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

In October 2005, two mountaineers climbing above Mendel Glacier in the High Sierra finds the mummified remains of a man in a WW II uniform, entombed in the ice. The "Iceman" discovery creates a media storm which draws author Peter Stekel to investigate and stumble upon the case of a navigation training flight crew missing since 1942. Early attempts at recovery are thwarted due to empty graves, botched records, bad weather, bad luck, and bad timing. Then, in 2007, Stekel himself discovers a second body in the glacier. Through meticulous research, interviews, and his own mountaineering trips to the site, Stekel uncovers the identities of these four young men. Final Flight explores the story of the ill-fated flight and the misinformation surrounding it for over 60 years. The book is a gripping account that's part mystery, part history, and a personal journey to uncover the truth of the events that occurred on November 18, 1942. In the process, Stekel rewrites the young aviators' last days and takes us on their final flight.

Author: Peter Stekel
Publisher: Wilderness Press
Published: 09/14/2010
Pages: 266
Binding Type: Paperback
Weight: 0.69lbs
Size: 7.98h x 5.56w x 0.72d
ISBN: 9780899974750

Review Citation(s):
Library Journal 07/01/2010 pg. 97

About the Author
Peter Stekel lives in Seattle. He has hiked in the Sierra Nevada--mostly Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks--since he was twelve years old. That is a long time. But not long enough. He is also the author of The Flower Lover and Best Hikes Near Seattle. More photos can be found at the book's website. You will also find links to videos Stekel shot at the glacier, newspaper stories, television programs, book reviews, a schedule of personal appearances, and other things of interest to readers of Final Flight. Stekel's blog, documenting his research, is also at the site.