Supply drop to Antarctic posts

Press, 23 June 1981, Page 6

Supply drop to Antarctic posts

Fresh fruit, green vegetables. and letters from home were dropped on the Antarctic continent yesterday.

More than four months of isolation for the 119 men on the southern continent was broken with a mid-winter supply drop for McMurdo, Scott Base, and South Pole stations. The CI4IB “stretched” Starlifter of the United States Air Force carried nearly 7000 kg of supplies on the 8300 km round trip from Christchurch.

During the 14-hour flight the Starlifter was refuelled by a U.S.A.F. Stratotanker between Christchurch and McMurdo Sound.

Twenty-six bundles of equipment and supplies were dropped at Williams Field on the Ross Sea ice shelf for the 92 Americans at McMurdo and the 10 New Zealanders

at Scott Base. Six more bundles were dropped for the 17 Americans at the South Pole.

Some concern that the hydraulic system on the rear doors of the Starlifter might jam because of the extreme cold appeared unwarranted as the whole exercise went smoothly. Conditions for the drop were described as perfect with clear skies and light winds.

Scott Base subsequently reportedithat all pallets were undamaged in the drop and that recovery work was “in full swing."

To commemorate the “middle of the long night,” good wishes were sent to all friends both past and future from “the great unwashed, the terrible 10” winteringover party at Scott Base.