Honoring the Alaska-Siberia Ferry Crews

Aug. 31, 2006

Audio of this article is brought to you by the Air & Space Forces Association, honoring and supporting our Airmen, Guardians, and their families. Find out more at afa.org

Honoring the Alaska-Siberia Ferry Crews: During World War II, there were American and Russian aircrews that ferried some 8,000 US aircraft from Montana to Russia by way of Alaska and Siberia. Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld and Russian Defense Minister Sergei Ivanov, along with assorted other officials, on Aug. 27 helped dedicate a memorial to these intrepid fliers in Fairbanks, Alaska. Severe weather caused the crash of 133 aircraft in North America—flying from Montana across Canada to Fairbanks—and another 44 in Siberia. The US Army Air Forces 7th Ferrying Squadron flew the US leg, turning the aircraft over to their Russian counterparts at Army Ladd Airfield, now known as Ft. Wainwright.

Audio of this article is brought to you by the Air & Space Forces Association, honoring and supporting our Airmen, Guardians, and their families. Find out more at afa.org

Trending Stories

Air Force to Inspect All Dorms for ‘Clean, Comfortable, Safe’ Living Conditions

New Report: Air Force Can’t Afford ‘Runaway’ R&D, Needs More Aircraft

Northrop Checks Off Sentinel Milestones While Still Working on Program Restructure

Northrop: ‘Multiple‘ B-21s in Ground Test, Production Increase in Negotiations

Related

OA-1K Skyraider Crashes in Oklahoma, Crew Uninjured

Oct. 24, 2025
An Air Force OA-1K Skyraider II crashed near Oklahoma City on Oct. 23, with a civilian contractor and Active-duty Airman escaping uninjured. The OA-1K was on a training mission when the crash occurred, less than 10 miles from the base.

How New Religious Accommodation Rules for Beards Could Impact Airmen’s Careers

Oct. 23, 2025
Airmen, Guardians, and other service members that wear beards for religious reasons will be deemed nondeployable as part of Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s sweeping crackdown on shaving waivers—a move that would essentially end their careers and one that several former Air Force officials say may go too far in trying…

Space Force Plans $905 Million for Maneuverable GEO Program

Oct. 23, 2025
The Space Force expects to award $905 million in contracts over the next five years through a new Maneuverable GEO program, which aims to form a commercial fleet of mobile communication satellites in geosynchronous orbit.  

New Report: Air Force Can’t Afford ‘Runaway’ R&D, Needs More Aircraft

Oct. 23, 2025
For more than a decade, the Pentagon have steadily invested more and more of its budget in research and development compared to procurement—resulting in a “smaller, older, and less capable force than it needs,” according to a new analysis from the Center for a New American Security think tank.