The White Falcon - 21.09.1957, Blaðsíða 1

THE WHITE
IDT
«¥***
Volume VII, Number 19
Headquarters, Iceland Defense Force, Keflavik Airport, Iceland
Saturday, September 21, 1957 J
Joint Rescue Saves \
Appendicitis Victim!
A critically ill crew member of a U.S. Coast Guard vessel
was transferred to a U.S. Navy seaplane Sept. 5th in a
daring sea rescue off the southeast coast of Greenland and
returned to the hospital at Keflavik airport.
In a joint effort by the NATO
forces at this base the U.S. Navy
and U.S. Air Force combined with
the Icelandic Communication
System to effect the dramatic
ship to plane transfer, thus pre-
venting a dangerous emergency
operation at sea.
John F. Condon, a cook aboard
the U.S. Coast Guard vessel “Fire-
bush” was stricken early on the
afternoon of Sept. 5th with an
acute attack of appendicitis. A
request for assistance was relayed
promptly by the Icelandic Com-
munication System to the military
forces at the Keflavik airbase.
Captain J. T. Moynahan, Acting
Commander, IDF, dispatched a
U.S. Navy amphibious aircraft
(UF-1 “Albatross”) from FAS-
RON 107 to undertake the
mission. Also making the flight
was a U.S. Air Force SC-54 air-
craft from the 53rd Air Rescue
Squadron which served to pro-
vide survival coverage if needed.
They departed Keflavik at about
4:18 p.m. for Togolak Bay, Green-
land, where the Coast Guard ship
was anchored.
The victim was placed in a
small boat, lined with life pre-
servers to prevent damage to the
plane’s hull, and brought to the
side of the aircraft where he was
hoisted aboard by the Albatross’
crew.
With the tide against them and
water filling the bilges from a
leak that had sprung in the for-
ward end of the hull, the plan?
faced an even more hazardou -
takeoff than the landing it had
made; but LCDR Dee L. Leland,
the pilot, took off averting a 40
foot stone embankment that lined
the bay.
Aboard the plane was a Navy
doctor, LT John Kenvin, who
ministered to the stricken man
while in flight.
Arriving at Keflavik at 11:50
p.m., the crew immediately trans-
ferred the sick man to the U.S.
Air Force hospital. Condon was
operated on successfully and at
the last report will soon be ready
and fit for normal duty.
The “Firebush” was operating
as part of the NATO Infrastruc-
ture Program.
Others aboard the Navy plane
were CDR William C. Bender, co-
pilot; T. G. McMillan, ADC, flight
engineer, and Vernon Scarbrough,
ATC, electronics technician.
CAPT Moynahan praised all
hands involved in the mission and
expressed great appreciation for
the part played by the Icelandic
Communication System in the
possible saving of a human life.
Russian Plane Refuels at Keflavik
The latest in Russian passenger planes, the TU-104-A, stopped at the Keflavik Inter-
national Airport September 4th for refueling purposes and was met by a host of news-
men, curious eyes and clicking cameras. Viftfcr.
Bound for New York and carrying Soviet representa-
tives to the United Nations General Assembly the silvery,
swept-wing, twin jet-engine aircraft departed Moscow at
7:50 a.m. and arrived at London three hours and 45 minutes
later.
Soviet Jet-Liner at Keflavik
The 71-passenger twin jet Tupolev TU-104-A as it appeared upon
landing at the Keflavik International Airport September 4th. Russian
lettering above wings spells out Aeroflot, the name of the Soviet
air line. (Photo by Sp/3 Darwin Krall).
Management Class
Graduates Sixteen
Sixteen students from the Air Force Management Train-
ing Course attended graduation ceremonies in the Viking
Service Club’s auditorium at 9 a.m., Wednesday 11 Sep-
tember. Col Leslie Shaw (IADF), the main speaker at the
commencement, was introduced by Maj James Burniston,
Manpower Section, IADF. Col Shaw addressed the group
on “The Need for Good Management.”
Harry Banner, Mr. Frank C
Mooney, and Mr. Paul Smith, all
civilians, also Airforcemen T/Sgt
Joseph C Allison, T/Sgt Kenneth
Bennetts, T/Sgt Glen M Donley,
S/Sgt Donald G Haley, T/Sgt
Itenard Jackson, M/Sgt James L
Kubatzki, S/Sgt Joseph E Shelden,
S/Sgt James G Smith, T/Sgt John
A Ulstad, T/Sgt John R Vandel-
weghe, and T/Sgt Orvis G Ward.
The Air Force Management
Training Course, fourth of its
sort to be offered in 1957, began
5 August and held its last session
on 10 September.
Mr. Harald Faabarg, Manager
of the Terminal Hotel, is the
fourth Icelander to graduate from
the course. Other graduates, all
American citizens, include Mr.
Last Leg of Ride to Safety
After appendicitis victim John F. Condon, CS2, U.S.C.G. was trans-
ferred from the Coast Guard sliip “Firebush” to U.S, Navy plane UF-1
“Albatross,” he was flown to Keflavik Airport.
From left to right are: ADC T. G. McMillan, USN; S/Sgt Albert
D. Acrey, USAF; Capt. J. T. Moynahan, USN; and ATC Vernon Sar-
brough, USN.
Photo Exhibit
“The family of Man,” famed
photographic exhibit produced by
the Museum of Modern Art in
New York, has arrived in Reykja-
vik and will open a three-week
run at the Vocational School Sep-
tember 21.
The United States Information
Service secured the cooperation of
the Museum of Modern Art to
bring the collection of 503 photo-
graphs to Iceland. The entire
fourth floor of the Vocational
School (Idnskolinn) on Vitastigur
in Reykjavik will be used to dis-
play the exhibit which will be
open daily from 10 A.M. to 10
p.m. Admission will be free.
Edward Steichen, one of the
best-known photographers in the
United States, spent five years in
planning this show. He and his
assistants went through some two
million pictures and finally selec-
ted 503 photographs by 273 photo-
graphers in 68 countries.
Management
Instructor
Honored
M/Sgt Edgar A. Coulon, IADF
Manpower Division, was recently
presented with a miniature flag
of Iceland from the Icelandic
graduates of the Management
Class for Air Force Supervisors,
which he instructs.
As token of their appreciation
for his excellent instruction in the
last two classes, graduates Fridrik
Johannsson,Officer’s Dining Hall;
Harold Faaberg, Terminal Hotel;
Jon Bergsson, Motor Pool, and
Kristjan Juliusson, Base Laundry,
presented Sgt Coulon with a letter
of appreciation and a souveneir
flag which was imbedded in a
carved base depicting scenes of
Iceland.
From London to Keflavik the
time consumed in flight was two
hours 40 minutes. According to
the pilot, Captain Bougaev, the
plane flew at a cruising speed of
about 500 mph and at an altitude
of 32,000 ft.
This flight of the TU-104-A
was the first ever made into the
United States by a Russian com-
mercial plane on the North
Atlantic route.
While waiting for the plane to
be refueled the crew and several
passenger representatives of the
Russian airline Aeroflot adjourned
to the airport terminal’s restaur-
ant with official greeters from the
Russian Embassy in Reykjavik.
While there they were interviewed
by base newsmen as well as re-
presentatives from the Icelandic
press.
On hand to view the landing
and takeoff of the pride of the
Russian passenger fleet was a
comparatively large crowd of
Icelanders and base personnel who
thronged about the plane but were
kept at a distance by a cordon of
Icelandic and Air Policemen.
Leaving here, the plane landed
at Goose Bay, Labrador, where
it picked up three MATS person-
nel, a pilot, navigator and radio
operator. The Americans handled
all air-to-ground contacts on the
last leg of the flight, but the Rus-
sians did the piloting.
' On its return flight to Moscow
the plane again stopped here
briefly Saturday, September 7th.
ANDREI GROMYKO
LANDS HERE
A second flight of the same
TU-104-A aircraft landed at the
Keflavik airbase Saturday, Sep-
tember 14th. Notable among the
passengers was Andrei Gromyko,
Soviet Foreign Minister, on his
way to attend the forthcoming
United Nations General Assembly
to be held in New York City.
Looking at the Future
Sunnyvale, Calif. (AFPS)—Air liners 40 years from now will be
giant, 8,000 mph rocket missiles, Dr. Louis N. Ridenour, former chief
scientist for the Air Force, reported recently to United Press.
Dr. Ridenour, now director of research and development for Lock-
head Aircraft’s missile division here, predicted the rocket transports
will travel at heights up to 700 miles.
NATO To Conduct Fall Exercise
The military forces of the NATO countries are scheduled to
engage in a Fall exercise beginning September 19th and ending
September 28. The exercise will take place in the North Atlantic
area.
Hundreds of ships and aircraft from the various NATO
countries will participate in the joint exercise.
The Iceland Defense Force will participate in the exercise by
providing off-base communications, supporting land-based naval
aircraft, and maintaining a state of preparation to react to any
type of simulated (enemy) activity which might be brought to
play upon this command.
There is a strong possibility that the personnel of this base
will undergo a series of alerts in conjunction with this exercise.
NATO
UNIFIED POWER FOR PEACE