CONGRESSMEN IN ANTARCTICA

Press, Volume XCVI, Issue 28445, 27 November 1957, Page 17

CONGRESSMEN IN ANTARCTICA

Flight Over South Pole The six Congressmen in Antarctica last Sunday made up the first United States Congress committtee to fly over the South Pole, and the first to join the select group of those who have flown over both poles, according to a report received in Christchurch yesterday. The committee flew over the geographic North Pole during its tour of world air routes. Sunday’s flight over the South Pole was made in a Globemaster aircraft piloted by the commander of the 53rd Troop Carrier Squadron. Lieutenant-Colonel Dixon J. Arnold, in the course of a regular flight to make supply drops there. They watched the air drop experts drop a three-ton tractor suspended from three parachutes with 100 ft canopies. The men at the South Pole were able to drive the tractor 15 minutes after it landed. The cargo also included 70001 b of food and clothing and a hut of plastic with a wooden frame which will be erected for emergency shelter. Talking to the leader at the South Pole Station, Dr. Paul Siple, the chairman of the committtee <Mr Oren Harris) said: “I can assure you this committee will take your problems before Congress when it returns.”