naval bases in Greenland???

I need help on a topic. A friend of mine told me "without doubt" that in WW2 that the US set up naval bases all along the southwestern coast of Greenland! I kind of doubt this information, so does anyone have information about this?

 

In June of 1941 the US established air force bases in the southeastern part of Greenland under the command of Edward H. (Iceberg) Smith to support the country against aerial raids by the Luftwaff and there was much work done to map out the waters defending against wolf packs ad setting mines but all the naval bases of departure were in Britain.

 

June 3, 1944: interesting that the 61st anniversary of a harrowing rescue off the Shannon island of Greenland by 2./FAGr 5, Ju 290-flown by Hauptmann Emil Sachtleben and crew. Landed on ice at Nordenskjörlds Bugt and picked up the 26 man crew of weather ship WBS 2 Koburg and flew unmolested back to Vaernes, Norway

E ~ in fact there were continual unhindered flights involving Luftwaffe patrol ships as well as heavier Fw 200 Kondors on recon ops over Greenland during 1942-44.

 

As OTF has said, a number of airbases, not naval bases, were constructed along the southern coast of Greenland.

Greenland bacame a US Protectorate in 1941, ostensibly to 'protect the Sovereignty of Denmark and the Territorial Integrity of Greenland' but in fact the main consideration at that time was to protect supplies of Cryolite, a major ingedient of aluminium for the US and Canada.

 

Very cool Erich. Um where is Nordenskjörlds Bugt? I looed on map, no luck.

P.S. passed through Ashland & am back in so cal.

 

Quick question, the Americans did set up naval bases in Iceland during WW2 or Cold War?

 

The U.S. Coast Guard has a fairly detailed website regarding wartime operations in Greenland: The Coast Guard & the Greenland Patrol

 

Thanx. I'll take a look.