The person at the center of this case
George August Brandenburg
Missing Person · Open
35 years waiting · since 1991
Missing Person: George August Brandenburg
Justice for George August Brandenburg — the trail went cold in 1991, but the truth hasn't.
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Key leads to think about
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evidence
Lead #1No wreckage, debris, or bodies from the Barbarossa have ever been recovered despite Coast Guard search efforts. What happened to the vessel and crew?
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witness
Lead #2Were there any other vessels in the area that may have witnessed the distress call or the incident?
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timeline
Lead #3Why did the distress call occur and what were the sea conditions at the time of the incident?
On February 10, 1991, the 98-foot steel crab fishing vessel Barbarossa issued a distress call around 1:00 AM while operating in the Bering Sea approximately 30 miles west of St. George Island, Alaska. The boat is believed to have capsized and sank, with George August Brandenburg and five other crewmen missing and presumed lost. Despite Coast Guard search efforts, no trace of the vessel or crew has been recovered in over three decades, leaving the exact circumstances of the disaster unconfirmed.
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More leads to consider
Beyond the top three above — each detail below could be the thread that pulls this case open.
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person
Lead #4Five other crewmen were lost with George Brandenburg: Donald Bright, Dennis Olberding, Timothy Schmitt, Darrell Gross, and Brian McPherson. Are their cases being investigated together?
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Official wording
Source Narrative
NamUs case MP67271. Missing person: George August Brandenburg.
Last known contact: 1991-02-10 in Dillingham, Dillingham, AK. Circumstances: George was last seen on 02/10/1991 aboard the 98 foot steel crab fishing vessel, Barbarossa, which was lost in the Bering Sea about 30 miles west of St.
George Island. The Coast Guard received a distress call from the boat around 1:00am but searches did not locate the boat or the crewmen.
It is presumed that the boat capsized and sank. George is missing with five other crewmen including Donald Bright (MP #66651), Dennis Olberding (MP #66824), Timothy Schmitt (MP #67212), Darrell Gross (MP #66865), and Brian McPherson (MP #66996).
Demographics: 39 years, Male, White / Caucasian. Physical description: 5 ft 10 in, 165 lbs, hair: Brown, eyes: Brown.
Investigating agency: Alaska State Troopers | 910010518.
Timeline of Events
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1991-02-10
01:00Distress Call and Vessel Loss
The Barbarossa, a 98-foot steel crab fishing vessel, issued a distress call around 1:00 AM while operating in the Bering Sea approximately 30 miles west of St. George Island. The vessel is believed to have capsized and sank.
Key Locations
Interactive map showing important locations related to this case
Case Information
Incident:February 10, 1991 at 1:00 AM
Last Updated:September 27, 2026
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Case Information
Incident:February 10, 1991 at 1:00 AM
Last Updated:September 27, 2026
Have Information?
Any information, no matter how small, could be crucial to solving this case.
Phone: 9072695511
You can remain anonymous