WW2 US AIR BASE
The US assumed responsibility for the defense of Greenland in April 1941. This was after Denmark surrendered to Germany in WW2 after six hours of fighting. This is known as the six hour war. The base was built to support the defense of Greenland and the North Atlantic air route used to ferry aircraft to Europe. The base served as an alternate airfield, a meteorological station, plus search and rescue.
The air base was operational from 1942 to 1947. Then the US packed up and went home. Denmark asked that we clean up the area, we said no. Apparently Denmark just signed an agreement with Greenland to finance the clean up effort.
- Where did the name come from?
- BLUIE: code word for Greenland
- EAST (or WEST): which side of the island
- 2: number indicated location of each base on the coast
14 bases were built in Greenland. This is a rough area, I can’t imagine the effort it took to make a 5,000 foot runway.
Life finds a way
Fuel barrels
Generator shed
I tried to ID who made the tires for our Chemical Engineer daughter, no luck. My guess would be Goodyear but who knows.
Square D is still going strong, they are now owned by Schneider Electric.
I would love to hear the stories about the soldiers stationed here.
Lots of vehicles but all of the motors were gone. They were probably taken by the local population.
Gun turret
Sorry but a few bugs landed on my phone while I was taking the picture
Nice view for an air base.
HAPPY EXPLORING, STEVE