Starboard Engine Has A Coolant Leak

It's sad, but true. A mechanical issue with the P-38 'Glacier Girl' has her grounded for the time being in Goose Bay, Newfoundland, and unable to continue in her attempt to complete her original mission to England.

As ANN reported, after 65 years -- including 50 years spent buried deep below the surface of a Greenland glacier -- the recovered and fully restored Lockheed P-38 now known as Glacier Girl was on her way to completing her interrupted World War II mission: Operation Bolero.

For Operation Bolero II, Glacier Girl was accompanied by veteran air show pilot Ed Shipley, who is flying the vintage North American P-51 Mustang, Miss Velma, carrying all the tracking gear.

ANN was on hand as Glacier Girl departed Teterboro Airport in Teterboro, NJ, last Friday, as pilot Steve Hinton set out to follow the same transatlantic route the P-38 and the rest of the famous WWII "Lost Squadron" attempted in 1942. The entire squadron, which consisted of P-38s and Boeing B-17s, was forced to land on the ice after bad weather forced the aircraft to turn back.

After the trio made it to Goose Bay, the flight was grounded due to a mechanical glitch on Miss Velma -- the P-51's coolant pump gave up the ghost Tuesday as the crew was preparing to depart from Goose Bay Airport, after being held at the base over the weekend due to weather. A new pump was flown out.

Then Thursday, just after takeoff from YYR to resume the trip, the pilots noticed a leak from the P-38's starboard engine, and the decision was made to return to the airport to check it out.

Deb Mitchell, posting to a message board about Operation Bolero II, stated that, "Glacier Girl's attempt to complete her mission has ended for now. She will remain in Goose Bay while Miss Velma continues on to England. The human spirit's magnificent ability to press forward serves the team well now.

"Everyone, here and around the world, are disappointed Glacier Girl will remain behind, but Miss Velma carries her spirit across the North Atlantic to England."

FMI: www.thelostsquadron.com