REMEMBERING BLUIE WEST ONE

BW-1 was a U.S. Army airfield from 1941 to 1947, and as Narsarsuaq Airbase a U.S. Air Force installation from 1947 to 1958, when it was turned over to the Danish government of Greenland. I was enchanted by the name (why One? why West? and above all, why Bluie?) from the day I first heard it. So in August 2005 I flew to Reykjavik in Iceland, thence to Narsarsuaq in Greenland, to investigate the place for myself. This is what I found out.

Ken Mckellar emails: "I was one of the last nine Air Force members stationed [at BW1 before the Danes took over]. I remember the Base Hospital and walking through it even if it was a spooky situation. We also would bowl at the old bowling alley; half of us would set the pins and the other half would bowl. We drove all the [left-behind] military vehicles around the base, and many other things to pass time while there. I was always a little confused on why I went to BW1. I was a Disk Jockey with Armed Forces Radio. Yes it had a full broadcast facility and for a couple days [I] spun records for the other eight guys, but they got tired of it so I stopped being a DJ and just hung out for a year."

Bruce Casper emails: "My uncle Ralph Casper was onboard the USS Dorchester enroute to BW-1 when it was sunk 70 miles off Greenland on Feb. 3, 1943. We are unsure as to whether his body was recovered and buried at BW-1 or he was lost at sea. I have been advised that the graves were moved from there in 1958 but no one can tell me there final resting place or which service moved them. Any help in the quest would be appreciated." If you can help, please send email. Blue skies! -- Dan Ford