S8: Final Flight: The Mystery of a WW II Plane Crash and the Frozen Airmen in the High Sierra

My special guest is author Peter Stekel who's here to discuss a true story behind a mysterious WWII plane crash and the “Frozen Airmen” found in the High Sierra. Get his book Final Flight: The Mystery of a WW II Plane Crash and the Frozen Airmen in the High Sierra on Amazon. 

Uncover the compelling true story behind a mysterious WWII plane crash and the “Frozen Airmen” found in the High Sierra.

In October 2005, two mountaineers climbing above Mendel Glacier in the High Sierra found the mummified remains of a man in a World War II uniform, entombed in the ice. The “Frozen Airman” discovery created a media storm and a mystery that drew Peter Stekel to investigate. What did happen to the four-man crew who perished on a routine navigational training flight in 1942, some 150 miles off course from the reported destination?

Peter found bad weather, bad luck, and bad timing—empty graves, botched records, and misguided recovery efforts. Then, in 2007, the unimaginable happened again. Peter himself discovered a second body in the glacier. Another young man would finally be coming home.

Through meticulous research, interviews, and mountaineering trips to the site, Peter uncovered the story of these four young men. Final Flight explores their ill-fated trip and the misinformation that surrounded it for more than 60 years. The book is a gripping account that’s part mystery, part history, and part personal journey to uncover the truth of what happened on November 18, 1942. In the process, Peter narrates the young aviators’ last days and takes us on their final flight.

Follow us on Instagram

Follow us on Facebook

It's super easy to access our archives!

Here's how:

iPhone Users:

Access Mysterious Radio from Apple Podcasts and become a subscriber there, or if you want access to even more exclusive content, join us on Patreon.

Android Users:

Enjoy over 800 exclusive member-only posts to include ad-free episodes, case files, and more when you join us on Patreon. 

Please copy and Paste our link in a text message to all your family members and friends! We'll love you forever! (Check out Mysterious Radio!)

Do you frequently miss episodes of Mysterious Radio? Don't worry; here are some tips to ensure you never miss out again:

1. If you haven't already, follow or subscribe to the show to receive updates on new episodes. Even if you have already done this, it's a good idea to click the option again to ensure that you are still subscribed. This is especially important!

2. Turn on notifications for new episodes in your podcast app.

3. Make sure that your device allows notifications from your podcast app.

4. If your app has the option, swipe down to refresh the list of episodes.