EEXXPPLLOORREERR’’SS GAZETTE GAZETTE 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 13, Issue 3 Old Antarctic Explorers Association, Inc Jul-Sep 2013 —Photo by Gareth Weaver Cargo is unloaded from an Australian Antarctic Division Airbus A319 at Pegasus Airfield on 8 September. Three flights brought about 100 people to McMurdo Station in the first week of September. Two-Phase WINFLY Helps Prepare McMurdo For 2013–2014 Season by Peter Rejcek (NSF). A second flight, using night vision goggle capability SEASON OPENER and carrying only cargo, followed a couple of days later. The two flights represent the first phase of what’s known The skies above McMurdo Station once again buzzed as winter fly-in, or WinFly, when a vanguard of support briefly with activity, as the prologue operation to the 2013– personnel arrive at McMurdo to help prepare the station for 14 summer field season in Antarctica made five successful the busy Antarctic research season, which begins in October flights in August and September. and runs through the end of February. The first plane to touch down at McMurdo Station’s Three more flights carrying about 100 people arrived the Pegasus Airfield in five months landed on 15 August, ending first week of September, using the Australian Antarctic the winter isolation for 141 people. Division’s Airbus A319. The next flight won’t be until The U.S. Air Force C-17 carried about 50 people south 3 October, when a Royal New Zealand Air Force B-757 will to the main hub of the U.S. Antarctic Program (USAP), kick off the 2013–14 field season. New Zealand’s Scott Base which is managed by the National Science Foundation is co-located with McMurdo on Ross Island. 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 13, I S S U E 3 J U L S E P 2 0 1 3 P R E S I D E N T ’ S C O R N E R Laura Snow—OAEA President FELLOW OAEA MEMBERS: In my last letter to you I mentioned that the board approved the Reunion Planning Guide. During the recent quarter, I appointed Tom Henderson as the Reunion Coordinator. In this capacity, Tom will GROWLERS & BERGY BYTES maintain contact with the Feature Stories, Odds & Ends, Collected, Compiled, & reunion committee chair- Written by Billy-Ace Penguin Baker persons; keep the board Page apprised of the progress of reunion planning; monitor Cover StoryWINFLY 2013–2014 Season……………1, 4 budgeting and planning of reunions; and periodically § update the Reunion Planning Guide as needed. Tom’s Pensacola, FL—Two Dog Stories…………………………5 willingness to take on this responsibility is greatly § appreciated. Here and There—Letters to the Editor…………………...8 Recently the board rejected a resolution to purchase § three copies of John Stewart’s Antarctica: An West Jefferson, NC—This Quarter in History…………10 Encyclopedia, Second Edition, two volumes, 2011, that § would have been sent to the three Antarctic stations. The Here and There—In Memory: Obituaries………………11 vote was seven against and four in favor. Even though the § resolution was vetoed, myself and the OAEA Life Director Green Cove Springs, FL—Chaplains Corner…………...14 are purchasing the books and we are soliciting donations to § Norfolk, VA—Tidewater Group Meeting………………14 help pay for them. See the below article for information § regarding details for donating to help purchase the books. Pensacola, FL—The Storied Ice Book Review…………..15 Please feel free to share your thoughts on ways the § OAEA remains an organization dedicated to sharing the Pensacola, FL—New Members & Reunions…………….16 Antarctic experience. § Mangonui, NZ—So Where’s The Penguins………….16 Laura Snow § OAEA President Here and There—Locator Column ………………….…..17 [email protected] § Calgary, CA—Penguin Wears Cozies…………………...17 OAEA Book Fund § Pittsburgh, PA—NZ Byrd Memorial…………………….18 As stated above we are taking up a collection to buy § copies of Antarctica An Encyclopedia Second Edition by Brunswick, ME—NE Chapter Meeting…………………20 John Stewart for the libraries at the three United States § Antarctic Stations. The encyclopedia was reviewed in the Pensacola, FL—GCG Chapter Meetings……………….23 Oct-Dec 2011 edition of the Explorers Gazette. § We want to get the encyclopedias delivered to the ice Slingerlands, NY—The Last Man……………………… 24 during the 2013–2014 Austral Summer Season. We need to raise $1000 for the three sets. Any money remaining DISCLAIMER STATEMENT will be donated to the OAEA Scholarship Fund. Please send your contributions as soon as possible, the The Explorer’s Gazette is published quarterly by the Old sooner the better. All checks should be made payable to Antarctic Explorers Association. Opinions expressed by the Billy-Ace Baker, with OAEA Book Fund in the Memo editorial staff or contained in articles submitted by members, section of your check, and sent to the below address: and non-members are not official expressions of the OAEA Billy-Ace Baker nor does the mention of books, products, or events constitute 10819 Berryhill Road endorsement by the OAEA. Pensacola, Florida 32506-6201 2 E X P L O R E R ‘ S G A Z E T T E V O L U M E 13, I S S U E 3 J U L S E P 2 0 1 3 OAEA SCHOLARSHIP AWARDS by Ed Hamblin & Billy-Ace Baker This year’s awardees were Ryan McCoy (3rd award) who was sponsored by Life Member Phil Holloway, and Justin Hogsdon who is sponsored by Life Member Dr. Kathy Licht. Both awardees are undergraduates. Ryan is in his 3rd year at Middle Tennessee State University (MTSU) with a major in The Explorer’s Gazette is Psychology; he joined the ROTC while at the official publication of the school, and serves as a cadet. He will be taking nd Old Antarctic Explorers a commission as a 2 LT in the TN Association, Inc. National Guard upon graduation from MTSU. He was a platoon leader for his ROTC class National Headquarters and the only cadet in the class to serve on 10819 Berryhill Road every leadership position: Platoon Leader, Pensacola, FL 32506 USA Squad Leader, and Team Leader. He has Phone 850 456 3556 received the Silver Award for the Military Ryan McCoy Order of the World Wars. He has joined the Tennessee National And is published four times annually Guard, 1176th Transportation Unit, Smyrna, Tennessee. This summer he has worked for a general contractor doing Editor construction work and worked part time at Bethel Outreach Billy-Ace Baker Church in various capacities. After graduation from MTSU Ryan plans to pursue a Master’s Degree in Counseling. He hopes to Editorial Assistants work as a counselor with the Family of Churches Force Gus Shinn Ministries and Soldiers in the Army and National Guard. Kerry Konrad Pam Landy Justin is at Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI) pursuing a Editor Emeritus BA in Geology. Justin was working part-time Jim O’Connell In a sporting goods shop and as an assistant to 2001–2003 graduate students in Kathy Licht’s lab. The OAEA scholarship allowed him to cut these hours back so he could focus on a research Association Officers project analyzing some rocks collected from President – Laura Snow the Transantarctic Mountains in 2011. IUPUI Vice President – Dick Cameron has a very competitive Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program (UROP) that Secretary – Marty Diller requires students to submit a proposal Justin Hogsdon Treasurer – Cyril Buehler describing their research questions and approach. While attending Life Director – Billy-Ace Baker a workshop last summer for about 60 Antarctic researchers, Justin struck up conversations with many of the scientists and Past President/Director – Jim Heffel was inspired to write and submit his own UROP proposal to work Director – David Bresnahan on some interesting igneous rocks from the Transantarctic Director – Wayne Germann Mountains. Justin is currently spending a few days at the Director – Ed Hamblin University of Arizona to collect data on his samples and will be Director – Thomas Henderson presenting them at the upcoming Geological Society of America Director – William Smith annual meeting in Denver. He plans to work for a year to gain Director – Russ Livermore some practical experience in Geology and then pursue a M.S. Director – Dick Spaulding degree with the eventual goal of becoming a geological engineer. Chaplain – Dick Pedigo Historian – Billy-Ace Baker Parliamentarian – Jim Eblen 3 E X P L O R E R ‘ S G A Z E T T E V O L U M E 13, I S S U E 3 J U L S E P 2 0 1 3 SEASON OPENER From page 1 Other major research projects will also be taking Flights using various airframes a look below Antarctica’s during the first week or so of the main ice sheet—but from the season will continue to operate out of air. Pegasus Airfield, located about 14 McMurdo will host the miles from McMurdo Station on the NASA airborne campaign permanent ice shelf. Airfield operations called IceBridge in will shift to the Sea Ice Runway closer October. IceBridge is a to McMurdo on 9 October through the six-year mission that end of November, and then return to began in 2009. A NASA Pegasus for the remainder of the aircraft is used to fly summer field season. sophisticated instruments The Air Force C-17 cargo planes that monitor and measure will swoop back in by 9 October, with Photo by Kristan Hutchison ice shelves, sea ice, glaciers the last of the mighty military jets for USCGC Polar Star cutting channel to McMurdo Sound in February 2005 and ice sheets in Antarctica 2013 leaving McMurdo on 22 and Greenland.