The 46th was assigned to Ladd Field, near Fairbanks, Alaska, and its flights were designed to aid in the development of accurate polar navigation; survey and map out the Arctic; perform studies on weather patterns; conduct tests on men and their equipment in severe Arctic conditions; and conduct long-range photographic intelligence flights. It wasn’t until July 1994 that the Kee Bird Limited Liability Company, a group of specialist aircraft restoration enthusiasts led by Darryl Greenamyer, arrived at the crash site, where they found the B-29 Superfortress in good shape. The plan was that, upon making Kee Bird airworthy, they’d simply take off from the lake and fly the bomber to Thule Air Force Base, Greenland, where they’d finish the restoration, before returning it to the United States.