Beyond Artifacts: Stories of Service from Colony Glacier
By MRS. LAUREN FOSNOT, STAFF WRITER
Storytelling is an intrinsic part of the human experience. Before written language was created, stories were transmitted visually and orally. This custom has served mankind well as innovations have been born from accumulating knowledge from stories across generations. For example, Elias Disney, who worked as a carpenter at Chicago’s World’s Columbian Exposition, better known as the Chicago World’s Fair, shared stories with his son, Walt, which later inspired him to create the famous Disney amusement parks.
Many Mobility Airmen can attest to the importance of storytelling, having learned a great deal from their leaders’ personal recounting of mistakes and accomplishments. At the heart of this tradition is the Air Mobility Command (AMC) Museum, situated at Dover Air Force Base (AFB), Delaware. The museum offers compelling narratives of the men and women who contributed to the evolution of Air Mobility in the U.S. Air Force (USAF). Countless stories are told every day within the museum—from the comprehensive exhibits to individual artifacts.
A current display at the AMC Museum garnering attention is the Air Force Mortuary Affairs Operations (AFMAO) exhibit, which serves a twofold purpose: 1) educate visitors about the role and history of AFMAO, exemplified by its recent recovery mission, Operation Colony Glacier, and 2) commemorate the fifty-two service members whose lives were claimed in a tragic accident in 1952.
ABOUT AFMAO
Also located at Dover AFB, AFMAO oversees the dignified transfer of the remains of those who have fallen while in service to the nation, providing support to grieving families during their most challenging moments. The organization maintains a highly trained and resilient Total Force team of professionals capable of fulfilling the United States’ sacred commitment of ensuring Dignity, Honor, and Respect to those who made the ultimate sacrifice while in service for the nation. AFMAO recently partnered with the AMC Museum to tell the story of the Colony Glacier Mission, which AMC Museum Deputy Director Eric Czerwinski emphasizes is a solemn but important undertaking.
COLONY GLACIER: NO SERVICE MEMBER LEFT BEHIND
On the fateful day of November 22, 1952, a USAF C-124 Globemaster II aircraft carrying forty-two Airmen, eight Army Soldiers, one Marine Corps Major, and one Navy Commander crashed into the icy, 9,629-foot Mount Gannett in Alaska, roughly fifty miles east of Anchorage. Weather conditions at the time prevented an immediate recovery, and later, the aircraft could not be found—that is, until June 10, 2012. On that cold summer day, Soldiers assigned to the Alaska Army National Guard spotted debris from the vantage point of a Blackhawk helicopter during a routine training exercise. They were nearly fourteen miles from where the Globemaster crashed six decades prior.
Since this discovery, many service members have dedicated tremendous time and effort to find the remains of the crash victims, identify them, and bring them home. The weather still poses a significant challenge, but all service members involved are committed to not leaving any service members behind. In addition to searching for possible remains, the service members also search for flight equipment and personal effects, which are a person’s personal property, usually items of particular significance that are carried or worn. As of June 2022, a decade after the debris was first spotted, forty-four of the fifty-two service members have been recovered and identified. The Colony Glacier exhibit at the AMC Museum serves to honor the fifty-two service members, offer some closure to their loved ones, and remind Airmen about their dedication to one another and to the nation.
FAST FACTS ABOUT THE AMC MUSEUM
- It was established in 1986.
- The museum sees an average of 120,000 to 130,000 visitors annually.
- It is the only museum in the world with the enormous C-5 Galaxy.
- Every day, the museum has four or five planes open, and even has an “open cockpit Saturday” feature for the public to enjoy.
- The museum has an air traffic control tower visitors can access.
- The museum is home to thirteen “First, Last, and Only” aircraft in the world.
AFMAO COLONY GLACIER EXHIBIT
The AMC Museum and AFMAO welcome visitors to Dover AFB to learn about and connect with the stories of the fifty-two service members who were lost. By displaying their personal effects, the exhibit brings a tangible reality to their narratives. Everyday items like hats and shoes serve as powerful reminders that the individuals lost were real Airmen, not just numbers in a history book, who met their end tragically while bravely serving their country. “That’s what we do at the AMC Museum—remember those who served before us,” Czerwinski said.
SAFETY IMPLICATIONS
With his firm grasp of AMC history, Czerwinski noted that the 1952 crash was not an isolated incident. A Fairchild C-119 Flying Boxcar crash also occurred in Alaska less than a month before the Globemaster crash. Both deadly crashes involved the aircraft being off course.
When asked what today’s Mobility Airmen can learn, in terms of safety, from these tragedies, Czerwinski replied, “I think it comes down to ensuring your flight planning is solid. I was not in the mind of the navigator that fateful day to know what errors added up, but I can tell you it is important not to take any details for granted. Double check what you’ve calculated and double check what you’re doing instead of assuming it is accurate.”
AMC MUSEUM
While touring the museum, visitors can explore thirty-six aircraft on display and over 4,000 artifacts, providing an immersive journey through the evolution of airlift and air refueling. The museum, which is manned by a dedicated staff and a team of more than eighty volunteers, showcases the historical significance of the USAF’s mobility capabilities.
While capturing the past, the museum also focuses on the future, expanding its endeavors. In recent years, the museum acquired two new aircraft, a C-46 “Commando” World War II aircraft, and a KC-10A “Extender” tanker. Additionally, in 2024, the museum’s exhibit rooms are undergoing remodeling and modernization using diversity and inclusiveness funds. The renovations, according to Czerwinski, will feature thoughtful, chronologically ordered displays that highlight the strength of an inclusive USAF. Ultimately, the museum wants to add a second hanger, a three-hundred-seat theater conference center, and eight classrooms to support the museum’s many events and programs, like summer camp.
In the meantime, the AMC Museum continues to shed light on the legacies of Mobility Airmen. In partnership with AFMAO, the Colony Glacier exhibit is a tribute to the lost souls of the 1952 crash, reminding visitors of their sacrifices. The exhibit serves as a powerful reminder that behind every artifact and name, there is a story of a life dedicated to serving the nation.