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Memorial to Lost Flight on January 12, 1962
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Special thanks to Robert Pettway and all those who have worked so hard to see this come to fruition!!!
Memorial To Those Who Perished
On January 12, 1962, twelve good men perished on the Kronborg Glacier in Greenland. Amoung these men was my brother-in-law:
Norman Royce Russell Jr.
Aviation Electronics Technician 3rd Class
United States Navy
Norman was born to Norman "Royce" and Sibyl Andrus Russell. His dad was a retired Navy Chief and so he knew the Navy life. He was born in San Diego, California while his dad was stationed there. Upon retirement Norman Senior brought his wife and three children back home to the place of his roots, near Roseland, Louisiana. Norman was age 12, the family settled down to live the life of civilians.
A sister Gayle Russell Rispone and a brother Andrus "Butch" Russell survive him. He has a niece and four nephews, two who were named after him. There are a total of five boys who bear part of his name in his memory. There are now eight great nieces & nephews.
After graduating high school Norman began training in the Navy Reserve while attending Collage for a year, he then enlisted to follow the family tradition. He made many flights to various parts of the world.
In Jacksonville, Florida he met the girl of his dreams and love blossomed. He brought Bonnie home to meet the family, wedding plans were made everyone looked forward to her being part of the family.
May 19, 1959 he received a commendation for attaining the highest scholastic average in his class in Aviation Electronic Technician School. He was on his way and the future looked bright indeed.
The year 1962 would see overwhelming tragedy make it’s camp on the Russell’s doorstep. A telegram delivered by the local law enforcement would be the beginning of sorrows. Toward the end of the month, a letter was received from the U.S. Atlantic Fleet, Naval Air Force, Patrol Squadron Five. It began with; "It is with great sorrow;" words that crushed the family as they read that their son was officially missing. The intensive search had been called off. It went on to tell of the deep admiration and respect felt by his shipmates, which is evident to this day as they have kept in touch with the family.
The community shared the heartache of the loss. Time did little to ease the pain, a pain that came from not knowing. His disappearance was shrouded in mystery. What had happened, was he really dead? The torment his family went through lasted almost four years.
A British Geological expedition found the wreckage of the plane and later Norman was brought home. It was October of 1966, a cool autumn breeze blew as we laid his remains to rest out there in Russell Town cemetery. He was a quiet, kind and compassionate person and remains in our memories as a handsome boy of 24.
Across the U.S. other families were going through the same grief process, a final closure to four years shrouded in mystery. Only in the past year did we learn to our sorrow that there are still remains in that lonely and desolate place; Kronborg Glacier. Families still grieve the loss and there is no closure for them. As strange as it seems to some, the only peace is to have that final closure, to bring their loved ones home to rest in the family cemetery.
By the wonders of the internet we were able to contact some of the British Geological team that discovered the plane. Our first contact was with Dr. Peter knight of the Danish Polar Center. He posted the request for information on the Geological Society’s bulletin board, to be seen by about 500 members worldwide. Dr Roger J. Braithwaite saw the message and advised we contact Dr. Joergen Taagholt at the Danish Polar Commission in Copenhagen. Then Dr. Taagholt sent word that he was researching it for us. Next Dr. Kent Brooks in Copenhagen contacted us to say that he was one of the four-man team who had discovered the crash site. He offered his assistance and sent a detailed description of his memories of the experience. He also sent the names of two of the other members of the research party who were still in Oxford.
We contacted Brian Atkins, but never heard from him. We contacted Dr. David Bell and his response was immediate. He mailed us a copy of the news clippings of the crash photo, a localized map of the area, a color photo of the general area. He also sent copies of letters he had received from the other victim’s family members, thanking the team for their part in solving the four-year-old mystery. We were not been able to locate David Parrish, we are told that he is the one who actually first spotted the plane.
We have been assured that no one suffered a lingering death. It was so cold there, they would have been almost instantly frozen had they survived the crash. It was good to communicate with those who were there. To actually look at the photo of the frozen tundra brought a final closure, it was lonely yet beautiful, it made us sad, yet it fulfilled a need.
Your mother said you were so cute as a little child,
Curls so blonde and eyes so blue with laughter in your smile.
You grew up too fast like any normal boy,
You always were all your life a source of pride and joy.
From high school to collage to Navy you went,
Thus all the days of your life were spent.
You’d met Bonnie and planned soon to marry,
We all assumed your name she would carry.
Sometimes the book of life is short,
And loved ones are left with a broken heart.
Your pages were few we all soon learned,
As the final chapter came and the pages all were turned.
Death reached out its icy hand and snatched you from the sky,
Your plane went down and all twelve on board would die.
Those who knew and loved you said you had the sweetest smile,
Perhaps it was because you would see God in just a while.
We’ve finally talked to those who found your remains in that cold and lonely place,
Where God reached out to call you home to look upon His face.
By: Lillian Carol Russell
Those who perished on the flight were:
AT2 Robert A. ANDERSON 1st Technician
LT John A. BROWN Flight Surgeon
LTjg Anthony P. CASWICK Co-Pilot
ADR2 Robert E. HURST Plane Captain
CDR Norbert J. KOZAK PPC
LTjg Michael P. LEAHY Navigator
ATN3 Alan P. MILLETTE Radioman
ADR3 Frank E. PARKER 2nd Mechanic
AEAN Joseph W. RENNEBERG 3rd Technician
AT3 Norman R. RUSSELL, Jr. 2nd Technician
LTjg Badger C. SMITH Navigator
AO3 Grover E. WELLS Ordnanceman
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| Nine of the 12 on board that flight were in this photo. This picture was taken for Don Latimer as his going away memento of the crew, on December 29, 1961. It was taken in Rota, Spain less than a week before they left Rota for Iceland, and exactly two weeks before they perished. Don Latimer bid farewell to his friends as they left for Greenland, not knowing that he would never see them again this side of heaven. He has been a blessing to us along with Robert Pettway, John Good and many of Norman’s other friends. |
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