Heroes: the Army
"...My anti aircraft battery was on alert my radar crew was just searching the skies and when the radio request came. So the radar crew headed by Sgt. Evans went to work trying to locate them..."
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Heroes: the Army
"...My anti aircraft battery was on alert my radar crew was just searching the skies and when the radio request came. So the radar crew headed by Sgt. Evans went to work trying to locate them..."
Lawrence H. Tyree
- Branch of Service: Army
- Unit: D Battery, 203rd Coast Artillery AA
- Dates: Late 1942 - 1943
- Location: Aleutian Islands, Alaska
- Rank: Lt. Col. (Ret)
- Birth Year: 1920
- Entered Service: Garden Grove, MO
3 January 2005
Below is a copy of a recently received e-mail message that describes an event that took place in either late 1942 or early 1943.
The event describes the recollection of Lt. Col. (Ret.) Lawrence H. Tyree (Army) and is of a ground assisted radar landing that took place in the Aleutian Islands, Alaska.
WWII Story as told from Grandfather to Grandaughter:
"...I wondered if you would put up a story for my grandfather. He's not a computer person at all, but wanted me to take down a story for him and send it. I typed it nearly word for word as he spoke it. I wasn't sure whether or not to edit it for grammar or sentence structure. His name is Lt. Col. (Ret.) Lawrence H. Tyree (Army) and the story takes place in either the end of 1942 or 43 &endash; he couldn't remember for sure which year. It happened while he was stationed in the Aleutian Islands, Alaska..."
B-24 Ground Assisted Landing in Heavy Fog, Cold Bay, Aleutian Islands, Alaska
Returning from a bombing mission over the northern islands of Japan and they were - the entire Aleutian chain was covered with a heavy fog. They were unable to return to their base. They were coming up the chain of islands and they were broadcasting an emergency wondering if there was anyone that could track them by radar and bring them to a safe landing. My anti aircraft battery was on alert my radar crew was just searching the skies and when the radio request came. So the radar crew headed by Sgt. Evans went to work trying to locate them, and did locate them and gave them directions as to where to approach Cold Bay in the Aleutian Islands.
After making contact he instructed the pilot to make certain turns and when they were brought in close to Cold Bay. He instructed the pilot to let down - to descend and he kept instructing him to continue to let down until finally the plane became - dropped below the fog - which was about 100 feet above the ground. And at that time the pilot spotted the runway lights at cold bay and went in for a safe landing.
Upon seeing the lights the pilot literally screamed into the microphone "I see the lights! I see the lights!".
Meanwhile the airbase was lined on both sides with trucks or military vehicles with their lights on low beam which further illuminated the runway. After the plane landed the crew came out to the anti aircraft artillery out to D battery of the 203rd coast artillery AA unit to greet the radar crew and thank them for bringing them in.
To the best of the battery commander's (Tyree) knowledge, this was the first ground to air assisted landing.
This would have been either in late 1942 or in 1943 - can't state exact date. Would be interested in hearing from any of the crew members that were on that flight.
Sgt. Glyn Evans is the name of the Sgt. referred to earlier
Mess Sgt. that served crew meal was Sgt. Joe Stewart - he found steaks he didn't know he had and served them a steak dinner.
Lt. Colonel (Ret) L. H. Tyree would be interested in hearing from any of the crew members.
Thank you!
Hester McEuen
Interested in some background information?
Check out the related links below...National World War II Memorial
The story is re-printed here on World War II Stories -- In Their Own Words with the kind permission of Hester McEuen. Our sincerest THANKS allowing us to share some of their stories.
Original Story submitted on 3 January 2005.
Story added to website on 3 January 2005.
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