| Have you had the sensation of being on top of the | | | | learned that if the Pilot had not done the engines would |
| world ? Do you have it now ? I ask these questions to | | | | have froze. And I also learned that all vehicles not in a |
| introduce being physically on top of the world. | | | | heated building were kept running. |
| At Fairchild AFB I volunteered for the Far East. We | | | | Today, July 18, I checked the temperature for 1-PM at |
| had a sister Bomber Squadron in northern Japan and I | | | | Thule and it was 39F, the middle of "summer." |
| would likely go there. But it never came about. Instead | | | | I was there in 1953. If you want to read more about |
| orders came one day for my tech position, and I had | | | | Thule then type Thule AB in Google and read the |
| been on Fairchild the longest of anyone on base in that | | | | independent sites. But you will not find anything or very |
| tech. The problem was that the orders gave only a | | | | little for 1951 through 1953. |
| number for the assignment, and no one volunteered. | | | | Straight line winds have been officially clocked up to |
| So it was assigned to me. | | | | 201 MPH. That kind of wind will tumble a 6-by truck. So |
| A week furlough was given me, then it was off to | | | | when the winds reached 75 MPH we headed for the |
| Camp Kilmer, NJ. There I processed through, and then | | | | nearest building, if we were outside and we stayed |
| it was on to Springfield, Mass, for a MATS flight | | | | there until the wind storm was over, lasting as much |
| overseas. I still did not know where I was going. | | | | as three days. Each building was supplied with food, C |
| But by the time I arrived at Springfield I had come | | | | and K rations, and cots for the number it could hold. |
| down with the flu and was hospitalized. About three | | | | If the storm was a snow storm the snow on the |
| days later I was in better condition when a nurse | | | | ground was likely measured in feet after it was over. |
| offered to take me and show me the town. I should | | | | The barracks I was in had an outside door that looked |
| have guessed then that where I was headed was not | | | | like the door on a walk-in refrigerator opening inward |
| considered good. | | | | into a foyer. Snow shovels were there so we could |
| On Monday morning we boarded a double decker and | | | | shovel a tunnel to the surface. In the center of the |
| sailed down the runway only to come to a screeching | | | | foyer, sloping down to it was a drain for the snow to |
| halt. The pilot taxied back and the mechanics worked | | | | melt and drain out. |
| on the plane the remainder of the day. But the next | | | | We were isolated from the rest of the world. We |
| morning was the same event; down the runway and | | | | could not call anywhere, but occasionally we could set |
| back. And again on Wednesday. On Thursday morning | | | | a base phone on top of a radio and get Moscow Molly |
| we left the ground and was on our way. Then I | | | | and listen to her ridiculous tirades. Mail could be late or |
| learned where I was going, and why the crew was so | | | | dumped. |
| careful about the plane. It was in early February, and | | | | Imagine winter time with the temperature about 50 |
| the Arctic at any time is no place to go down, but | | | | below Zero and high winds. Nearly instant death could |
| especially during the winter dark season. | | | | be the result if one was not careful. |
| The destination was Thule AB in northwest Greenland, | | | | I did walk on water, hard water, ice in the frozen bay. |
| about 900 miles north of the Arctic Circle, and north of | | | | It is a winter wonderland. And I learned that boiling |
| Alaska. From 1951 through 1953 Thule was a closely | | | | coffee in cup will have ice in it in 15-seconds if carried |
| guarded secret. As I later learned, during alerts, the | | | | outside in the winter. Toss a soda pop out the door, |
| Russians knew for they flew over, and over north | | | | follow it fast and bring it inside and it would be filled |
| America. We had on base one jet fighter who would | | | | with ice. And anti-freeze does not work there in the |
| go up and fly alongside the Russian Bear as far as he | | | | winter thus the need keep vehicles running outside. I |
| could. | | | | heard that tire chains would break up in winter. |
| When we came over Thule all I could see was the | | | | I learned some things first hand! |
| starlight reflection from metal buildings, and a runway | | | | How the Ice Cap got there is for me debatable with |
| covered with ice. On successful landing we taxied up | | | | even the most knowledgeable Ice Age contender. Nor |
| to the terminal, which looked like a large house trailer. | | | | do I see global warming as a panic situation. |
| On stepping out of the plane there was the sign on the | | | | When I was there the tour was one year maximum. |
| terminal; On Top Of The World. If you looked at globe | | | | Today it is more, and with many more comforts. |
| map like your teacher had on her desk you would see | | | | If you would like to go up there contact one of the |
| that Thule was on top of the world about a third of the | | | | Danish Tours, a boat tour. Greenland is a Danish |
| day according to the rotation of that globe. | | | | possession. |
| I noticed that the plane kept the engines running. Later I | | | | |