ANTARCTIC TASK FORCE

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30169, 28 June 1963, Page 13

ANTARCTIC TASK FORCE

Advance Party Due Next Month An advance party of 55 United States servicemen who will take part in United States Antarctic activities this season is expected to arrive at Christchurch airport on July 19 in a United States Navy Super Constellation.

On board the aircraft, which will leave its base at Davisviile, Rhode Island, on July 15, will also be the commander of the Harewood base • Commander A. J. Kinion ) and the task force supply officer (Commander P. Rendelson). The 55 enlisted men will include 24 seabees. The first staff group is expected to leave Washington for New Zealand about September 15. and the second group 10 days later. No advice has been received at the Harewood base about the arrival of the task force commander (Rear-Admiral J. R Reedy). The first flight to the Antarctic from New Zealand is expected to be made on or about October 1. Between October 1 and October 15 the United States Air Force support unit of three Hercules and about 130 men wiH arrive at Harewood. The first of the 28 Boeing 707 flights planned for this season will arrive in October, and 14 will arrive before December 15. The first ship carrying stores and equipment for the .Antarctic, the Pioneer Star, is due at Lyttelton on August 6. The picket ship stationed mid-way between New Zealand and McMurdo Sound wiH be the USS. Hissen, drawn from the Navy's Atlantic Fleet. It is due in Dunedin on September 18. Two days later another cargo ship, the Pioneer Reef, is due at Lyttelton. I