Decrease in support force expected

Press, Volume CXI, Issue 32542, 27 February 1971, Page 3

Decrease in support force expected

The logistics force for America’s scientific effort in the Antarctic might get smaller within the next few years, said the commander of the United States Navy Antarctic support force (Rear-Admiral D- F. Welch) in Christchurch yesterday.

He told a news conference that a decrease would be caused by major construction work ending, and by still greater efficiency from the support force. “By a reduction in the size of the force I am talking in terms of 1974 and after,” he said. The provision of a new scientific station near the South Pole was the last major building job to be carried out on the continent, Admiral Welch said. Plans were to close the under-snow Byrd Station at the end of next summer because it would no longer be required for the scientific research programme, he said_

“However the Navy will still have a use for Byrd Station—or part of it as a logistics base. We will still require the use of the ski-way, the ground-control approach system, and the meteorological services,” he said. Only three scientific programmes have been conducted from Byrd Station this summer, and the station, which was of quite revolutionary construction when first built, is considered to have outlived its usefulness DISMANTLED The existing long-wire substation at Byrd Station will be dismantled and the vanlike buildings taken to McMurdo Station where they will be refitted before being moved to Siple Station, which should be ready for

roccupancy by the 1973 summer season. Siple Station, which is to be placed several; ■ hundred miles away, will be , manned by five civilians. i Changes .in the support programme for next summer will include an increase in the number of Starlifter flights to the continent, and the possible use of a number of twin turbine helicopters. Next summer will also mark the end of the pistonengined aircraft in Navy support operations on the continent, with the withdrawal of the Constellation aircraft. Admiral Welch said that when he returned to the United States he would try to obtain a replacement Hercules for the one which was destroyed by fire at Williams Field almost two weeks ago. He said also that there was no doubt that tourism wouldl affect the continent, but in his own view it would only really be developed by ship. At the beginning of this summer Admiral Welch said! he had received requests' from a balloonist who wanted' to be taken to the South Pole to soar aloft from there, and i from a Japanese man who I wanted to run a dog team! from McMurdo Station to the. South Pole. Both had been! declined. “Next summer a Swiss! citizen, Mr Georges Buttex,! of Geneva, plans to fly I round the world over the] North and South Poles in a| single-engined American air-' craft, although he has not| approached the United States! Government or the Navy,”! said Admiral Welch. The admiral explained that; the first news he had of this ; was a request to the mana-; ger of Christchurch Air-1 port (Mr A. I. R. Jamieson)!