OVER THE ICE

Southland Times, Issue 22216, 8 January 1934, Page 6

OVER THE ICE

HAZARDOUS FLIGHT

REAR-ADMIRAL BYRD’S PLANE

NO LAND SIGHTED

(Special to United Press Association.—

From Byrd Expedition.) Wellington, January 6

Flying through snow squalls and under a thick layer of stratus clouds, Rear-Admiral Byrd on Wednesday laid a course across the Antarctic pack ice, and drove another- southward-seeking corridor of exploration towards the unknown continental form of the Pacific quadrant of Antarctica. The course lay approximately along the 117th meridian. The seaplane attained approximately 72deg 30min south, when a snowstorm, whirling along the southern horizon, forced him to turn northward and return to the Jacob Ruppert, which was hove to in the pack 150 miles back. Rear-Admiral Byrd’s report, similar to that of numerous explorers who attempted to penetrate this mysterious coast, was “no land. Sea of ice continues to the limit of vision.” However, on the basis of this and the previous flight Rear-Admiral Byrd is convinced that upwards of 200,000 square i .iles of the unknown area lying within the aerial tracks can now be wiped off the Antarctic maps and be designated as the Pacific Ocean. The take-off was made from a lake in the pack, 69deg 57min south, 116 deg 35min west, where the Jacob Ruppert has been since Monday. The crew consisted of Harold June (pilot), Rawlin (assistant pilot), Poulter (aerial mapper), and Peterson (radio). The drama of the flight lay in the fact that it was made under conditions discouraging even to our modern airmen. When the big seaplane soared away at 11.33 in the morning fine snow was sifting from the solid, massed stratus clouds. The sun was wholly obscured by clouds 400 feet in altitude. Driving Through Squalls.

On his return at 2.30 in the afternoon Rear-Admiral Byrd said: “It was pretty bad all the way, and was especially bad on the-way back, because we had to drive through a series of snow squalls. The temperature was at the critical point where the ice freezes on the wings. It is a fact that the air speed indicator froze. The toughest

thing about the flight was navigation with no sun. We had to depend entirely upon the magnetic compass, whicl owing to our proximity to the south magnetic pole had a large error. We estimated the error by having the Jacob Ruppert head due north by gyrocompass. Then we flew directly over her at 400 feet above the vessel. The visibility was between seven and ten miles. We averaged about 112 miles an hour. We were never above 1000 feet and for most of the time we were flying at 400 feet. Clouds, snow, and the danger of ice on the wings forced us to fly low. Towards the end cl the homeward flight the air cleared a bit, and we swung eastward to look at a big iceberg that was sighted from the ship on Monday. It was a monster at least twenty-five miles long and four miles wide. Another huge berg had collided with it. I will never see a mightier collision than that. The flight difficulties were not unforeseen. Since Monday the Jacob Ruppert had lain in the lake in the pack awaiting clear weather. Twice the plane was swung over the side only to be taken on board again. Mr Haines (the meteorologist) issued a warning of wind and snow, but Rear-Admiral Byrd decided to go on Wednesday despite Mr Haines’s insistence that the flight was hazardous. Rear-Admiral Byrd retorted: “We are not going to get anything done by just hanging around here. You’ve got to take risks in this part of the world.” An hour later the plane prepared to take off. Continuing the discussion of Wednesday’s flight. Rear-Admiral Byrd said: “My opinion is that the bulge of white unknown space on the map, which seemingly encloses Ross Sea on the east, is just water-borne ice. Any further aerial enterprises in this area for the present will be attended by great risk. Two hours after the plane landed the whole horizon was blotted out by a snowstorm and any attempt to land in the drifting ice pack would be extremely dangerous.” THROUGH PACK ICE NEED FOR HASTE. (United Press Assn—Telegraph Copyright.) (Rec. 5.5 p.m.) New York, January 5. The operations off the Pacific quadrant have been completed and the Jacob Ruppert at four o’clock in the afternoon of Thursday commenced to extricate herself from the pack to start the journey to Little America, 300 miles away. In order to reach the Bay of Whales the Ruppert must enter the pack for the third time in the Ross Sea, time being the compelling reason for withdrawal from this sector. Upwards of 500 tons of material, for the winter party must be unloaded at the Bay of Whales and the Ruppert started north before the Ross Sea starts freezing. Rear-Admiral Byrd has decided that further delay might jeopardize the entire programme and perhaps endanger the ship. Weather is another reason for, during the past fortnight, there has been only one day suitable for flying. The Ruppert’s position at noon was 69.35 south, 116.40 west. THE BEAR OF OAKLAND ARRIVAL AT WELLINGTON. (Per United Press Association.) Wellington, January 6. The Bear of Oakland arrived from Napier early this morning. She will load 200 tons of coal left

for her by the Jacob Ruppert; the work is starting on Monday. She will probably leave for Dunedin on Wednesday, and Captain Johansen expects to meet the Jacob Ruppert about January 25, if all goes well. He says that the delays which have been met with by the Bear of Oakland have not assisted the expedition by any means, but they are going to do their best to make their objective. Lieutenant English, who is in command of the Bear of Oakland, said that the vessel was not seeking any volunteers in New Zealand, but more might be picked up if Rear-Admiral Byrd so directed. At present he had no information to offer in that connection. When the Bear of Oakland left Wellington she would have 400 tons of coal on board, he added, and this would last till she reached the Bay of Whales, where coal would be shipped from the Jacob Ruppert for the return trip to New Zealand. He said they realized that they were going down towards the end of the season, but they expected to accomplish their mission. Captain Johansen said th'at it would depend on whether the ice pack broke up whether the Jacob Ruppert could get through alone, but at present it was reported that the pack was thick, heavy and impenetratable.