FLIGHTS TO ANTARCTICA TO BEGIN TONIGHT

Press, Volume C, Issue 29623, 20 September 1961, Page 11

FLIGHTS TO ANTARCTICA TO BEGIN TONIGHT

The first of four United States Navy Hercules aircraft carrying 120 men will leave the Christchurch airport at 11 p.m. today for the American base on Ross Island, McMurdo Sound. The other three will follow at hourly intervals. Each of the aircraft, which will carry maximum loads, will stay in Antarctica throughout the working season apart from brief visits to Christchurch for major main, tenance.

The first aircraft to leave Christchurch today was also the first Hercules to leave for Antarctica last season. It was also the plane which made the emergency late flight that brought out the sick Soviet scientist, Leonid Kiroerov, in April.

In this aircraft, which will carry Rear-Admiral R. E. Tyree, commander of the United States Antarctica expedition, will be • Commander M. D. Greenwell, officer commanding the VX6 Squadron, who will be the plane commander. In addition there will be a double crew of 18 men, moot of whom have been to Antarctica before.

Two pilots who will fly the first Hercules are LieutenantCommander R. C. Carew, on his second year of operations, and Lieutenant-Commander E. H. Unger, for whom the flight will mart his third year of Antarctic duty. Both worked together on the same aircraft last year, when they made four flights between Christchurch and Antarctica. On the continent itself they made up to 90 inland flights. Lieutenant - Commander

Carew said yesterday that the Hercules would fly to McMurdo Sound at an altitude of between 24,000 ft and 30,000 ft. The flight times had been arranged so that ail four aircraft will arrive at McMurdo Sound during daylight. On its first flight to Antarctica last season, the Hercules flew the 2316 miles in Bhrs 45min. According to Lieu-tenant-Commander Carew record flight times were also established by the aircraft on its run to the South Pole and Byrd stations. After they arrive at the Ross Island base the planes are expected to begin taking cargo, already near the ice runway, to Byrd station and to the Little Rockford and Beardmore weather stations.

Yesterday pilots were briefed on the weather and that forecast for their arrival at McMurdo Sound. The conditions of the landing strip at Cape Hallett was also being checked in case some last-minute change necessitates its use.