J.S. ANTARCTIC PROJECTS OFFICER BULLET N VOLUME III NUMBER 3 NOVEMBER 1961 [November 25, 1911] . When I think cf my four friends of the southern journey, it is the memory of that morning that comes first to my mind. All the qualities that I most admire in a man were clearly shown at that juncture: courage and dauntlessness, without boasting or big words. Amid joking and chaff, everything was packed, and then -- out into the blizzard. Roald Amundsen, The South Pole, vol. II, pp. 70-71. Sund a , November 26 [1911]. -- Camp 22. Lunch camp. Marched here fairly easily, com- paratively good surface. Started at 1 A.M. (midnight, local time). We now keep a steady pace of 2 miles an hour, very good going. The sky was slightly overcast at start and between two and three it grew very misty. It Is always rather dismal work walking over the great snow plain when sky and surface merge in one pall of dead whiteness, but it is cheering to be in such good company with everything go- ing on steadily and well. Captain Robert F. Scott, Scotts Last Expedition, arranged by Leonard Huxley, vol. I, pp. 326-327. Volume III, Number 3 November 1961 CONTENTS In Memoriam 1 The Month in Review 2 Visit of SCAR Delegates 2 South Pole Ceremony 3 U.S. Antarctic Research Program 1961-62 Orientation Session 6 Crash of P2V-7 6 Scientific Notes 8 Aerial Photography 9 Antarctic Exhibit 10 Personal 10 Commander, MATS, Visits Antarctica 11 Roosevelt Island Project 11 Harold E. Saunders, 1890-1961 12 Antarctic Chronology, 1961-62 13 Publication Available 16 Material for this issue of the Bulletin was adapted from press releases issued by the Department of De- fense and the National Science Foundation. The Bulletin is indebted for the account of the U.S. Antarctic Research Program orientation session to LCDR Melba R. Parks, USN, who attended the confer- ence as the representative of this office, and Mr. Fred Alberts of the Board on Geographic Names and Dr. Kenneth Bertrand of the Catholic University of America for the obituary of their long-time associ- ate, Captain Harold E. Saunders, USN (Ret.). The account of the fatal aircraft accident and the chronology were taken from incoming dispatches. Unless otherwise indicated, Greenwich mean time is used throughout the Bulletin. All mail Inquiries should be addressed to the United States Antarctic Projects Officer, 718 Jackson Place, N.W., Washington 25, D. C. Requests for additional copies of the Bulletin may be made by telephone to STerling 3-0860, Extension 3604. Other questions concerning the Bulletin should be directed to the same telephone number, Extension 3795. IN MEMORIAM The chronology in this issue of the Bulletin covers the period from early October to mid-November 1961. To all concerned with United States activities in Antarctica, the tragic loss of a Neptune patrol plane on 9 November with five fatalities and four serious casualties overweighs all other events. Several years ago, the late Rear Admiral Richard E. Byrd, writing to the family of an earlier fatality, said: He served and died for his country just as devotedly and with as high purpose as if he had died fighting to preserve freedom. The mission for which he had volunteered and on which he served is, and will continue to be, an effort to un- lock further the secrets of nature in that vast area, Antarc- tica, and put them to the use of all mankind. The same words apply to those who recently lost their lives in the unfortunate accident at Wilkes Station: Dr. Edward C. Thiel; LCDR Wil- liam D. Counts; LTJG Romuald P. Compton; James L. Gray, ADR2; and Wil- liam W. Chastain, AMH1. To the survivors -- LT Elias J. Stetz; LT3G Ernest L. Hand; Clarence C. Allen, AT2; and Jack C. Shaffer, AE1; all of whom suffered from first and second degree burns -- we can wish nothing less than a speedy recovery. Many expressions of sympathy have been received from all quarters of the globe. The most touching came from their comrades in the field, both United States and foreign, from men who themselves know the perils of the Antarctic. Of these, one will suffice, sent from Mirnyy, the Soviet Station, and obviously the result of a struggle with an unfamil- iar language: Pass to LT Stetz, LT Hand, Metaismith Shaffer, and Radio Operator Allen Personnel of Mirnyy with deep sorrow have known about catastrophe of your plane, perish of your comrades and that you got burns. We are ready to render you medical or any other assistance if it is needed. We hope for your quick recovery. Pleasant meeting with you in Mirnyy will be in our memory for a long time. We wish you all strong health. Best regards. Driatsky. The lasting memorial to those who died and to those who survive is that the work will go on. What the living can do is to continue in the same spirit and with the same will until the last secret has been wrung from the inhospitable land of Ice and snow. 1 THE MONTH IN REVIEW The period from early October to mid-November was one of both high tragedy and great accomplishment. Construction progressed steadily on the new Byrd Station and the nuclear power plant at NAF McMurdo Sound and also on other lesser, but important, projects at Hallett. The ar- rival of aircraft broke the winter isolation at Hallett on 15 October and at the South Pole on the twenty-eighth of the same month. By 11 November, the NINTH Troop Carrier Squadron, USAF, had completed scheduled airdrops at both the South Pole and Byrd. Scientists, technicians, and summer support personnel flowed into McMurdo and spread from there to the other stations. Field parties sorted and packed their gear and, with the aid of helicopters and fixed wing aircraft, set forth on their investigations. At the same time, men, who had spent a year in Antarctica, were assembling their belong- ings, setting their records straight, and, in a trickle, were already beginning the long journey home. New wintering-over personnel made themselves at home, received advice from their departing predecessors, and settled into their new routine. Toward the end of the period, a more sombre note was struck with the loss of two aircraft. First on 9 November, the tragic loss of the P2V occurred at Wilkes, and three days later an R4D carrying a scien- tific party into the Sentinel Mountains was irreparably damaged. For- tunately, in this second instance, there were no casualties. By 10 November, five ships, including three icebreakers, had left Port Lyttelton and were on their way to McMurdo Sound to inaugurate the ship operations phase of the Antarctic suer. As the period closed, those on board saw their first icebergs, and the ships began the stren- uous crossing of the ice pack. VISIT OF SCAR DELEGATES At the conclusion of the SCAR (Special Committee on Antarctic Re- search) meeting at Wellington, New Zealand, in early October, Rear Ad- miral Tyree invited the delegates to visit the Antarctic as guests of the United States. Among those who accepted were General G.R. Laclavere and Dr. G. de Q. Robin, President and Secretary of SCAR, respectively. Other persons making the trip included the following: Argentina - Rear Admiral R.N. Panzarini Dr. Otto Schneider 2 Australia - Dr. R. Carrick France - Mr. M. Lorius Mr. M.P.C. Rolland Mr. P.-E. Victor Japan - Dr. R. Toni Dr. H. Uyeda Norway - Dr. T. Gjelsvik South Africa - Mr. S.A. Engelbrecht Mr. C.G. Hide United Kingdom - Mr. A.H. Sheffield Sir Vivian Fuchs USA - Mr. R.C. Peavey Dr. T.O. Jones SOUTH POLE CEREMONY To commemorate the fiftieth anniversary of the discovery of the South Pole, the Governments of the United Kingdom and Norway proposed to present a grey marble plaque to the Amundsen-Scott South Pole Sta- tion. The ceremony of presentation took place at the station on 30 October 1961 (local time). Norway was represented by Dr. Tore Gjels- vik, Director of the Norsk Polarinstitutt, and the United Kingdom by Dr. Gordon de Q. Robin, who is Director of the Scott Polar Research Institute as well as Secretary of SCAR. Mr. Athol Roberts, Leader of Scott Base, represented New Zealand, and Mr. Philip M. Smith, the National Science Foundation. Also present for the occasion were Dr. Paul A. Siple, veteran of the Byrd expeditions and first Scientific Leader at the Amundsen-Scott South Pole Station (1956-57), and CDR Ronald K. McGregor, USN, Coimnander, Antarctic Support Activities. When the C-130 carrying the official party touched down at the South Pole late on 29 October, it was greeted by Rear Admiral Tyree, who had arrived the previous day. The party was then taken to the station mess hail, where Admiral Tyree, opening the ceremony, said: 3 Participants in South Pole cere- mony: Dr. G. de Q. Robin RADM D.M. Tyree, USN Mr. P.M. Smith Dr. T. Gjelsvik Mr. A. Roberts "The deeds of Amundsen and Scott half a century ago are of the greatest significance in mans brief Antarctic history. Both men stand proudly in the front ranks of those who, in their different ways, have made such vital contributions to the exploration and opening of the Antarctic Con- tinent. Amundsen and Scott laid bare the hinterland of this white con- tinent; they demonstrated that no matter how bitter the elements of nature might be, valiant men could still achieve their goals. Scott and Amundsen added to the sum of mans knowledge; more important, they added immensely to the sum of mans inspiration." Upon the conclusion of his remarks, Admiral Tyree then turned the ceremony over to Dr.