Hercules Again Set Out For McMurdo

Press, Volume CIII, Issue 30561, 2 October 1964, Page 14

Hercules Again Set Out For McMurdo

Two United States Navy Hercules left Christchurch last night in a second attempt to fly to McMurdo Station.

Three Hercules set out on Wednesday night on the first flight of the season, two from Christchurch and one from Melbourne. The latter landed at Byrd Station at 11.35 a.m. yesterday. Aboard this plane was the Antarctic support force commander (Rear-Admiral J. R. Reedy). The installation of a 3600-gallon fuel tank in his plane allowed Admiral Reedy to fly to Byrd Station, where the weather was better than at McMurdo Station, 850 miles away. The weather at McMurdo Station late yesterday afternoon was not much better than it was on Wednesday night, but there was visibility up to three miles, instead of a quarter of a mile.

It is not known how long Admiral Reedy remain

at Byrd Station before flying to McMurdo Station. Fuel at Byrd Station is stored in drums, and some time may elapse before the plane is refuelled. Admiral Reedy’s aircraft flew over Antarctica near the South Magnetic Pole, and crossed the South Geographic Pole at 8 a.m. Fifty-three pounds of accumulated mail was dropped to the men at the Amundsen-Scott scientific station. The two Hercules which left Christchurch in the first attempt on Wednesday turned back after flying almost 1000 miles. At no time were they in danger. The Hercules which was to have made the 2700-mile flight from Chile to McMurdo Station did not leave because of the reports of unfavourable weather.