Successful Atka Expedition On Way Home

Press, Volume XCI, Issue 27591, 23 February 1955, Page 13

Successful Atka Expedition On Way Home

(Rec. 11 p.m.) NEW YORK, Feb. 21

The United States Navy expedition aboard the icebreaker Atka, had concluded its work in Antarctica after an eleventhhour discovery of what appeared to be the most suitable base for projected American operations on that continent, it was reported today. The report was sent by Walter Sullivan, a corresnondent of the “New York Times.” who is aboard the Atka. He said the Atka was headed for Boston. Discovery of the site, with none of the problems associated with other prospective locations. Sullivan said, had probably made the entire expedition worthwhile, taking into account the other accomplishments. The site had been named Admiral

Byrd Bay. in honour of Rear-Admiral Richard Byrd. Admiral Byrd Bay was an indeniion in a floating tongue of ice that projected more than 40 miles out from the rest of the ice-bound coastline of Queen Maud Land. It was a deep slot running in almost five miles. The bay was two and a half miles wide at the mouth and tapered to 300 yards at the head, where the 20ft thick ice made an ideal dock.

When the Atka dug her ice anchors into the bay ice early on Sunday, a scouting party went ashore. Travelling on skis and linked by rope, the men found an easy route up on to the plateau, and marked it with trail flags. The scouting party notified the ship by walkie-talkie radio that the trail was safe for Weasels, and two of these tracked vehicles were lowered on to the ice.

The Weasels chugged off with parties of specialists to test the prospective runway site on the plateau. They drove out six miles and dug 10 feet into the surface. All their reports. Sullivan said, were enthusiastic. No crevasses or pressure areas were found. The stability of the Ice at Admiral Byrd Bay could not be predicted flatly. Nevertheless, observers aboard the Atka felt it would not break off and float to sea for a long time.