L.S. STATION AT McMURDO

Press, Volume XCVIII, Issue 28987, 31 August 1959, Page 6

L.S. STATION AT McMURDO

Major Construction

Planned

A major construction programme is planned tor the United States Antarctic Expedition’s station at McMurdo Sound this summer.

It is planned to build three 250.000-gallon fuel storage tanks, four barracks buildings, a hangar foundation, two communication buildings, a garage, three storage buildings, a fire house, two scientific buildings, and three genera) purpose buildings. At Marble Point, about 60 miles from McMurdo Station, Seabees will also prepare an emergency runway on the ice before the season’s operations. In late September, Seabees wintering over at McMurdo Sound will search for a safe trail for heavy equipment between McMurdo Sound and Marble Point.

After completing the ice runway they will return to McMurdo Sound with the equinment used by the reconnaissance unit, which last year made a study of the feasibility of building a permanent. year-round runway on rock at Marble Point.

Later in the season, four U.S.A.F. turbo-prop Hercules aircraft—developed by the Air Force for use in the Arctic regions—will operate for the first time in the Antarctic. The Hercules can carry the payload of a Globemaster, and has the added capability of landing on skis on snow runways. Next -February the aircraft will be used to transport to the South Pole and Byrd stations buildings and materials which will not arrive in Antarctica until after the normal flying season for wheeled aircraft.