John A. Pritchard

[1] Pritchard graduated from the Coast Guard Academy on June 2, 1938, and his first assignment as a new ensign was on board USCGC Haida with the Bering Sea Patrol.[2] Pritchard was temporarily assigned to the aviation officer's billet on board USCGC Northland with the Greenland Patrol in February 1942 before returning to Miami for a short period.[2][3] On November 23, Pritchard led a rescue party from Northland to a glacier where a aircrew from the Royal Canadian Air Force had been stranded for thirteen days.After returning to the crash site, Pritchard made a successful landing on the ice and picked up another injured crew member and took off headed for Northland.Both Pritchard and Bottoms were awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross posthumously for their efforts to rescue the downed B-17 bomber crew.
Prichard was the pilot of this small floatplane, a Grumman J2F-4 Duck .
Redfield, South DakotaGreenlandUnited States Coast GuardLieutenantUSCGC NorthlandWorld War IIDistinguished Flying CrossUnited States Coast GuardsmanUSCGC NorthlandGrumman J2F-4 DuckB-17 bomberBenjamin A. BottomsBeverly Hills High SchoolUnited States NavyNaval Academy Preparatory SchoolUnited States Coast Guard AcademyUSCGC HaidaBering Sea PatrolNaval Air Training CenterPensacola, FloridaCoast Guard Air Station Miamilieutenant (junior grade)Greenland PatrolglacierRoyal Canadian Air ForceNavy and Marine Corps Medal