SOUTH ICE TO SCOTT BASE

Press, Volume XCVII, Issue 28478, 7 January 1958, Page 8

SOUTH ICE TO SCOTT BASE

Otter Completes Flight

(N.Z. Press Association—Copyright) SCOTT BASE, Jan. 6. The Royal Air Force Otter of the Commonwealth TransAntarctic expedition completed its 1280-mile flight across Antarctica from South Ice to

Scott Base at 10.49 p.m. today. It set' out at 11.52 a.m. today, and had good weather all the

Squadron Leader John Lewis and his crew of three turned back on the earlier attempt on December 30 when icing and turbulence were met in thick cloud about half-way on the leg from South Ice to the South Pole. Since December 30 the Otter had waited at South Ice, first for replenishment of petrol, and, finally, for favourable weather. At 2 p.m., two hours eight minutes after taking off, Squadron Leader Lewis reported: “Passed convoy two miles to port at 1.50 p.m. He was referring to Dr. Fuchs’s party making its way towards the South Pole. The Otter was flying at 10,500 ft in clear weather. Over Pole Station

Running better than his dead reckoning speed, Squadron Leader Lewis sighted the South Pole station at 4.28 p.m., having picked up the Pole radio beacon 10 minutes earlier when 30 miles out.

A minute after seeing the buildings through a considerable haze of blown ice crystals. Squadron Leader Lewis flew directly over the station at 2000 ft. From the ground he was not immediately apparent against the smoky blue of the sky. The aircraft made a wide sweep before setting course for McMurdo Sound. As the Otter flew over . the Pole greetings were passed over voice radio, and these conversations were picked up at Scott base and recorded on tape Squadron Leader Lewis and those members of his crew who spoke to the Pole station sounded immensely cheerful. They were having a trouble-free flight. At 7.45 p.m. the Otter was through the mountain range bordering the Ross ice shelf. After its descent along the Beardmore glacier the aircraft was opposite

Mount Hope The terrain was then almost at sea level, and a clear run was offered to McMurdo Sound. The weather continued bright and sunny. Squadron Leader Lewis then expected to be in the air another three hours and a quarter, but was able to cut llmin off that time.