Planes returning?

Press, 27 January 1988, Page 1

Planes returning?

By DAVE WILSON A United States Air Force Hercules squadron, whose presence in Christchurch upsets a local peace group, may return to the city next year. The Citizens for the Demilitarisation of Harewood expressed concern when two ski-equipped Hercules of the 109th Tactical Airlift Group passed through Christchurch. The visit was officially explained as a crew familiarisation and training flight and assistance to the United States Antarctic programme. Although initially believed to be a once-only visit, a spokesman for the United States Information Service, Mr Karl Stoltz, said the squadron hoped to repeat the mission in 1989. The citizens group was concerned because the squadron, part of the New York Air National Guard, usually flies around the Arctic Circle, ferrying cargo to. the Distant Early Warning missile detection stations. . But Mr Stolz said the unit’s presence in the South Island was purely peaceful. “They went to Antarctica to train with and support the United States Navy Antarctic Develop-

ment Squadron (VXE-6) of the United States Antarctic Programme, which is administered by the National Science Foundation. “The 109th assisted by transporting people and cargo to the South Pole, Byrd surface camp and D 59 (the remote strip where another Hercules, Juliet Delta 321, was salvaged recently).

“The Air National Guard Hercules were assisting at a time when there is a great demand on VXE-6 and a reduced number of aircraft available.” The National Science Foundation, which owns the aircraft, lost a Hercules at D 59 when it crashed last month, killing two Americans.

Mr Stoltz said the 109th Tactical Airlift Group was the only American unit other than VXE-6 that used ski-equipped Hercules. He said the unit used the Antarctic task to exchange information about flying under polar conditions with the navy squadron. "The 109th hopes to return next year so that they may benefit from further training in Antarctica.”