Mid-winter Flight To Antarctica Goes Well

Press, Volume CVII, Issue 31399, 19 June 1967, Page 1

Mid-winter Flight To Antarctica Goes Well

The United States Navy ski-equipped Hercules, City of Christchurch, is expected at Christchurch airport early this morning after the first routine mid-winter flight to the Antarctic.

On board are two enlisted men who are being evacuated from McMurdo Station. One is Chief Petty Officer R. O. Hilton, a chief radioman, who has a lung condition; the other is Hospital Corpsman Ist Class L. Goodrich, who suffered a gall bladder complaint about six weeks ago and who is being brought out as a precautionary measure.

Under the commanding officer of the Navy's VX6 Squadron (Commander F. Snyder), the Hercules left the ski-way at Williams Field for its return flight at 8 pan. yesterday. It is due to land about 3.30 a.m. Looking after the two men during the return flight is the VX6 Squadron medical officer (Lieutenant J. Holik). The Hercules left Christchurch for McMurdo Station at 6.15 a.m. yesterday. It landed on the brightly illuminated 8000 ft by 300 ft skiway at 2.20 pan. A second Hercules on search and rescue stand-by at Christchurch was not used during the mission. WATCH ON FOG Last evening Navy meteorological staff were keeping a close watch on fog which began closing over Christchurch airport. In the event that the Hercules is unable to land in Christchurch it will go on to Ohakea. Rear-Admiral J. L. Abbot, commander of the United States Navy Antarctic support force, decided late on Saturday night to make the flight early yesterday morning after receiving favourable reports on weather at McMurdo Station and on the' way.

Lieutenant-Commander R. Sallee, the staff assistant meteorologist, was up at 2 a.m. making final weather checks; the flight crews were up at 4 a.m.; the scientists and a medical corpsman to replace the man being brought out were aboard by 5 aun.; Admiral Abbot was out at the Hercules by 5.30 a.m.; and at 6.15 a.m. the cargo laden aircraft left Christchurch on a jet-assisted take-off. Eight bottles were fired. Communications between Christchurch, the aircraft and the Antarctic were excellent. Messages were exchanged

with McMurdo Station, Byrd Station, and the AmundsenScott South Pole Station. PROVISIONS

In addition to the 22 men aboard, were a ton of provisions, including 30 gallons of fresh milk, eggs, oranges, apples and fresh vegetables. There was also 60001 b of mail for McMurdo Station and Scott Base. Women of the Canterbury branch of the New Zealand Antarctic Society baked 12 dozen biscuits for the New Zealanders at Scott Base. The crew of the Hercules also had a tin of them to munch during the 2300-mile flight south.

When the Hercules landed at the ski-way on Williams Field, the weather was clear and the temperature was minus 29 degrees Fahrenheit. Commander Snyder, before leaving Christchurch, said he did not expect to use morel

than 4000 ft of the ski-way for his landing. The first 1000 ft of ski-way was illuminated by an electric lighting system. The rest was outlined by gasoline lanterns every 500 ft. The Hercules stayed at McMurdo Station for about six hours. While cargo was unloaded at the skiway Admiral Abbot and the scientists went to the station. EXTRA FUEL

On board the Hercules was an internal fuel tank capable of holding 1600 gallons. This was taken in case Chief Petty Officer Hilton had to be flown to Christchurch at a low altitude.

Normally the flight between Christchurch and the Antarctic is made about 28,000 ft. The return flight was expected to begin about 20,000 ft If Chief Petty Officer Hilton was not upset the aircraft was to go to the 28,000 ft altitude.