One Man Survives Leon Crane’s Journey in the Alaskan Wilderness

Courage o jumped out of the aircraft, having never used a parachute o doesn’t panic o survival attitude o removed the word “fear” from his vocabulary o confident of rescue for the first 8 days o thought civilization was just around the next bend in the river o never gave up hope

Resourcefulness/Creativity Goes to the river (stays 8days) – Source of water – Landmark – Cities, towns located near rivers – Animals go there to drink and eat Builds a fire using a letter + matches + spruce boughs, sleeps in 2 hour intervals Keeps parachute = lifeline ―Uses it for warmth, wrapping himself in it like a cocoon, mittens protecting his hands ―Uses it to make weapons—bow and arrow, sling-shot ― Makes a spear ―Later uses it to patch clothing and a knapsack Chews on moss, but doesn’t swallow = conserve energy Once at the Cabin – Uses candle wax to protect his hands – Sleeps 18 hours a day – Rations his food, eating 2 meals a day – Makes a sled to carry items on his journey Kills a ptarmigan (bird) ―examines its stomach, finds berries looks for bush with berries to kill more

Good Fortune Only one to survive & not injured in the bail out Landed near a river Had a Boy Scout knife, matches, and letter with him Weather was relatively good Cabin # 1, well-stocked, stays 6 wks. Finds food, clothing, mittens, gun, ammo., other supplies *Finds a map when a calendar falls off the wall Finds magazines with Phil Berail’s name and address—knows where he is Cabin # 2, modestly stocked, stays about a week Finds a toboggan trail that leads to Cabin # 3 Cabin # 3, finds Al Ames and his family Al Ames takes him to the nearest settlement, Woodchopper, where Crane is flown to Ladd Army Air Field Leon Crane survives 80 days in the Alaskan Wilderness.

The Final Chapter 2nd Lt. Harold E. Hoskin is shown in Lieutenant Hoskin was one of five men who were flying in a B-24 Liberator that crashed while on a test flight Dec. 21, 1943, out of Ladd Field in Fairbanks, Alaska. Lieutenant Hoskin's remains were discovered in August 2006 and identified in April He was buried in a ceremony September 7, 2007 at Arlington National Cemetery in Virginia.Arlington National Cemetery