Frozen in Time: An Epic Story of Survival and a Modern Quest for Lost Heroes of World War II Hardback - 2013

#1 New York Times bestseller!

Frozen in Time is a gripping true story of survival, bravery, and honor in the vast Arctic wilderness during World War II, from the author of New York Times bestseller Lost in Shangri-La.

On November 5, 1942, a US cargo plane slammed into the Greenland Ice Cap. Four days later, the B-17 assigned to the search-and-rescue mission became lost in a blinding storm and also crashed. Miraculously, all nine men on board survived, and the US military launched a daring rescue operation. But after picking up one man, the Grumman Duck amphibious plane flew into a severe storm and vanished.

Frozen in Time tells the story of these crashes and the fate of the survivors, bringing vividly to life their battle to endure 148 days of the brutal Arctic winter, until an expedition headed by famed Arctic explorer Bernt Balchen brought them to safety. Mitchell Zuckoff takes the reader deep into the most hostile environment on earth, through hurricane-force winds, vicious blizzards, and subzero temperatures.

Moving forward to today, he recounts the efforts of the Coast Guard and North South Polar Inc. - led by indefatigable dreamer Lou Sapienza - who worked for years to solve the mystery of the Duck's last flight and recover the remains of its crew.

A breathtaking blend of mystery and adventure Mitchell Zuckoff's Frozen in Time: An Epic Story of Survival and a Modern Quest for Lost Heroes of World War II is also a poignant reminder of the sacrifices of our military personnel and a tribute to the everyday heroism of the US Coast Guard.

But what connects a WWII tragedy to a modern-day obsession?

• WWII Aviation History: The riveting minute-by-minute account of how three U.S. military planes--a C-53, a B-17, and a Grumman Duck--were lost on the Greenland Ice Cap in the heart of winter.
• Against the Odds: The incredible 148-day ordeal of the survivors, battling subzero temperatures, hurricane-force winds, and starvation while awaiting a rescue that might never come.
• A Modern-Day Quest: A parallel narrative that follows modern-day explorer Lou Sapienza and his team as they race against time and melting ice to solve a 70-year-old historical mystery.
• US Coast Guard History: A powerful tribute to the heroism of the U.S. Coast Guard, from the crew of the vanished Grumman Duck to the modern-day teams dedicated to bringing their lost heroes home.