FLIGHTS TO ANTARCTIC

Press, Volume XCVII, Issue 28782, 31 December 1958, Page 8

FLIGHTS TO ANTARCTIC

New Radio Aids To Be Installed

New radio - communication equipment will be installed at the United States-New Zealand Antarctic station at Cape Hallett early next month. The new equipment js to improve communications for aircraft flying the 2200 miles between Christchurch and McMurdo Sound, the United States Navy headquarters in Christ' lurch said yesterday. The equipment will be taken south by the United States Navy ship Arneb, due to leave Lyttelton on January 5. Four radio technicians from Navy headquarters in Christchurch, Chief Lee Parker, Chief Electronics Technician Chester Traczyk, Radioman Second Class Harry Shaw, and Radio Seaman Leonard Hawkins, will sail on the Arneb to install the equipment. The Arneb will carry south the new party to man the Cape Hallett station during the winter and the stores for the station. It is expected to spend about two weeks at Cape Hallett, while the stores are unloaded and the radiomen install the new equipment. ;A Christchurch staff officer, Lieutenant Arthur Knox, will go south to supervise the cargo unloading at Cape Hallett and McMurdo Sound.

The Navy men and American and New Zealand scientists, who have manned the station during the last year, will return to New Zealand on board 'the Arneb. They will board the ship before it leaves Cape Hallet, travel to McMurdo Sound, and after all cargo has been unloaded, start on the return journey to New Zealand.