I.S. Antarctic Projects Officer Bullet N
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I.S. ANTARCTIC PROJECTS OFFICER BULLET N VOLUME III NUMBER 1 SEPTEMBER 1961 On September 29 [1911] a still more certain sign of spring appeared -- a flight of Antarctic petrels. They came flying up to us to bring the news that now spring had come -- this time in earnest. We were de- lighted to see these fine, swift birds again. They flew round the house several times to see whether we were all there still; and we were not long in going out to receive them. So now spring had really arrived; we had only to cure the frost-bitten heels and then away. Roald Amundsen, The South Pole, vol. I, p. 392. Thursday, September 14 [1911]. I have been exceedingly busy finishing up the Southern plans, get- ting instruction in photographing, and preparing for our jaunt to the west. I held forth on the ,Southern Plans yesterday; everyone was enthusiastic, and the feeling is general that our arrangements are calcu- lated to make the best of our resources. Although people have given a good deal of thought to various branches of the subject, there was not a suggestion offered for improvement. The scheme seems to have earned full confidence: it remains to play the game out. Captain Robert F. Scott, Scotts Last Expedition, arranged by Leonard Huxley, vol. I, p. 280. Volume III, Number 1 September 1961 CONTENTS Operation DEEP FREEZE 62 1 Ship Operations 3 Air Operations 7 Station Operations 8 Traverse Operations 11 New Zealand Ocean Station Ship 12 Publications 12 1962 Scientific Program 13 National Science Foundation Grants 22 Personal 23 Antarctic Names Approved by the Board on Geographic Names 24 New Map of Antarctica 27 Philatelic Mail 28 The Bulletin of the United States Antarctic Projects Officer is published monthly, except July and August. In it will be summarized the activities of the United States in Antarctica, planning for future operations, and other matters of interest in Antarctic affairs. Material for this issue of the Bulletin was taken mainly from Operation DEEP FREEZE 62, Commander Task Force FORTY THREE (CcmNavsuppFor Antarctica) opera- tion Plan No. 1-61; Department of Defense News Re- leases, No. 867-61 "Fact Sheet: Science Program in Antarctica," No. 868-61 "Navy Announces Plans for DEEP FREEZE 62," and No. 873-61 "Fact Sheet: Oper- ation DEEP FREEZE 62;" and National Science Founda- tion News Release NSF-61-140 "National Science Foun- dation Announces 1962 U.S. Antarctic Research Program." The Bulletin wishes to express its appreciation to the Aeronautical Chart and Information Center for making available to our readers copies of its new map of Ant- arctica. The Board on Geographic Names has also had the kindness to permit the Bulletin to publish the third list of supplementary names to its Gazetteer No. 14 9 Geographic Names of Antarctica. Information given is subject to change to meet revised schedules. Scientific programs will be extended as additional grants are made. Details on these will ap- pear in later issues. All inquiries should be directed to the United States Antarctic Projects Officer, 718 Jackson Place, North- west, Washington 25, D.C. Telephone: STerling 3-0860, Extension 3795. OPERATION DEEP FREEZE 62 The coming season will witness the greatest United States effort in the Antarctic since Operation DEEP FREEZE II (1956..1957). The Department of Defense has assigned 11 ships, including one from the Coast Guard, and over 40 Army, Navy, and Air Force aircraft. More than 3,000 persons will be sent to the area to carry out a broad range of activities with the central purpose of supporting the United States scientific program. In direct assistance to the scientists, the National Science Foundation has announced grants of almost $4,700,000 with others expected to follow shortly. Responsibility for bringing in personnel, equipment, and supplies; relieving and evacuating wintering-over personnel; and supporting the ex- tensive scientific program planned for the summer season rests with Rear Admiral David U. Tyree, USN, Coander, U.S. Naval Support Force, Antarc- tica, and United States Antarctic Projects Officer, and, as such, the senior United States representative in the Antarctic area. United States scientific research in the area is financed and coordi- nated by the National Science Foundation through its Office of Antarctic Programs. The Head of this Office is Dr. Thomas 0. Jones and the Chief Scientist is Dr. Albert P. Crary. It is expected that about 200 scien- tists will participate in the summer projects, and between 40 and 50 will remain over the winter. In part, the magnitude of the planned effort comes from the necessity for construction and improvements at the stations. The original Antarctic program was based on the International Geophysical Year, and the stations were built and equipped with the idea of occupancy for a limited time. Scientific research was also organized around the disciplines for that same cooperative effort. With the decision to continue United States Ant- arctic activities indefinitely and the natural desire of the scientists to introduce other worthwhile fields of investigation into their program, a review of existing facilities and the planning for orderly rehabilitation and replacement were undertaken. We have entered into a period of devel- opment, as Admiral Tyree has pointed out. Of the many projects involved, most significant during the coming season are the installation of a nuclear reactor at McMurdo Sound, construction of the new Byrd Station, and comple- tion of better communications facilities. In the extensive scientific program, perhaps the most important inno- vation is the development of a floating research laboratory. A former attack cargo ship, USNS ELTANIN, is currently being converted for work in the Antarctic by the Military Sea Transportation Service under a grant from the National Science Foundation. 1 REAR ADMIRAL DAVID U. TYREE, USN, U.S. Antarctic Projects Officer and Commander, U.S. Naval Support Force, Antarctica, is a native of Washington, D.C. He graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy, and holds a Master of Science Degree from the University of Michigan. Coixnis- sioned Ensign on 4 June 1925, be attained the rank of Rear Admiral on 1 November 1952. For outstanding service during World War II in the South Pacific, Admiral Tyree received two Letters of Commendation and a Legion of Merit. During the Korean conflict, be was awarded a Gold Star in lieu of a Second Legion of Merit. In 1956 he became Superintendent of the Naval Gun Factory, and dur- ing part of that year, he served as Commandant of the Potomac River Naval Command. In 1958, as Deputy Commander, Joint Task Force 7, he was re- sponsible for the Navy participation in nuclear tests at the Eniwetok Proving Ground. He assumed command of Naval Support Force, Antarctica, on 14 April 1959, relieving Rear Admiral George J. Dufek, USN (Rot.). CAPTAIN EDWIN A. McDONALD, USN, Deputy Ccwnander, U.S. Naval Support Force, Antarctica, a veteran of six Arctic and six Antarctic expeditions, will assume over-all command of DEEP FREEZE ships and will lead a late season attempt to penetrate the Amundsen Sea from the west. Admiral Tyrees Deputy as U.S. Antarctic Projects Officer is DR. JAMES E. MOONEY, Who has been closely associated with Antarctic affairs since the early expeditions of Admiral Byrd and with DEEP FREEZE operations from their inception. DR. THOMAS 0. JONES, Head of the Office of Antarctic Programs of the National Science Foundation, was born in Oshkosh, Wisconsin. He received his Bachelor of Science Degree from Wisconsin State College, and his Doo- tor of Philosophy Degree in Chemistry from the University of Wisconsin. Dr. Jones was a Professor of Chemistry at Haverford College for nearly twenty years, and served as head of the department at that insti- tution. From 1944 to 1947, he served in an administrative capacity in the Metallurgical Laboratory of the Argonne National Laboratory. His affiliation with the National Science Foundation began in 1956, and he became Director, United States Antarctic Research Program, in 1959 and Head of the Office of Antarctic Programs in 1961. DR. ALBERT P. CRARY, Chief Scientist of the Office of Antarctic Pro- grams, is a graduate of St. Lawrence University (B.S.) and Lehigh Univer- sity (U.S.). He holds an honorary Doctor of Philosophy Degree from Lehigh. 2 He has worked with the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution and with the Air Force Cambridge Research Center. In 1952, he was a member of the team that established a scientific station on an Arctic ice island. After serving on planning committees for the International Geophys- ical Year, he spent two and one-half years in Antarctica as Deputy Chief Scientist of the United States International Geophysical Year Antarctic Program and as Scientific Leader at Little America Station. He also led geophysical and glaciological traverses on the Ross Ice Shelf and over the Victoria Land Plateau. During DEEP FREEZE 61, he returned to the Antarctic to lead a traverse from McMurdo Sound to the South Pole. Dr. Crary has served as Chief Scientist of the United States Antarctic Re- search Program and, since June 1961, in a similar capacity with the Of- fice of Antarctic Programs. He is also Scientific Advisor to the Direc- tor, National Science Foundation. SHIP OPERATIONS Ten ships will compose the ship task group headed by Captain Edwin A. McDonald, USN. They include one Coast Guard and three Navy ice- breakers, four cargo ships, and two tankers. The eleventh ship, USS VANCE, will perform radar picket duty along the line of flight between New Zealand and McMurdo Sound and will be under direct operational con- trol of the task force coninander. The ship group will transport personnel, supplies, and materials to and from Antarctica.