FLIGHT TO McMURDO

Press, Volume XCVII, Issue 28766, 11 December 1958, Page 16

FLIGHT TO McMURDO

No Ship To Be On Station

A flight from New Zealand to the Antarctic, without the U.S.N. ship Brough being on station 1000 miles south of New Zealand, will be made by the Navy’s Skymaster, leaving Christchurch at 7 a.m tomorrow. This will be the first time the Skymaster, which is Rear-Admiral George J. Dufek’s command aircraft, will have made the 2200mile flight without' the Brough being on station. A few weeks ago the Navy’s Super Constellation airliner made a turn-about flight without the ship being on station. The Skymaster, commanded by Lieutenant - Commander Harold Hanson, will refuel at Invercargill, and fly on to McMurdo Sound. It will be at McMurdo for four hours and then return to Christchurch. The Super Constellation, which was to have left for Honolulu last evening, will now stay at Christchurch until the Skymaster returns. The Skymaster will carry Christmas trees for the men at the United States stations, and about 25001 b of mail. Another 55001 b of Christmas mail and parcels will be taken south by ship next week. The commanding officer of the Navy VX-6 Squadron (Captain Robert Slagle) and 20 of his men, who are at McMurdo Sound, will return to Christchurch on the Skymaster.