CGC Bibb Rescues Bermuda Sky Queen
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Theme CGC Bibb Rescues Bermuda Sky Queen
Period 1947—1950
Artist Final Mural Artist Dean Mosher, Fairhope, Alabama
Size (framed) 10’-0” wide x 9’-0” high
Champion Carl Burkhart, Class of 1962
Sponsor Class of 1945
Story In the early hours of 14 October 1947, the pilot of the American-owned flying boat Bermuda Sky Queen enroute from Ireland to Newfoundland determined that gale force winds had retarded his progress to the extent that he could neither reach his destination nor return to Ireland. He decided to return to the position of the cutter Bibb on Ocean Station Charlie (south of the tip of Greenland) and land in the ocean. However, two days of heavy winds had turned Ocean Station Charlie into a sea of confused 30-ft. waves. Nevertheless, the pilot was able to land the aircraft with little damage. The cutter was unable to approach the aircraft due to the heavy seas, so the 69 people aboard the Bermuda Sky Queen had to be transferred to the cutter by a combination of rubber raft and boat. Despite the adverse weather conditions, hours of difficult labor by the cutter's crew, and damage suffered by both the cutter and her boats, all of the aircraft's passengers were safely rescued.