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Tale of The Lost Squadron lands at Mighty 8th Tuesday
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Staff Report
Updated: Sep 18, 2008, 9:01 AM
Published: Sep 15, 2008, 7:52 PM

The 8th Air Force Historical Society’s Birthplace Chapter welcomes Pat Epps and Richard Taylor, founders of Greenland Expedition Society, to the Mighty 8th Air Force Museum Tuesday for a presentation on the “The Lost Squadron,” a group of World War II fighter and bomber planes lost near the Artic Circle.

On July 25, 1942, after being led astray by false weather report from German U-boats, 25 airmen flying six P-38s and two B-17s made a dangerous landing on the Greenland ice cap. Nine days later, the airmen, who huddled in a B-17 in order to survive, were rescued. The U.S. government never attempted to recover any of these aircraft which later became known as “The Lost Squadron.”  Fifty years later, the Atlanta-based Greenland Expedition Society recovered the first P-38 from beneath 265 feet of Artic ice. Remarkably, the plane was in good condition and after a 10-year restoration project, it returned to the sky for its flight as “Glacier Girl.”

Come hear more of these exciting rescues at the Birthplace Chapter dinner at the Mighty 8th Air Force Museum. Social networking begins at 5:30 p.m.; dinner and presentation start at 7 p.m. Reservations are required and the cost is only $15. Call Catherine Lumberg at (912) 748-8884 to reserve your seat. Birthplace Chapter Membership is not necessary to attend the presentation.

Activated in 1942 in Savannah, the 8th Air Force was an important strike element in World War II and remains an active force today. The Mighty 8th Air Force Museum honors the Mighty 8th’s proud legacy by preserving the stories of courage, character and patriotism displayed by the men and women of the 8th Air Force from World War II to the present.

The Mighty 8th Air Force Museum is open daily from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. except New Year’s Day, Easter, Thanksgiving and Christmas. The museum is located just minutes from downtown Savannah in Pooler at 175 Bourne Ave., off I-95, exit 102. www.mightyeighth.org; (912) 748-8888.
Savannah, Richmond Hill, Tybee ready for July 4 celebrations
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Staff Report
Updated: Jul 1, 2016, 8:36 PM
Published: Jun 29, 2016, 7:10 PM

The Savannah Waterfront Association will hold its annual 4th of July celebration, including fireworks, Monday on River Street from 4-10 p.m.

VIP seating for viewing fireworks will be available for active and retired military and will be on a first-come, first-served basis.

The Hypnotics will perform from 8-10 p.m., including a patriotic set during the fireworks to complement the show.

The fireworks sponsored at 9:30 p.m. Guests are encouraged to park off of River Street since the Savannah-Chatham Metropolitan Police Department will close the street from 6 p.m.-3 a.m.

Savannah-Chatham Metropolitan Police are gearing up for this weekend’s July 4th and First Friday festivities; and ask the public to be mindful of traffic conditions in the Downtown area.

In anticipation of potential road delays, Metro will increase traffic and foot patrols in the Downtown festival area, starting Friday afternoon. Officers also will patrol Hutchinson Island in greater force to assist with traffic flow, prevent bottle-necking and help move motorists safely. To ensure safety and help minimize delays, motorists are asked to be vigilant, patient and co-operative.

Public parking lots on River Street will close on Monday at about 3 a.m. until early Tuesday afternoon. River Street will close to vehicular traffic Monday at 3 p.m. and will reopen early Tuesday morning.

All traffic and parking laws will be enforced on in Downtown Savannah and Hutchinson Island. Vehicles parked in the roadway, or in a manner that obstructs traffic will be towed at the owner’s expense. Please note that parking vehicles on the Truman Parkway and Talmadge Bridge also is dangerous and illegal.

Interstate 16 will be available to drivers leaving the firework show. To leave Downtown, traffic originating from points beyond Bay Street will be directed away from Martin Luther King Boulevard to other routes, such as Whitaker and West Bay streets. Westbound traffic on Bay Street will be directed to East Lathrop Avenue to access I-16 via Louisville Road.

Police recommend use of city parking garages, where drivers will be given maps for the easiest Downtown exit routes following the firework display. Motorists are encouraged to plan ahead, expect delays and heed posted signage. The key components of the traffic plan include:

Prohibiting traffic from turning southbound onto Whitaker from Bay. Westbound traffic on Bay Street will be directed to alternate routes to I-16 through East Lathrop and Louisville Road, or through Garden City.

Parking garage traffic will be routed southbound on MLK, Whitaker and Price streets.

Alternate routes to I-16 are West Gwinnett and 37th streets. Price Street also can be used to get to 37th Street, which will take traffic to westbound I-16.

Additional signage will be deployed to assist drivers in locating the alternative routes to I-16.

Traffic may be heavy along Highway 80 for those leaving Tybee Island’s fireworks display. There is a slight potential for shallow coastal flooding due to King Tides July 4.  At this time, this flooding is not expected to close Highway 80. Remember if there is shallow coastal flooding:

Traffic headed toward Wilmington Island via President Street should flow as usual.

Also please remember that the city curfew law remains in effect for this event.  All persons 16 years of age and under must be off the streets at 11 p.m. unless accompanied by a parent or legal guardian. Officers will be enforcing this ordinance.

As always you can stay up to date with the latest on the Festival, road closures and other related updates by following the Twitter feed @SCMPD, Facebook or www.scmpd.org.

Richmond Hill will host 4th of July events Saturday, starting with Star Spangled Cars and Coffee from 9-11 a.m. Car owners can bring in a car and interact with other automobile enthusiasts. Visitors can bring the family to view the cars and tour the Richmond Hill History Museum, formerly the Henry Ford Kindergarten. Admission to the event is free and coffee can be purchased for 25 cents with a $1 donation to the museum. This event will take place at the Richmond Hill History Museum located at 11460 Ford Ave. 

Fort McAllister will hold its 4th of July celebration Saturday from 9 a.m.-4 p.m. with living history programs including demonstrations of Civil War drills and rifle and cannon firings. Visitors can participate in old fashioned games including sack races, an egg toss, wheel barrow races and a Civil War-era baseball game. Fresh watermelon will be available.  Admission for this event is $8 per adult (18+), $5 per Youth (6-17), under 6 are free. For more information, call (912) 727-2339.

Richmond Hill will kick off its annual Red, White, and Blue Independence Day Celebration at J. F. Gregory Park located at 521 Cedar St. For more information, visit www.richmondhill-ga.gov or call (912) 756-3345.

Tybee Island changed the date of their annual  fireworks from Sunday, July 3 to Monday, July 4. The Independence Day celebration will held be at the Tybee Island Pier and Pavilion with a fireworks extravaganza. It will be held from 9:30-10 p.m.