Mountains Discovered In Queen Maud Land

Press, Volume CIII, Issue 30364, 13 February 1964, Page 15

Mountains Discovered In Queen Maud Land

McMURDO STATION Feb. 10. Previously-unknown mountains which are believed to be extension of the Shackleton range were found in Queen Maud Land when a United States Navy skiequipped Hercules made a IOJ-hour flight from McMurdo Station across the South Pole into the northwest area of Antarctica. In the aircraft on the exploratory flight over an uncharted area was Rear-Admiral J. R. Reedy, commander, Naval I support force, Antarctica. ' Last year Admiral Reedy made his first flight into the area using the same Hercules aircraft and the same- pilots and navigator. The weather on that flight prevented him from descending from high altitude to explore fully the images which appeared on the plane’s radatscrope, identical with those returned by mountain peaks, although none was shown on the existing charts. On Monday Admiral Reedy found that the radar images were indeed caused by mouni tains jutting out of the ice [and snow, with peaks possibly ranging from 4000 to 6000 feet. A superb job of navigating from McMurdo Station across I the South Pole to Queeh Maud Land was performed by Staff Sergeant A. L, Kring, United States Marine Corps, who used his chart from last year’s flight and led the party to the same area. In the area indicated by the most likely radar returns of the previous year’s flight were three large outcroppings of rock, which

appeared' to be extensions of the Shackleton range, 80 to 100 miles away to the west and plainly visible. Piloting the Hercules were Lieutenant-Commander R. J. Dickerson and Commander R. Kelly, commander of VX6 Squadron. While flying over the highest of the newly discovered peaks, the crew dropped the American flag and Admiral Reedy’s personal flag, attached to a specially-designed steel pole weighted so as to stand Upright in the snow, on .impact. Inside the metal pole was a message sending greeting to “Whomever may read this,” and giving particulars of the flight. Another flag was dropped on an ice plateau amid several outcroppings of rock.

Sergeant Kring plotted at least two small mountain ranges on radar in the uncharted area. Fuel consideration caused Admiral Reedy to discontinue the exploration before these ranges could be investigated more completely. After final evaluation of the navigation tracks . and radar pictures the location and extent of the mountains will be positively established. The flight disclosed- that one of tile few charted features, the Recovery Glacier, probably extends further inland than has been thought previously. ' According to Sergeant ■ Kring’s observations the Recovery Glacier might be the longest glacier in the world.