FIFTH LITTLE AMERICA STATION CLOSED DOWN

Press, Volume XCVIII, Issue 28792, 13 January 1959, Page 10

FIFTH LITTLE AMERICA STATION CLOSED DOWN

The role of Little America V as a major year-round . United States scientific station in Antarctica ended quietly as the American national ehsign was hauled down on January 6, says a United States Navy news release received in Christchurch. For three years Little America V was head-

quarters of the American geophysical year programme. It was commissioned on January 4, 1956. Its location in Kainan Bay on the Ross Ice Shelf 'was chosen after it was found impracticable to build at the Bay of Whales, the site of four previous stations 40 miles away. Most of the men who have been taken out of the closed station have had from 12 to 16 months continuous duty in Antarctica. Although operations of the stations as an all-year base have been ended, Little America V will continue to be of use during future operations. Its first function will be as a supply centre. Caches of food, fuel and equipment have been left there and carefully flagged so they can be located, retrieved and transferred to other stations as required; Buildings at the 4>ase will remain intact so the station can be opened almost immediately should circumstances warrant. The stations tgill also be a rescue survival centre with sufficient

supplies to maintain 15 men for a I full year. Fuel and water lines have been drained to prevent freezing but they can be put into operation as • soon as a new party arrives and i wishes to use them. ; Little America I was built m the Bay of Whales during 1929-30

by the late Rear-Admiral Richard Byrd. Subsequent stations (three of them) were built in 1934, 1940 and 1947 on the same site by expeditions led by Admiral Byrd.