Mercy Flight For Sick Scientist

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31162, 12 September 1966, Page 1

Mercy Flight For Sick Scientist

A mercy flight to Byrd Station, Antarctica, will be made soon by a ski-equipped Hercules aircraft of VX6 Squadron from Quonset Point, Rhode Island.

The Hercules landed at Christchurch at 11.30 p.m. yesterday after a 32-hour flight from the United States. It was delayed for about an hour at Nandi with a generator defect.

The departure of the aircraft for Byrd Station, which is 885 miles from McMurdo Sound, will be dictated by the weather. As soon as conditions are suitable it will leave to pick up Mr Armand L. Spitz, aged 27, single, an aurora scientist, of Fairfax, Virginia. Mr Spitz is suffering from acute appendicitis.

Late last evening it was reported from the Antarctic that Mr ' Spitz was resting comfortably. He had a high temperature but there was no , spread of infection ] and he seemed to be responding to anti- 1 biotics. The weather situation was I less satisfactory. Although 1 conditions at Byrd station 1 were fair, the weather was ’ poor, but improving, at Me- : Murdo. Visibility had been 1 very bad in the last 24 hours, which had delayed preparation of the ski-way, although this was now ready. On Saturday visibility was down to 1 60ft, which prevented a heli- i copter being sent aloft to i check the ski-way radar sys- 1 tern. The ground control ap- i proach equipment was due to < be tested at 8 a.m. today. i Fourth Flight • It will be the fourth mercy j flight to Antarctica since j operations began there and , the second such flight this (

year. On June 6 this year another Hercules of VX6 Squadron flew from Christchurch to McMurdo Sound to pick up Robert L. Mayfield, a seaman who had suffered a ruptured bladder in a fall. The flight will be the second to bring a sick man from Byrd station. On April 12, 1961, a Hercules flew to Byrd to bring back a Russian exchange scientist, Leonid Kuperov, who had a suspected stomach ulcer. The other of the previous three flights was in June, 1964, when Bethel Lee McMullen, a 39-year-old Seabee, suffered a fractured spine in a 16ft fall. Message Sent A message from Byrd station requesting possible air evacuation of Mr Spitz was sent direct to Navy Headquarters, Washington, late on Friday evening. The commander of the United States Navy Antarctic support force (Rear-Admiral F. E. Bakutis) authorised the flight to Christchurch from Rhode Island as a precautionary measure in case the evacuation of Mr Spitz should become necessary.

Men have since been working around the clock to prepare the ski-ways at both McMurdo and Byrd stations. Both are now ready. The Hercules, which is commanded by the commander of VX6 Squadron, Commander D. Balish, flew to Christchurch by way of Almedo, Honolulu and Nandi. Commander Balish went on the mercy flight to the Antarctic which brought back Mr McMullen. He has had two previous seasons with the Antarctic support force. The Hercules had a double crew aboard, but it was essential the men have rest after arriving at Christchurch. Once they leave Christchurch for the Antarctic they will be flying almost non-stop for about 23 hours. The aircraft will land at

McMurdo Sound for about an hour, during which time cargo will be unloaded and the Hercules will be refuelled. It will then fly the 885 miles to Byrd station, where it will be on the ground for about 30 minutes. It will refuel again at McMurdo before returning the 2400 miles to Christchurch. From the United States the aircraft brought cargo for the new Antarctic season, which starts on October 1. After it arrived this was unloaded, a long-range 3200-gallon fuel tank was installed in the cargo bay, and 6001 b of fresh food and about 8001 b of mail was loaded. The mail is for the men wintering-over at Byrd and McMurdo stations and Scott base. This morning Commander Balish will go into conference with the deputy commander of the United States Antarctic Force (Captain V. D. Bursdick) and Captain H. E. Kendrick, the deputy chief of staff for operations and plans. The men will determine the flight plan, which will depend on the weather. To Assist As the acting staff surgeon (Lieutenant P. Carter) is himself recuperating in a Washington hospital, the VX6 aircraft last evening brought the squadron’s own flight surgeon, Lieutenan’ J. Holik, to assist in the evacuation of Mr Spitz. If possible the flight plan

will be arranged so the aircraft lands in the Antarcticin daylight. At this time of the year there is about 12 hours’ light a day at McMurdo Sound, and about, nine hours at Byrd station. If necessary there is emergency lighting, both electric and oil-drums, at McMurdo Sound, but only oil-drums at Byrd station. It would be possible to operate on Mr Spitz in the Antarctic if it became essential, but it is considered preferable to fly him to Christchurch Hospital. Four Others The aircraft will bring back four others of the winteringover party from the Antarctic —three for emergency leave, and one man who has a broken ankle. Another Hercules will arrive at Christchurch on Tuesday. Originally the four aircraft of VX6 Squadron were due to arrive at Christchurch on September 26, ready for the October 1 start of the new season’s operations. The squadron’s two remaining Hercules will now arrive on this date. Admiral Bakutis is at present on his way to Christchurch, where he is expected to arrive at 7 p.m. on September 22. The Royal New Zealand Navy offered to assist the mercy flight by stationing the frigate H.M.N.Z.S. Taranaki, now at Auckland, on the route, but it was decided it would take too long for the vessel to get into position.