A WW II Survival Story on the Charley River
Allan C. 2014. A WW II Survival Story on the Charley River
In 1943, a crew of five crashed a B-24 Liberator on a mountain overlooking the Charley River during a WW II test flight. The only survivor, Lt. Leon Crane, managed to parachute off the plane before it crashed. Crane landed in deep snow and conditions 40 below zero with no gear other than a pocket knife and two packs of matches. After nine days of no food, Crane moved on from the crash site and stumbled across a cabin with a stash of food and gear. Crane rested and regained strength, but determined that waiting for spring was not possible. After a rough journey, Crane met Albert Ames and the pair traveled on a dogsled to Woodchopper mining camp. After 84 days of travel, Crane was finally able to return to Fairbanks. Crane later revisited the crash site to return the remains of his crew to their homes.
- Type
- Resource Brief
- Authors
- Allan, Chris
- Date of Issue
- 2014
- Units
- YUCH
- Keywords
- airplane crash, Albert Ames, B-24 Liberator, bomber airplane, Charley River, Lt. Leon Crane, survival story, WW II, Yukon-Charley Rivers National Preserve