jan 2007 07:08:10 +0000 http://www.damninteresting.com/?p=297#comment-12107 <p><span class='quote'>Gerry Matlack said: "Robert, thank you for the work you did - I'm sure many thousands of people wish they could tell you the same thing."</span></p><p> Yes, I second this. Thank you Mr. Grosvenor for sharing your story, and working so hard to save Glacier Girl. A toast to you. :)</p> Gerry Matlack said: “Robert, thank you for the work you did – I’m sure many thousands of people wish they could tell you the same thing.”

Yes, I second this. Thank you Mr. Grosvenor for sharing your story, and working so hard to save Glacier Girl. A toast to you. :)

]]> By: midnight http://www.damninteresting.com/exhuming-the-glacier-girl/#comment-12040 midnight Wed, 24 Jan 2007 14:42:42 +0000 http://www.damninteresting.com/?p=297#comment-12040 <p>Rush, that was horrible.</p><p>Thank you for the laugh. :)</p> Rush, that was horrible.

Thank you for the laugh. :)

]]> By: barnyardbum http://www.damninteresting.com/exhuming-the-glacier-girl/#comment-12020 barnyardbum Wed, 24 Jan 2007 02:18:04 +0000 http://www.damninteresting.com/?p=297#comment-12020 <p>Sheesh, all that wasted effort. With global warming those airplanes will be on the surface in just a couple of years.lol Sorry, couldn't resist.</p> Sheesh, all that wasted effort. With global warming those airplanes will be on the surface in just a couple of years.lol Sorry, couldn’t resist.

]]>