WWII Alaska-Siberia Lend Lease Memorial Dedication

WWII Alaska-Siberia Lend Lease Memorial Dedication, Fairbanks, Alaska August 27, 2006, 2:00 pm to 4:00 pm

Nearly 300 guests from the United States, Russia, Canada, Great Britain and France will celebrate WWII Alaska-Siberia Lend Lease Memorial dedication in Fairbanks from August 25 through 28, 2006.

This monument commemorates the flights of American planes from the continental United States via Alaska to Siberia, as authorized by the Lend-Lease Act of 1941, an act to promote the defense of the United States. Between 1942 and 1945, pilots flew the Alaska-Siberia Lend Lease Airway to deliver nearly 8,000 warplanes half way around the world, traversing more than 12 time zones from Great Falls, Montana to the Russian warfronts. Much of the route lay over remote and road-less wilderness where pilots made their way in stages from the safety of one hastily built airfield to the next. Alaska was the exchange location. United States Army Air Corps pilots from the 7th Ferrying Squadron flew planes from their points of manufacture in the US states to Great Falls, then across Canada to Ladd Field near Fairbanks, Alaska, now Fort Wainwright. From there, pilots of the USSR Air Force flew the planes over western Alaska and across Siberia to the warfronts. Due to the severe weather conditions and mechanical problems, 133 airplanes crashed in North America and 44 in Siberia along the Alaska-Siberia Airway.

The heroism of American and Soviet pilots who flew these warplanes from the United States to the Soviet Union during World War II and all who participated in this endeavor will be always remembered.

Among our guests will be:

Russian Ambassador Yuri Ushakov, Russia;
Russian Consul General Vladimir Volnov, Russia;
Governor of Primorsky Territory Sergei M. Darkin, Russia;
Canadian Consul Karen Matthias;
Honorable John van Dongen, Minister of State for Intergovernmental Relations, B.C. Canada;
Lt. General Eric Findley, Deputy Commander, NORAD, Canada;
British Acting Consul General Peter Broom, UK;
The Consul General of France Frederic Desagneaux, France;
United States Senator Ted Stevens, USA;
United States Senator Lisa Murkowski, USA;
Mr. Thomas Adams of the US Department of State, USA;
Former Alaskan Senator John Binkley, USA;
Governor of Alaska Frank Murkowski, USA;
Members of the Alaska State Legislature, USA;
Veterans of Foreign Wars;
and many other distinguished individuals.

We also expect a visit of the Deputy Chairman of the Government of the Russian Federation, Defense Minister Sergey Ivanov, and the US Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld.

Enclosed with this press release is the final program for all events that will be held in Fairbanks in August 2006 (http://www.aksrc.org/) We would be honored by your participation in the activities and unveiling of the WWII Lend-Lease Memorial on August 27th, 2006 in Fairbanks, Alaska. Please do not hesitate to contact us if you have any questions.