FLIGHT SOUTH DELAYED

Press, Volume XCIV, Issue 28161, 27 December 1956, Page 11

FLIGHT SOUTH DELAYED

Naval Chief’s Visit To McMurdo The departure of the Chief of the New Zealand Naval Staff (Rear-Admiral J. E. H. McBeath) for the Antarctic has been delayed because the air strip at McMurdo Sound is not in a condition to receive the big. 80-ton United States Air Force Globemasters. It was earlier reported that Admiral Mcßeath, and the Director of Plans, Commander E. P. Reade, were to fly to the Antarctic tomorrow. Colonel H. A. Crosswell, commander of the Air Force task unit with the United States Antarctic Expedition, said at Weedons last evening that he had sent a message to Admiral Mcßeath yesterday informing him that there would be a postponement in his departure, but that he would be given 72 hours’ notice of -the eventual departure- tnhe. Earlier in the day, Colonel Crosswell received a message from Rear - Admiral George Dufek, commander of Task Force 43, stating that the runway at McMurdo Sound was still slushy and carrying water, and at present Globemasters could not be accepted. Admiral Dufek said that he would give Colonel Crosswell 48 hours’ notice of the airstrip again becoming usable. To Fly South Colonel Crosswell said that as soon as he received advice that the runway was usable, he would fly south in the first aircraft to review the situation. Two more Globemasters were likely to follow at an interval of about 24 hours, which was sufficient time for the first aircraft to reach the supply base and for a report to be radioed back to Christchurch about the airstrip. Colonel Crosswell said it was likely that Admiral Mcßeath and his party would fly south in one of these two aircraft.