Warbird Information Exchange

Recall the USN PBY that flew off the ice cap in Apr '43. What some folks didn't know was the engine problems they had trying to do it. They didn't get airborne the first run down the ice. Somewhere in their numerous take-off attempts, they had an engine fire. The mechs were able to do a temp fix and when the wind picked up the next day, they finally got enough lift to get airborne. I believe they came into BE-2 single engine as the temp fix on the other engine was no longer temp and they were low on fuel. I have a first person account of that.