1962 — Jan 12, US Navy P2V Neptune crash, Kronborg Glacier, Greenland –all 12

–12 Aviation Safety Network. USN P2V Neptune crash, Kronborg Glacier, Greenland, 1-12-1962.
–12 Baugher, Joseph. US Navy and US Marine Corps BuNos Third Series (130265 to 135773).
–12 Naval Air Force, Atlantic Fleet. “Recovery Effort Planned…Missing Greenland Aviators.” 7-30-2004.

Narrative Information

Aviation Safety Network, Flight Safety Foundation, Database:
“Date: Friday 12 January 1962
“Type: Lockheed P2V Neptune
“Operator: United States Navy
“Registration: 131521
“MSN: 426-5402
….
“Crew: Fatalities: 12 / Occupants: 12
“Passengers: Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 0
….
“Location: Kronborg Glacier (Greenland)
“Phase: En route (ENR)
“Nature: Military
“Departure airport: Keflavik Naval Air Station…Iceland [USN air station until 1-1-2011.]
“Destination airport: Keflavik Naval Air Station…Iceland
“Narrative: Crashed during routine reconnaissance mission looking for Russian
submarines.”

Naval Air Force, Atlantic Fleet: “Press Release, Commander, Naval Air Force U.S. Atlantic Fleet, Norfolk, VA. July 30, 2004.

RECOVERY EFFORT PLANNED FOR MISSING GREENLAND AVIATORS

“A recovery team from the Naval Air Force U.S. Atlantic Fleet will depart Norfolk on Monday, August 2, and attempt to recover the remains of the aviators who perished on the Kronborg Glacier in Greenland when their P-2V Neptune patrol aircraft crashed there on January 12, 1962.

“The aircraft crashed while on a routine reconnaissance patrol from Naval Station Keflavik, Iceland. A previous effort in 1966 resulted in the recovery of the remains of at least seven aircrewmen. Those remains were turned over to their respective next of kin and have been interred. The aircraft was carrying a crew of twelve at the time of the crash.

“The Navy decided to make the recovery attempt following evidence that the remains may be easier to retrieve due to warmer temperatures in August on the glacier. The team — led by Captain Tom Sparks, AIRLANT Safety Officer, includes DoD personnel, contract personnel, and canine assets — expects to be on the glacier for about a week to attempt the recovery operation.”

Newspaper

Jan 13, AP: “Reykjavik, Iceland (AP) – A U.S. Navy P2V Neptune plane with 12 crewmen aboard was reported overdue today from a patrol over the Greenland Icecap. U.S. Navy and Air Force planes joined Icelandic Coast Guard ships in an intensive air and sea search for the missing plane. The search, concentrated in the Denmark Strait area between Iceland and Greenland, was hampered by heavy weather. The plane took off Friday morning from Keflavik airport, on the northwest tip of Iceland, and was last spotted on radar 270 miles northwest of Keflavik near the coast of Greenland. The icecap extends three-fourths of the way from Greenland to Iceland.

“Cloud ceilings were reported under 200 feet, visibility down to an eighth of a mile and winds up to 60 knots. At this time of year there are only about four hours of daylight to conduct a search….In Washington, the Navy said the plane was last heard from at 5:15 a.m. EST Friday. First-day search efforts yielded no trace of it, but the Navy said seven planes were assigned for a renewed search starting at daybreak today.” (AP. “Navy Plane Over Greenland Icecap Overdue, 12 Aboard.” Oswego Palladium-Times, NY. 1-13-1962, p. 1.)

Sources

Associated Press. “Navy Plane Over Greenland Icecap Overdue, 12 Aboard.” Oswego Palladium-Times, NY. 1-13-1962, p. 1. Accessed 7-10-2023 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/oswego-palladium-times-jan-13-1962-p-1/

Aviation Safety Network, Flight Safety Foundation, Database. US Navy Lockheed P2V Neptune crash, Kronborg Glacier, Greenland, 1-12-1962. Accessed 7-10-2023 at:
https://aviation-safety.net/database/record.php?id=19620112-0

Baugher, Joseph. US Navy and US Marine Corps BuNos Third Series (130265 to 135773). Accessed 7-10-2023 at: http://www.joebaugher.com/navy_serials/thirdseries15.html

Naval Air Force, Atlantic Fleet. “Recovery Effort Planned for Missing Greenland Aviators.” 7-30-2004. Accessed 7-10-2023 at: http://www.vpnavy.com/vp5mem_current.html#1