EEXXPPLLOORREERR’’SS GGAAZZEETTTTEE Published Quarterly in Pensacola, Florida USA for the Old Antarctic Explorers Association Uniting All OAEs in Perpetuating the Memory of United States Involvement in Antarctica Volume 17, Issue 4 Old Antarctic Explorers Association, Inc Oct-Dec 2017 M O U N T L I P T A K BASED ON A TRUE STORY A LITTLE LIE IN A BIG WAR o provide for his family after his father's murder, 15 T year old Lester Liptak forged his baptismal certificate in order to enlist in the Navy during 1947. The many sacrifices and challenges Lester endured are chronicled in this short film. Lester’s untold story, along with those of many other Mount Liptak was named for Lester Liptak, as he was underage children who enlisted in armed services, the crew chief on these first reconnaissance flights to the inspired Ryan Allsop (Lester’s nephew) to write and area in January 1958. direct Mount Liptak. Mount Liptak, 10,013 ft. high, was first mapped by Later in life, Lester was a Plane Captain during United States Geological Survey and U.S. Navy air photos Operation Deep Freeze, which was a mission to from 1957–59. scientifically explore Antarctica. Continued on page 4 E X P L O R E R ‘ S G A Z E T T E V O L U M E 17, I S S U E 4 O C T D E C 2 0 1 7 out a regional notification with contact information for a P R E S I D E N T ’ S C O R N E R designated “pivot person” who is willing to head things Ed Hamblin—OAEA President up. It is a way to network and keep in touch; and our TO ALL OAEs—By now, I hope you all social groups have been the backbone for three reunions have received the reunion Gazette, and are (one in Tidewater and two in southern Cal). We also have making your plans for May. San Antonio is a a Chapter Coordinator (Life Member Dick Spaulding) great place for our OAEA reunion, and who can be contacted if you are interested in forming a reunion planner John West has a great regional chapter. program in line. I strongly encourage you to You all take care, catch you down the road. get your registrations in soon; lack of firm numbers makes it extremely difficult for the Ed Hamblin planners to finalize with the host venue. Things going on in the Association behind the GROWLERS & BERGY BYTES scenes…working on bylaws changes, a scholarship fund Feature Stories, Odds & Ends, Collected, Compiled, drive (matching funds donated from the chairman Edited, & Written by Billy-Ace Penguin Baker matching first $1000.00 donated by the membership, Page through 1 July 2018); also from the scholarship chairman, Cover StoryMount Liptak…………………………….1, 4 a new “generic” scholarship assistance application on the § OAEA web site available for download. I had time to LuxembourgDF-II Gooney Birds……………………… 3 review a neat book, written up elsewhere in this Gazette § issue. Many of you responded a few months ago to an Chesapeake, VAScholarships…………………………...9 Antarctic experience survey administered by OAEA Life § Member Ms. Samantha Blight from University of Here and There—Feedback & Letters to the Editor……11 § Tasmania. I received feedback and thanks from her; she West Jefferson, NC Lionel Wafer……………………..15 was gratified by the assistance of the OAEA members — § who responded; she will provide something in the way of Here and There—In Memory: Obituaries………………19 results in a future Gazette. Our Webmaster Bob Gaboury § has also posted an updated list of donors to the OAEA, Virginia, Beach, VA—Chaplain’s Corner………………23 along with the donor levels they have achieved. § Back to bylaws changes as mentioned in the previous Chesapeake, VA—Tidewater Group Meeting………..…24 paragraph…one of the biggest things is the change in the § OAEA election cycle, to once every four years. This will Chesapeake, VA—The Stowaway Book Review………. 27 provide a significant cost savings, literally cutting our § election cycle costs in half. Good stuff, and well done to Brunswick, ME—New England Chapter Meeting……...30 § Marty Diller and Bob Gaboury who spearheaded this. Pensacola, FL—New Members & Reunions…………….32 I mentioned I reviewed a book for this issue of § Gazette. I read a lot, enjoy it and find time every day to Here and There—Locator Column……………………… 33 sit down with a book…my tastes run to historical military § fiction, contemporary military fiction, and “techno- Pensacola, FL—GCG Chapter Meetings………………..34 thrillers”; in the last few weeks, two books I have read § (one of them the book I reviewed in this issue, and the Yorba Linda, CA—FY2017 Accounting Statement…….36 other contemporary Navy fiction by author David Poyer) have acknowledged OAEA Life Member Lisle Rose (his DISCLAIMER STATEMENT dozen published books include several Navy historical The Old Antarctic Explorers Association publishes the works and a book about Admiral Byrd) as source for Explorer’s Gazette quarterly. Opinions expressed by the some of the material presented in the books. It is always a editorial staff or contained in articles submitted by members, charge to me to see and recognize Association names and non-members are not official expressions of the OAEA “out there”. Besides, I am jealous and a frustrated writer nor does the mention of books, products, or events constitute with two unfinished “manuscripts” in my resume. endorsement by the OAEA. In accordance with Title 17 Besides OAEA Chapters in New England and Gulf U.S.C. Section 107, any copyrighted work in this newsletter Coast, we have a couple of “unofficial” Old Antarctic is distributed under fair use without profit or payment for Explorer regional social groups; one here in the non-profit research and educational purposes only. Tidewater region of Virginia and the other is in Southern California. If anyone is interested in starting a regional social group, I can provide initial assistance by sending 2 E X P L O R E R ‘ S G A Z E T T E V O L U M E 17, I S S U E 4 O C T D E C 2 0 1 7 A WORK IN PROGRESS Deep Freeze II Gooney Birds By Ronald Stephano Most of the photographs in Ron’s book are by CDR James The Explorer’s Gazette is Waldron. Jim wintered-over at the official publication of the Little America V during DF-II. All Old Antarctic Explorers aircraft drawings and other graphics are by Ron. Association, Inc. Cover featuringTakahe As soon as he could hold a National Headquarters pencil, Ron has been drawing 10819 Berryhill Road almost every technical subject onto every available surface. His passion has always been drawing. Ron almost exclusively draws Pensacola, FL 32506 USA with pencil, china ink, and colored pencils. Adjusting to the Phone 850 456 3556 modern world of multimedia, he refines his drawings by enhancing And is published four times annually them on his personal computer. Ron specializes in caricatures and technical drawings of Antarctic subjects. Editor Billy-Ace Baker Editorial Assistants Gus Shinn Kerry Konrad John Stewart Pam Landy Editor Emeritus Jim O’Connell 2001–2003 Association Officers Ron with prototype of Ron and Gus at Pensacola Que Sera Sera print Naval Aviation Museum President – Ed Hamblin Vice President – John Lamont West From Ron’s Introduction: The pictures in the July 1957 copy of the National Geographic Magazine (NGM) were fascinating. Secretary – Marty Diller This otherworldly place in white snow, with orange tractors and Treasurer – Bill Rouzer houses, beautiful silver airplanes with bright orange/red wings and Life Director – Billy-Ace Baker tails! This all looked so hi-tech and state-of-the-art, a world that seemed to have all the thrills a young boy could dream of—a Past President – Laura Snow fantastic world! These were the early 60s and I was then about Director – David Bresnahan seven years old. Director – Bob Buettner In later years, when I had picked up model building, I found it Director – Allen Cox annoying that so little information was available on the original Director – Wayne Germann R4Ds that participated in Operation Deep Freeze II (by now I Director – Thomas Henderson knew what the article in the 1957 NGM was about), making it Director – Robert Conner difficult, if not impossible, to produce a good model with all the Director – William Smith necessary conversions for correct detailing. But besides this July 1957 issue of the NGM, very little or nothing-worth mentioning Director – Dick Spaulding existed on this subject. Chaplain – Johnnie Draughon I am grateful that my R4D drawing could be put to good use to Historian – Billy-Ace Baker raise funds for Ice Eagles, an important documentary film on US involvement on Antarctic flying, but it also allowed me to produce Parliamentarian – Vacant my first essay on a subject that has been neglected until now. Ron can be reached by email at [email protected]. 3 E X P L O R E R ‘ S G A Z E T T E V O L U M E 17, I S S U E 4 O C T D E C 2 0 1 7 MOUNT LIPTAK From Page 1 “When I heard the final story about how he had a mountain named after him in Antarctica, being a filmmaker Mount LiptaK Short Film Explores and one who tells a lot of stories and loves writing - it just Underage World War II Enlistment clicked,” says Allsop. “It was just the final thing, ‘this is a By Audrey Nowakowski movie right here, this is incredible.’” Before Lester Liptak’s Navy career lead him to the ver been to Antarctica? Maybe not, but if you find position of crew chief on exploratory missions in Antarctica, yourself there, make note of a peak known as Mount E he began his career by enlisting at the age of 15 during World Liptak.