The Nome Nugget

Landings Now Being Made on Ice of Bering Sea

Airplanes can now land on the ice of Bering Sea, rather than having to go down to Nome river or out to the landing field.

This year proved to be an excellent one as far as the sea freezing over is concerned. For miles up and down the coast there is nothing to bar the way of an airplane attempting to land or take off.

During the past week three planes landed on the ice the same day about 100 feet from the airplane companies' offices. One came from Fairbanks, another from up North and the third from coastal towns.

This is really the only time it has frozen over smooth on Bering Sea, suitable for airplane landings since the late Russell Merrill of the old Anchorage Airplane Company landed here on the first flight from Anchorage, enroute to St. Lawrence Island to transfer a sick man to the Nome hospital.

Unfortunately the man died before Merrill could fly to the island, the next morning after arriving here. That winter several planes landed on the ice in front of Nome. It was good then with four feet of snow on it. It is better now with only about an inch of snow on. The Alaskan Airways have their nose hangar stationed on the beach in front of their office. The Northern Air Transport Inc. are also contemplating placing their hangar down on the ice.