These aircraft wrecks were rescued from the ice – and flew again

By Miquel Ros, CNN
6 minute read
Published 9:07 PM EDT, Sun July 14, 2019
<strong>The recovery of Juliet Delta 321: </strong>This<strong> </strong>Lockheed LC-130, call sign Juliet Delta 321, crash-landed in Antarctica in 1971. It's pictured here during recovery operations 15 years later.
The recovery of Juliet Delta 321: This Lockheed LC-130, call sign Juliet Delta 321, crash-landed in Antarctica in 1971. It's pictured here during recovery operations 15 years later.
Jim Mathews
<strong>December 1986: </strong>Jim Mathews, project manager for the recovery operation, shared these photos with CNN Travel. "We had measurement for the plane, but finding other parts took some work," he said. "We measured to where the No. 1 engine should be and with a combination of shovel work and the skilled maneuvering of Roger Biery in the 931, our smallest tractor, we found the blade. Once we had that the wingtip was easy... and so on. You can see our biggest tractor, an LG (Low Ground Pressure) D-6, pushing snow away from the excavation site in the distance."
December 1986: Jim Mathews, project manager for the recovery operation, shared these photos with CNN Travel. "We had measurement for the plane, but finding other parts took some work," he said. "We measured to where the No. 1 engine should be and with a combination of shovel work and the skilled maneuvering of Roger Biery in the 931, our smallest tractor, we found the blade. Once we had that the wingtip was easy... and so on. You can see our biggest tractor, an LG (Low Ground Pressure) D-6, pushing snow away from the excavation site in the distance."
Jim Mathews
<strong>A week later:</strong> This wider view shows the slow, steady work accomplished in seven days. "Here, both wings are uncovered and we're working on top of the fuselage," says Mathews.
A week later: This wider view shows the slow, steady work accomplished in seven days. "Here, both wings are uncovered and we're working on top of the fuselage," says Mathews.
Jim Mathews
<strong>Christmas Eve, 1986:</strong> "The entire airplane is uncovered and ready to be towed," says Mathews. "Dan Check in the D-6 constructed this ramp by working his way back from the edge of the pit, which was by then 25-20 feet deep."
Christmas Eve, 1986: "The entire airplane is uncovered and ready to be towed," says Mathews. "Dan Check in the D-6 constructed this ramp by working his way back from the edge of the pit, which was by then 25-20 feet deep."
Jim Mathews
<strong>Back on the surface, Boxing Day, 1986:</strong> "You can see how the No. 2 engine was damaged. The rocket destroyed, the prop and gearbox, which are obviously missing. We took off the radar and radome on the nose, both of which had been damaged when the nose gear collapsed during the emergency landing."
Back on the surface, Boxing Day, 1986: "You can see how the No. 2 engine was damaged. The rocket destroyed, the prop and gearbox, which are obviously missing. We took off the radar and radome on the nose, both of which had been damaged when the nose gear collapsed during the emergency landing."
Jim Mathews