U.S. ANTARCTIC EXPEDITION

Press, Volume XCII, Issue 27750, 30 August 1955, Page 8

U.S. ANTARCTIC EXPEDITION

30 Tons Of Supplies For Each Man (N.Z Press Association—Copyright) <Rec- 11 30 p.m.> NEW YORK, Aug. 29. The United States expedition to the Antarctic. beginning in October, planned to transport 30 tons of supplies for each man. said a report in the New York “Times” today. This figure compared with the seven tons shipped abroad for each United States soldier in the second world war.

Of the thousands of facts connected with United States participation in the international geophysical year. 1957-58, the report said, the tonnage figure might best illustrate the size of the job. The total cost of United States participation was estimated at 10.000.000 dollars. The seven Navy ships that would participate would be staffed by 81 officers and 1013 enlisted men. The report said the expedition would last from October, 1955. to the end of January. 1959. Chronology of the expedition was:—

October 15. 1955: Two icebreakers sail from Norfolk. Virginia. After stopping in Panama, the icebreakers will leave New Zealand on December 1 to penetrate the polar ice pack. These ships will send a preliminary site-survey party ashore. November 13: Seven cargo ships leave from Norfolk and make the same stops. From New Zealand they will take station 250 miles apart to support a flight from New Zealand to McMurdo Sound. The seven aircraft of this flight will land on the ice. December 25: Ships rendezvous at Scott Island, where the icebreakers w’ill lead them through the ice to two bases 350 miles apart. January. 1956: Work begins on the base camp and the air operating facility, plus a snow-compacted 8000foot runway. February: Task force ships leave Little America and McMurdo Sound, leaving the wintering party of 120 officers and men.

October: Overland transportation by tractor train begins toward Byrd station. November: Ships of the task force leave the United States' to arrive at the main base in January. 1957, carrying scientists and two years’ supply. February. 1957: Task force ships leave Antarctica for the Uni+ed States Aircraft leave in March, 1957.

November: Task force ships again leave the United States for Antarctica, arriving January. 1958. After bases are resupplied, planes and ships return to this country.

November, 1958: Task force ships and planes leave the United States to evacuate personnel and equipment during January. 1959. The entire expedition will return to the United States.