ANTARCTIC FLIGHTS

Press, Volume C, Issue 29637, 6 October 1961, Page 15

ANTARCTIC FLIGHTS

Globemaster Activities United States Air Force Globemaster flights from Harewood to tile Antarctic are now under way. The first Globemaster is at McMurdo Sound, the second left last evening, and the third and fourth are scheduled to leave Harewood early this morning. The signal to send the Globemasters was given by •he commander of the 9th T-oop Carrier Squadron (Lieutenant-Colonel F. B. Frost), who arrived at Ross Island in the first Globemaster at 6.27 a.m. yesterday. The Globemasters are expected to make two flights each day if flying conditions are suitable. After waiting for earlymorning fog to lift, a Globemaster left Harewood at 10.8 am. yesterday, but when half an hour out turned back with a small mechanical fault. This aircraft left again at 8 p.m. The third and fourth were last night scheduled to leave at 5 aun. and 7 a.m. today.

The United States Navy Super Constellation which left Harewood at 8 pun. on Wednesday also returned after having been in the air for about half an hour. It left again at 12.30 a.m. yesterday, and arrived at McMnrdo at 9.55 aun.

The Super Constellation left for Christchurch with 22 passengers at 1.56 p.m. and landed at Harewood at midnight. Reports from the Ross Island base yesterday afternoon said that the weather there was calm, the visibility fine, and the runway excellent.

At Harewood yesterday the eighth Globemaster arrived from Fiji. Two DC-6's landed at 1150 am and 2.15 pm. Today, after having maintenance checks, the three Neptunes of the VX-6 Squadron will begin test flights. It is expected that the first will fly south on Saturday.