PARTY FROM ANTARCTICA

Press, Volume C, Issue 29638, 7 October 1961, Page 5

PARTY FROM ANTARCTICA

22 Return To Harewood Twenty-two men of the United States Navy’s VX6 Squadron who had wintered in Antarctica since April returned to Christchurch with the United States Antarctic Commander (Rear-Admiral D. M. Tyree) on Thursday night About half of them will leave today for the United States. The others will stay in Christchurch for a few days. ’ At Ross Island yesterday the weather was clear and calm with a temperature of minus 24 deg Fahrenheit. Al Byrd station conditions were about the same and the temperature was minus 26 deg The first weather reports were received at Harewood from the auxiliary weather station on the Beardmore glacier, where the temperature was minus 5h deg. At Harewood today the second Neptune aircraft will be flight tested, the first having undergone its test on Thursday afternoon. One was expected to fly south last night but the weather was only marginal and the flights were held back. A United States Air Force Globemaster left Harewood for McMurdo at 5 a.m. yesterday, but the second, which should have left at 8 a.m., was held back with engine trouble. Its flight was delayed until 8 p.m. Another Globemaster left for McMurdo at 7 p.m. yesterday. At 8.20 a.m. yesterday the ninth Globemaster arrived at Harewood with 23 passengers and 34131 b of cargo. Each day. weather permitting, two Globemasters will leave Christchurch for Antarctica. Other Gjobemasters will periodically arrive at the airport from Donaldson Air Force Base. South Carolina, carrying additional support equipment and supplies for the now fully deployed 9th Troop Carrier Squadron. The strength of the Air Force task unit at reached 400 with the arrival of yesterday’s Globemaster. Some of the men at McMurdo are now setting up new facilities to support the incoming planes.