SICK MEN AT McMURDO

Press, Volume XCVII, Issue 28702, 27 September 1958, Page 14

SICK MEN AT McMURDO

Return To N.Z. In Skymaster (New Zealand Press Association! INVERCARGILL, Sept. 26. Rear-Admiral G. J. Dufek’s Skymaster aircraft which will take off from Invercargill airport in the early hours of next Wednesday morning will return after a crew rest period at McMurdo Sound with four members of the United States Antarctic expedition vzho are on the sick list. None of the men to be brought back is seriously ill, but they will be - taken to hospital for observation. Unless an emergency arises, the Skymaster will not land at Invercargill on the return trip, but will make the flight direct to Harewood. It will remain on the ice at McMurdo for 24 hours after the landing scheduled foi mid-day on Wednesday, and then will begin the return flight. Two Dakota aircraft which will take-off from Invercargill 24 hours after the Skymaster, will remain at McMurdo Sound for the season.

Later in the year, these two aircraft will be followed by two other Dakotas which will probably take-off from Invercargill also. They have not yet arrived in New Zealand from the United States.

Commander M. Macbain said today that if the flights next week proved successful, “and if we are still welcome,’’ Invercargill airport would be used for all future Dakota take-offs and possibly for the Skymaster.