By ANN Correspondent Aleta Vinas

Lucky thirteen. Bob Cardin, Project Manager and Head of Restoration for Glacier Girl and his crew were the 13th expedition to try rescuing The Lost Squadron from under 250 feet of Greenland ice. He recalls his first impression, "When I first got onto the plane I was taken aback by it because of the size. I'd just come down through a four foot hole and all of a sudden here's an airplane with a 52 foot wing."

Steve Hinton, who is Glacier Girl's sole pilot, was called by Pat Epps to join the team. He was working in Chino (CA) at the time, restoring another P-38 Lightning when the call came. Steve said about the offer "I can't imagine doing it down in a hole." 

He did change his mind.

The green beauty, sitting in AeroShell Square this week at AirVenture is a testament to persistence, determination and oh yes, money.

Fourteen years ago she appeared at AirVenture as a bunch of damaged, rusted pieces. Now she's the picture of health and purrs like a twin-engine kitten.

Glacier Girl is 80% original and her guns and bullets are 100% original. They were fired off in celebration on the July 4th after she was rescued from the ice.

Cardin wants to see Glacier Girl continue flying. He would love to see her complete her original mission, "I'd sure like to see it someday finish the mission it started in 42 and make it to England. Then I'd like to see it retired."

Cardin adds, "We really look at her as much of an artifact as it is an airplane, primarily because it's the only one of it's kind in the world. It's the only WWII airplane flying today that still has it's from the factory engines, propellers, complete set of guns, everything. This airplane is exactly as it was as it left the factory in 1942. In five or ten years, this is all we're gonna have left over to remind us of the sacrifices that took place to guarantee the freedoms we have today."

Glacier Girl will make one more airshow this season in Middlesboro (KY) on September 3rd and 4th. There is a special formation flight planned, two P-38's, two P47's and two P-51's.

What about those five P-38's and 2 B-17's still under what is now about 300 feet of ice?  Cardin has heard of a group of Germans that may make a try next year. Maybe Glacier Girl will find a sister.

FMI: www.thelostsquadron.com