Photo by Ray Hull, March 1965

Sondrestrom, Bluie West 8, was the designated alternate base for ferry flights across the North Atlantic during World War II. Narssarssuaq, Greenland, with a code name of Bluie West 1 was the primary enroute stop. Famed Arctic and Antarctic aviator, Bernt Balchen, directed the construction of the base at Sondrestrom in September of 1941. Part of the protection provided these airbases were gun emplacements, which were still in place in the 1960's. Firebirds in the background appear to be Don Wilkerson, Firebird Pilot on the left, and Fred Brackbill, Firebird Navigator on the right.