Hi Steffen.

I landed at Thule AFB in January, 1955, assigned to the 931^st AC&W squadron as a radar operator. After clearing in at Thule, I immediately was transported to "P" mountain. I spent two months on the mountain and most of the time while at "P" Mountain there was a critical water shortage. In March, I was flown to Site II after volunteering for an initial 90 day TDY at Site II.

I continued extending my tour at the site and remained there until I returned to Thule base on New Year's Eve.

There were generally 24-26 personnel assigned to Site II. Water was plentiful because we had an under-surface snow melter. We had a great site Commander and all personnel were involved in varied duties to maintain the installation. Site II was located on the icecap approximately 180 miles east of Thule.

Whenever the weather cooperated, we received mail and supplies via C-47 aircraft. Two civilian scientists assigned to the site while I was there said the snow depth was 7200 feet. We had two great cooks and the food was excellent. Time was spent maintaining the "runway", digging POL from the packed snow, regularly refueling the numerous room heaters and performing our regular assignment. We always had time for recreation. Snow skiing behind the weasel, movies, table tennis, card playing or reading.

On Sundays, some of us also went to the radio room to make contact via amateur radio with an operator in Albany, New York, to make a phone patch to our home. Sometimes we were successful. It was a great service the man provided and I'll never forget the time we spent calling, "AF2LXP this is Able Jig Niner Baker George".

This picture is the main tube (corridor) of Site II. The floor, in my estimation, was 18-20 feet below the surface. As one entered through the penthouse and down the stairwell, the rooms on the left began with radio and cryptography, then dispensary/weapons, cold storage, mess hall, laundry/latrine and water treatment.

At the far end were the radar operations/radar and radio maintenance. On the right side were dry food storage, recreation hall, officer's quarters, NCO quarters, enlisted quarters and power generating room. In back of all rooms was a tube where all room heaters and stored barrels of fuel oil were located.

This is the mess hall room.

Usually Jato rockets were neccessary at Site II

The Jato rockets made a jet plane out of a C-47!!!

This is me when I had hair at Site II.

The trusty weasel used for work and play.

This D-4 was a workhorse housed in a canvas tent and usually ran continuously.

This snow digger was carried by "cat train" during summer of 1955 to Site II.

L-19 aircraft and helicopters to Site II in summer, 1955.

KC-97 tanker at Thule AFB in 1955.

Site II (#1) This is some equipment used by the U.S. Army AACS to construct a mile-long "runway" on the icecap at Site II in 1955.They spent the summer to complete the project which allowed for the landing of large aircraft.

Site II (#2) This C-124 was the only large aircraft to make a landing in 1955 on the experimental Site II icecap runway.

Site II (#3) The wood structure was the entrance to the under-surface Site II. The radome can be seen in the background and the tent housed the D-4 Cat.

Site II (#4) During the summer of 1955 at Site II we bulldozed the snow to open an entrance adjacent to radar operations. Prior to this we had to lower the barrels through an escape hatch.

Site II (#5) This is one of two storage "tubes" which were behind the rooms and ran perpendicular to them. It was also access to the escape hatches.

Site II (#6) This explains why we had no water shortage at Site II. Snow was simply pushed into the melter by the D-4.

Site II (#7) This sign at Site II was effective. No one went "over the hill".

Site II (#8) This scene is not available on the icecap (or Thule) during December or January.

Site II (#9) A snapshot of "P" Mountain in 1955.

Keith Mahan

Letter from Judson Crow, Sr. [Staff Sergeant Judson O. Crow -AF14369801]:

Hi Keith:

I really enjoyed your photos and comments about Site II.

I was at the Site that was said to have been the one nearest to the Pole in November of 1953. I was part of a Team sent from Griffiss Air Force Base at Rome, New York to install some Radio, Radar and Communication equipment at both P Mountain and the Site near the Pole. I have struggled for years trying to remember the name or nomenclature of the Site so I hope you can tell me it was your Site II. We flew from Thule to the Site in a Ski 47 just as everything was turning completely dark so there was not much to see when we arrived at the Site.

There were about 20 Airman and a Second Lieutenant by the name of Morgan. Master Sergeant Ernie Wysong was the person we interfaced with as we accomplished our installation and check out work. We were at the Site about six weeks which covered the Thanksgiving Dinner under the Ice Cap. Our biggest problem was trying to do the Antenna work in the dark, cold and windy climate. I know you understand.

We left the Site about mid December and stayed at Thule a short time before flying back to Westover Field. Fortunately we made it back to Griffiss in time for Christmas leave and I arrived home in North Carolina about two days before Christmas. Prior to being assigned to First Communications at Griffiss I had spent a year in an A C & W Squadron helping to build an Air Defense and Control Center in a cork forest near a French Air Base at Rabat, French Morocco so my system had experienced about as wide swing as mankind can expect. Of course it was much easier at that age when we all had hair and were though dumb kids.

Write me and please confirm my Site under the Ice Cap near the Pole is your Site II so I can finally give a name to the place where some of "my war stories happened.

Very best regards,

Judson Crow