Frozen in Time: An Epic Story of Survival and a Modern Quest for Lost Heroes of World War II

Zuckoff, Mitchell

ISBN 10: 0062283448 ISBN 13: 9780062283443

Publisher: Harperaudio, 2013

Synopsis

On November 5, 1942, a U.S. cargo plane slammed into the Greenland ice cap. Four days later, a B-17 on the search-and-rescue mission also crashed. Miraculously, all nine men on the B-17 survived. The U.S. military launched a second daring rescue operation, but the Grumman Duck amphibious plane sent to find the men vanished.

In this thrilling adventure, Mitchell Zuckoff offers a spellbinding account of these harrowing crashes and the fate of the survivors and their would-be saviors. Frozen in Time places us at the center of a group of valiant airmen fighting to stay alive through 148 days of a brutal Arctic winter until an expedition attempts to bring them to safety. But that is only part of the story. In present-day Greenland, Zuckoff joins the Coast Guard and North South Polar Inc. on a dangerous expedition to recover the remains of the lost plane's crew.

Frozen in Time is a breathtaking blend of mystery, adventure, heroism, and survival. It is also a poignant reminder of the sacrifices of our military personnel and their families—and a tribute to the important, perilous, and often overlooked work of the U.S. Coast Guard.

About this title

Review:

Frozen in Time is an “excellent, affecting” book of “considerable suspense.... [Zuckoff’] is a skilled writer, reporter and researcher, but what gives his latest book its power is his poignant, persuasive depiction of men under arms.” (Howard Schneider, Wall Street Journal)

“This is not a genre known for literary style, but Zuckoff’s clear-eyed prose does just what it needs to do.... He even manages to add a contemporary story...and stitch it into the historical narrative so deftly that one feeds the other.” (Washington Post)

“Frozen in Time makes WWII history seem fresh.... [I]t’s non-fiction that reads like a page-turner of a mystery. It’s filled with heroism, tragedy and remarkable persistence, in the past and present..... Zuckoff is a good writer and rigorous researcher.” (Bob Minzesheimer, USA Today, 3.5/4 stars)

“Mitchell Zuckoff has a nose for the classic adventure story.... As he details the bomber crew’s odyssey...weeks stretch into months, but the pages fly by as you eagerly read on. Will they ever get home safely? Zuckoff’s mastery keeps readers wondering all the way to the end.” (Matthew Price, Boston Globe)

“The gripping story of a WWII-era plane crash, the survivors who braved subzero conditions, and the modern-day quest for answers.” (People)

“A true-life nail-biter—as nimbly paced as a novel. Grade: A.” (Entertainment Weekly)

“This stunningly immersive true-life account of a U.S. military search-and-rescue operation...reads like a stellar adventure novel.” (Entertainment Weekly)

“Zuckoff has produced a wonderful book that combines telling details, thoughtful background and vivid storytelling into a fascinating tale of courage, war and perseverance.” (David Williams, Seattle Times)

“If Lost in Shangri-La was a prize-winning page-turner, Frozen in Time is even more enthralling... a must-read.” (Austin American-Statesman)

“Zuckoff’s gripping narrative unfolds with immediacy and verve as men in fetid snow caves and sputtering aircraft pit their dogged camaraderie and desperate, white-knuckle improvisations against the fury of an Arctic winter.” (Publishers Weekly(starred review))

From the Back Cover:

When a cargo plane goes missing over the Greenland ice cap in November 1942, a B-17 is dispatched on a perilous search-and-rescue mission that ends in disaster when the plane crashes into a fogged-out glacier. Almost three weeks later, the U.S. Coast Guard learns that contact has been made with the B-17 crew, who are taking refuge in the plane's broken tail. The Coast Guard begins rescue efforts, successfully extracting two of the B-17 survivors and promising to return for the rest. But as the brutal winter ravages the savage Arctic wilderness, the odds of saving the remaining men rapidly diminish. Out of options, they have no choice but to try and survive alone on the ice cap.

Into this narrative of endurance against all odds, bestselling author Mitchell Zuckoff weaves a breathtaking account of his 2012 journey with a private crew to recover the wreckage of the crashes and the bodies of the victims entombed in the ice, finally piecing together this epic tale of adventure, resilience, and courage.

About this edition

• Publisher: Harperaudio
• Publication date: 2013
• ISBN 10: 0062283448
• ISBN 13: 9780062283443
• Binding: Audio CD