NEW AIRSTRIP AT McMURDO

Press, Volume XCIV, Issue 28157, 21 December 1956, Page 12

NEW AIRSTRIP AT McMURDO

High Temperatures Soften Surface

SHORTAGE OF FUEL HALTS FLYING

A new airstrip. 6000 ft long and 135 ft wide, with new maintenance parks and taxiways, is being constructed at McMurdo Sound to replace’ the old strip, now virtually Disable after three months of operations. Temperatures, which reached 40 degrees last Monday, have turned the surface into slush.

Halfway down the strip a pool of water, about 200 ft in diameter and 12in deep, has created a hazard which slows, aircraft so much that the full length of the strip is needed on takeoff.

The new strip is being built on the north side of the present strip and is receiving top priority. The old runway will be repaired by shovelling snow into the potholes and puddles, but the taxiways, which are pitted with holes up to 15ft across, will be abandoned. The new strip should be completed within 10 days. The condition of the old strip and an acute shortage of aviation fuel have caused a suspension of flying operations.

At the moment, the United States Navy tanker Nespelen, and the icebreaker Glacier, with other ships, are in the Ross Sea, jand as soon as a cut has been made through the ice to within three or four miles of Hutt Point the Nespelen will off-load its fuel cargo. Crawler tractors, needed for the construction of the runway, will also be landed. Little Fuel Left Major C. J, Ellen, the commander of 52nd Troop Carrier Squadron, who flew the damaged State of Washington back to Christchurch yesterday said only enough fuel was left at McMurdo Sound to run three or four flights to the Pole with Dakotas. The squadron itself could not fly any more missions, and used its last supplies to fly the Globemasters State of Washington and the City of Peoria back to Christchurch.

To date, the 1000-ton drop of materials and supplies to the Pole station is about two-thirds completed. Twelve more flights will be needed to complete the station, and they will be made as soon as the new strip is finished.

So far, 42 flights have been made to the Pole, three to Marie Byrd land station, and two to the camp at Beardmore glacier. The trial reconnaissance party, 500 miles out from McMurdo at the Marie .Byrd land site, were dropped 10 tons of fuel during the operations.

Two damaged Globemasters, the State of Washington and the State of Tenessee, were repaired in record time at McMurdo. The third damaged Globemaster, the State of Oregon, is being stripped for salvage. About 50 per cent, of the aircraft ’ill be saved. Altogether, volunteer crews took 19 days to repair the two Globemasters. The State of Washington will be flown to the United States for minor repairs and inspection—anticipating a routine check by about eight months.

Completing Pole Drop When the word is given by Admiral Dtifek, three Globemasters will go back to McMurdo Sound and fly three missions a day—a maximum effort—to complete the Pole drop in four days. A total of 32 flights—2o of them to the Marie Byrd site—will complete the operation. All the buildings are up at the Pole station and when the mission is completed enough food and materials to last the scientific party for a year will have been dropped.

Members of the crash crew which extinguished fire in the inner starboard engine of the State of Washington when the aircraft’s landing gear collapsed on November 29. were formally presented with letters o' commendation by Lieutenant Commander D. W. Canham. the officer commanding the Navy Air Force at McMurdo Sound this week. With them was honoured in his absence A2C P. L. Newcomb, of the 52nd Troop Carrier Squadron. The men—Chief Aviation Mechanic J. C. Dore, Aviation Mechanic A. O. Weems, and AB2 C. L. Oliver—were said by Admiral George Dufek. the commander of Task Force 43, to have prevented possible loss of life by their prompt action in putting out the fire with hand extinguishers.