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[Daniel R. Brown]

Sherman A. Groenke (11/15/1914 - 11/08/2008) was a combat artist with the Coast Guard in the South Pacific. Together with a writer and photographer, Groenke was commissioned to make a record of activities of the Coast Guard in various stations during WWII. During his free time he made sketches for a personal record, which he mailed home (probably in or near Milwaukee, Wisconsin). His paintings depict Gardner, Baker, and Canton Islands among others. I don't find mention of him on the TIGHAR website or in the old forum, anyone in the Milwaukee area care to pursue this?

Dan Brown, #2408

[Ric Gillespie]

Courtesy of Steve Sopko, the son of the CO of Coast Guard Unit on Gardner Island, we have copies of two sketches made by Groenke at Gardner - a drawing of the unit's launch tied to the dock at the Loran station and a drawing of the launch approaching a PBY moored in the lagoon.

[Tom Swearengen]

Now that is interesting-----a drawing of a PBY moored in the lagoon. Meaning that it landed there, and didnt hit any submerged rocks, obstructions etc. That is interesting. I guess my next question is, all PBY's , Ducks, etc that might have been in the area ARE accounted for? if so, this DOES eliminate alot of doubts about the Electra.
tom

[Ric Gillespie]

I guess my next question is, all PBY's , Ducks, etc that might have been in the area ARE accounted for?

The New Zealand Survey mapped out and marked a landing area for flying boats in the lagoon in 1939.  U.S. Coast Guard and Navy PBYs routinely landed in the lagoon during WWII.  No aircraft is recorded as having been damaged.

[Tom Swearengen]

Ok---well I'm trying to be calm, but if there are no other aircraft incidents recorded in the area, sure does seem like circumstantial evidence of a Lockheed 10E Electra there ---somewhere.
Tom