J.S. ANTARCTIC PROJECTS OFFICER

BULLET N

VOLUME III NUMBER 3NOVEMBER 1961

[November 25, 1911] . . . When I think cfmy four friends of the southern journey, it isthe memory of that morning that comes first tomy mind. All the qualities that I most admirein a man were clearly shown at that juncture:courage and dauntlessness, without boasting orbig words. Amid joking and chaff, everythingwas packed, and then -- out into the blizzard.

Roald Amundsen, The South Pole,vol. II, pp. 70-71.

Sund a , November 26 [1911]. -- Camp 22.Lunch camp. Marched here fairly easily, com-paratively good surface. Started at 1 A.M.(midnight, local time). We now keep a steadypace of 2 miles an hour, very good going. Thesky was slightly overcast at start and betweentwo and three it grew very misty. . . . It Isalways rather dismal work walking over thegreat snow plain when sky and surface merge inone pall of dead whiteness, but it is cheeringto be in such good company with everything go-ing on steadily and well. .

Captain Robert F. Scott, Scott'sLast Expedition, arranged byLeonard Huxley, vol. I, pp.326-327.

Volume III, Number 3

November 1961

CONTENTS

In Memoriam

1

The Month in Review

2

Visit of SCAR Delegates

2

South Pole Ceremony

3

U.S. Antarctic Research Program1961-62 Orientation Session

6

Crash of P2V-7

6

Scientific Notes

8

Aerial Photography

9

Antarctic Exhibit

10

Personal

10

Commander, MATS, Visits Antarctica11

Roosevelt Island Project 11

Harold E. Saunders, 1890-196112

Antarctic Chronology, 1961-6213

Publication Available 16

Material for this issue of the Bulletin was adaptedfrom press releases issued by the Department of De-fense and the National Science Foundation. TheBulletin is indebted for the account of the U.S.Antarctic Research Program orientation session toLCDR Melba R. Parks, USN, who attended the confer-ence as the representative of this office, and Mr.Fred Alberts of the Board on Geographic Names andDr. Kenneth Bertrand of the Catholic University ofAmerica for the obituary of their long-time associ-ate, Captain Harold E. Saunders, USN (Ret.).

The account of the fatal aircraft accident and thechronology were taken from incoming dispatches.Unless otherwise indicated, Greenwich mean time isused throughout the Bulletin.

All mail Inquiries should be addressed to the UnitedStates Antarctic Projects Officer, 718 Jackson Place,N.W., Washington 25, D. C. Requests for additionalcopies of the Bulletin may be made by telephone toSTerling 3-0860, Extension 3604. Other questionsconcerning the Bulletin should be directed to thesame telephone number, Extension 3795.

IN MEMORIAM

The chronology in this issue of the Bulletin covers the period fromearly October to mid-November 1961. To all concerned with United Statesactivities in Antarctica, the tragic loss of a Neptune patrol plane on9 November with five fatalities and four serious casualties overweighsall other events. Several years ago, the late Rear Admiral Richard E.Byrd, writing to the family of an earlier fatality, said:

He served and died for his country just as devotedly andwith as high purpose as if he had died fighting to preservefreedom. The mission for which he had volunteered and onwhich he served is, and will continue to be, an effort to un-lock further the secrets of nature in that vast area, Antarc-tica, and put them to the use of all mankind.

The same words apply to those who recently lost their lives in theunfortunate accident at Wilkes Station: Dr. Edward C. Thiel; LCDR Wil-liam D. Counts; LTJG Romuald P. Compton; James L. Gray, ADR2; and Wil-liam W. Chastain, AMH1. To the survivors -- LT Elias J. Stetz; LT3GErnest L. Hand; Clarence C. Allen, AT2; and Jack C. Shaffer, AE1; allof whom suffered from first and second degree burns -- we can wishnothing less than a speedy recovery.

Many expressions of sympathy have been received from all quartersof the globe. The most touching came from their comrades in the field,both United States and foreign, from men who themselves know the perilsof the Antarctic. Of these, one will suffice, sent from Mirnyy, theSoviet Station, and obviously the result of a struggle with an unfamil-iar language:

Pass to LT Stetz, LT Hand, Metaismith Shaffer, andRadio Operator Allen

Personnel of Mirnyy with deep sorrow have known aboutcatastrophe of your plane, perish of your comrades and thatyou got burns. We are ready to render you medical or anyother assistance if it is needed. We hope for your quickrecovery. Pleasant meeting with you in Mirnyy will be inour memory for a long time. We wish you all strong health.Best regards. Driatsky.

The lasting memorial to those who died and to those who survive isthat the work will go on. What the living can do is to continue in thesame spirit and with the same will until the last secret has been wrungfrom the inhospitable land of Ice and snow.

1

THE MONTH IN REVIEW

The period from early October to mid-November was one of both hightragedy and great accomplishment. Construction progressed steadily onthe new Byrd Station and the nuclear power plant at NAF McMurdo Soundand also on other lesser, but important, projects at Hallett. The ar-rival of aircraft broke the winter isolation at Hallett on 15 Octoberand at the South Pole on the twenty-eighth of the same month. By11 November, the NINTH Troop Carrier Squadron, USAF, had completedscheduled airdrops at both the South Pole and Byrd.

Scientists, technicians, and summer support personnel flowed intoMcMurdo and spread from there to the other stations. Field partiessorted and packed their gear and, with the aid of helicopters and fixedwing aircraft, set forth on their investigations. At the same time,men, who had spent a year in Antarctica, were assembling their belong-ings, setting their records straight, and, in a trickle, were alreadybeginning the long journey home. New wintering-over personnel madethemselves at home, received advice from their departing predecessors,and settled into their new routine.

Toward the end of the period, a more sombre note was struck withthe loss of two aircraft. First on 9 November, the tragic loss of theP2V occurred at Wilkes, and three days later an R4D carrying a scien-tific party into the Sentinel Mountains was irreparably damaged. For-tunately, in this second instance, there were no casualties.

By 10 November, five ships, including three icebreakers, had leftPort Lyttelton and were on their way to McMurdo Sound to inaugurate theship operations phase of the Antarctic suer. As the period closed,those on board saw their first icebergs, and the ships began the stren-uous crossing of the ice pack.

VISIT OF SCAR DELEGATES

At the conclusion of the SCAR (Special Committee on Antarctic Re-search) meeting at Wellington, New Zealand, in early October, Rear Ad-miral Tyree invited the delegates to visit the Antarctic as guests ofthe United States. Among those who accepted were General G.R. Laclavereand Dr. G. de Q. Robin, President and Secretary of SCAR, respectively.Other persons making the trip included the following:

Argentina - Rear Admiral R.N. PanzariniDr. Otto Schneider

2

Australia- Dr. R. Carrick

France- Mr. M. LoriusMr. M.P.C. RollandMr. P.-E. Victor

Japan- Dr. R. ToniDr. H. Uyeda

Norway- Dr. T. Gjelsvik

South Africa- Mr. S.A. EngelbrechtMr. C.G. Hide

United Kingdom - Mr. A.H. SheffieldSir Vivian Fuchs

USA-Mr. R.C. PeaveyDr. T.O. Jones

SOUTH POLE CEREMONY

To commemorate the fiftieth anniversary of the discovery of theSouth Pole, the Governments of the United Kingdom and Norway proposedto present a grey marble plaque to the Amundsen-Scott South Pole Sta-tion. The ceremony of presentation took place at the station on 30October 1961 (local time). Norway was represented by Dr. Tore Gjels-vik, Director of the Norsk Polarinstitutt, and the United Kingdom byDr. Gordon de Q. Robin, who is Director of the Scott Polar ResearchInstitute as well as Secretary of SCAR. Mr. Athol Roberts, Leader ofScott Base, represented New Zealand, and Mr. Philip M. Smith, theNational Science Foundation. Also present for the occasion were Dr.Paul A. Siple, veteran of the Byrd expeditions and first ScientificLeader at the Amundsen-Scott South Pole Station (1956-57), and CDRRonald K. McGregor, USN, Coimnander, Antarctic Support Activities.

When the C-130 carrying the official party touched down at theSouth Pole late on 29 October, it was greeted by Rear Admiral Tyree,who had arrived the previous day. The party was then taken to thestation mess hail, where Admiral Tyree, opening the ceremony, said:

3

Participants inSouth Pole cere-mony:

Dr. G. de Q. RobinRADM D.M. Tyree, USNMr. P.M. SmithDr. T. GjelsvikMr. A. Roberts

"The deeds of Amundsen and Scott half a century ago are of the greatestsignificance in man's brief Antarctic history. Both men stand proudlyin the front ranks of those who, in their different ways, have made suchvital contributions to the exploration and opening of the Antarctic Con-tinent. Amundsen and Scott laid bare the hinterland of this white con-tinent; they demonstrated that no matter how bitter the elements ofnature might be, valiant men could still achieve their goals. Scott andAmundsen added to the sum of man's knowledge; more important, they addedimmensely to the sum of man's inspiration."

Upon the conclusion of his remarks, Admiral Tyree then turned theceremony over to Dr. Gjelsvik of Norway. During the course of his re-marks, the Norwegian polar expert provided some of the basic history sur-rounding the-cQnquests of the Pole: "Roald Amundsen set out from his base,Framheim, at about 7 7* degrees South in the Bay of Whales on October 18,1911, together with Olav Bjaaland, Helmer Hanssen, Sverre Hassel, and OscarWisting. They went straight south and reached the Pole area on December 14,encircling the Pole during the following two days and returning to theirbase on January 26, 1912. Scott, starting from Ross Island at about 77*degrees South, a fortnight later than Amundsen, reached the Pole togetherwith E.A. Wilson, H.R. Bowers, L.E.G. Oates, and E. Evans on January 18,1912. They all perished on their return journey, Scott and his last twomen only eleven miles from their One Ton Depot and less than 200 miles fromtheir base."

Dr. Gjelsvik wont on to say, "As the narrative of Scott's expeditionbecame known to the world, through the publication of his diary and letters,the impact of his expedition changed from that of disaster and tragedy toone of victory and heroism. The magnificent performance of Scott and his

4

Mr. Ben Harlin,3 cientific Lead-er, and LT P.K.Swartz, MC, USN,Officer inCharge, Amundsen-Scott South PoleStation, holdingcommemorativeplaque

men, not life-trained skiers, themselves hauling the sled up the muchcrevassed Beardmore Glacier, over the windswept plateau to the Pole, andnearly all the way back can well be appraised in Norway, itself a coun-try of mountains, snow, and winter storms."

Dr. Robin, in concluding the ceremony's speeches, remarked:"Amundsen and his party, as a result of years of experience in the Arcticand Antarctic, were superb masters of technique. Captain Robert FalconScott and his men, of whom his chief scientist, Edward Adrian Wilson,should be especially mentioned, led the world with their attainments inthe scientific study of Antarctica. The United States South Pole Station,named after Amundsen and Scott, provides an outstanding example of whatcan be accomplished by close cooperation between the present day mastersof polar technique and the scientists studying natural phenomena at theends of the earth."

The ceremony then moved outdoors to the flagpole where the actualpresentation of the plaque was made.

5

U.S. ANTARCTIC RESEARCH PROGRAM1961-62 ORIENTATION SESSION

During the week of 11-17 September 1961, the Office of AntarcticPrograms, National Science Foundation, conducted an orientation programfor all U.S. Antarctic Research Program personnel proceeding to the Ant-arctic for the 1961-62 suer or to winter during 1962. The session washeld at Skyland, Shenandoah National Park, Virginia, and arrangementsfor the program were made by the Arctic Institute of North Americathrough a National Science Foundation contract.

Participants from all over the country gathered at the NationalScience Foundation on the morning of 11 September prior to embarking forSkyland. After initial welcoming remarks, each was given a manual con-taining information reflecting the experience gained by the USARP Staffand a number of the program's veteran scientists during the past sixyears.

The purposes of this general orientation program were as follows:1) to provide information on the national and international significanceof Antarctic research; 2) to review briefly previous exploration and re-search; 3) to outline in a semi-technical manner the various studies com-prising the over-all program; 4) to allow an instruction in cold environ-ment living; 5) to issue cold-weather clothing; 6) to permit variousstation complements and the suer field parties to become informallyacquainted with each other; and, 7) to allow field investigators to makefinal logistic arrangements for their programs.

To help carry out the objectives of the program, a series of speak-ers, many of them outstanding specialists in their fields, presented dis-cussions. These discussions were supplemented by films showing past andpresent activities in Antarctica. Staffs of the Office of AntarcticPrograms and Arctic Institute of North America were on hand to answerquestions relating to the U.S. Antarctic Research Program.

On Saturday and Sunday, 16-.17 September, a special session in moun-tain and ice safety and rescue was held for those investigators partici-pating in geological field work.

CRASH OF P2V-7

The plane which crashed at Wilkes Station on 9 November was engagedon a scientific mission, the primary purpose of which was an airbornemagnetometer survey from NAF McMurdo to Mirnyy Station and return by way

6

of Wilkes Station. It was also desired to correlate a gravimeter withthe pendulum base at Mirnyy.

The cause of the fatal accident at Wilkes Station was an inf lightfire which so filled the aircraft with smoke and fumes as to blind thepilot and copilot. The fire apparently resulted from a bomb bay tanktearing loose from its shackles during a rough takeoff and spillingfuel which ignited. Before totally losing vision, the pilot, unableto see a suitable landing area ahead, attempted to return to the run-way. While executing this maneuver, the plane crashed and was a com-plete loss.

The following is an excerpt from an eyewitness account receivedshortly after the accident:

The aircraft, after travelling the full length of the skiway,became airborne rising on a straight course to a height ofapproximately 500 feet. Some small fragments of solid mate-rial were seen to fall from the fuselage of the aircraft dur-ing this ascent. The aircraft changed its course by bankingto the left shortly after which a puff of flame and smokefollowed by a muffled report occurred toward the rear of thefuselage. The aircraft continued on a banking turn to theleft and then dipped slightly and, while still banking, dis-appeared partially behind a low rise in the plateau surfaceapproximately one and three-quarter miles from the point ofobservation toward the takeoff end of the strip. A burst offlame appeared to come from the aircraft, which continuedfor some distance trailing flame before finally coming torest.

The doctor, with two members of the wintering party, trav-elled by weasel to the still burning aircraft. A messagewas transmitted to the base that takeoff had been effectedat 0409Z and that the aircraft was no longer airborne. Aswe approached over the rise, a small group of four personswas seen standing near the wreckage. When we reached them,they appeared fully conscious and uninjured apart fromburns to clothing, face, and hands. We were assured bythem that no possible assistance could be given to thoseremaining in the aircraft and that a fire occurred in theaircraft after takeoff. The station was further notifiedthat an emergency had occurred. Pain-relieving injectionswere given to the injured, and they were evacuated immedi-ately by weasel transport 8 miles to the base, which theywere able to enter with minimum assistance.

7

SCIENTIFIC NOTES

At the time of going to press, suniner scientific programs were justgetting under way. It is, therefore, too early to sunuarize any of themajor projects for Bulletin readers. The National Science Foundationhas, however, released a number of items of general interest.

UNFROZEN POND

Highly saline water that is believed not to freeze even during theAntarctic winter has been found in a shallow pond in southeast VictoriaLand. Located at 161 0 14 1 E, 77°34'S, the pond was sighted in mid-September from a U.S. Navy helicopter on a scientific reconnaissancemission. The water, which is approximately 11 times as salty as seawater, covers an area of 200 by 700 yards to an average depth of 4inches with depressions up to 12 inches. Old beach lines indicate thatthe pond may at one time have been as much as 30 feet deep. The firstvisit to the pond was made by Dr. George H. Meyer, wintering-over micro-biologist from the University of Texas. Dr. Meyer, in collaborationwith Thomas Berg, geologist from the University of Wisconsin, and JackL. Littlepage, biologist from Stanford University, is conducting a de-tailed biological and geological investigation of the area. Mr. Little-page has already established the degree of salinity, and Dr. Meyer hasdetermined in the laboratory that the water will not freeze at minus 60°Fahrenheit. Two explanations have been tentatively advanced for thehigh salt concentration: (1) that it is caused by leaching of groundsalts followed by evaporation of the water; and (2) that the pond wasoriginally composed of sea water which may have covered the entire areaat some earlier geological time. Of the two possibilities, the firstappears the more likely.

MODERN METHOD OF POLAR TRAVEL

The great improvements in the techniques of polar travel during thelast 50 years were recently given dramatic demonstration. On 27 June1911, three members of the second Scott expedition -- Dr. Edward A.Wilson, LT Henry R. Bowers, RN, and Apsley Cherry-Garrard -- set outfrom McMurdo Sound for Cape Crozier. With their supplies piled on a sledwhich they pulled themselves, they spent 19 days on a journey that one ofthem years later referred to as a horror "not possible to describe." On23 October 1961, two U.S. Navy helicopters lifted an international teamof six biologists from four nations and all their gear between the sametwo places for two days of field investigations. The trip took just 40minutes.

8

FISH STORY

Early in November, John Pearse of Stanford University and WilliamG. Fry of the University of the Pacific, both marine biologists, wentout to a small hut built over a hole in the 6-foot ice of McMurdo Soundto pull up a trap in which they hoped to find some bottom fish and ma-rine invertebrates. Richard M. Brennan, a technician from Kaiser Engi-neers, accompanied the two scientists.

Imagine their surprise when a seal, carrying a large fish in hismouth, burst through the surface of the water. Imagine likewise thesurprise of the seal to be suddenly robbed of his dinner by three strangetwo-legged creatures, who immediately took off across the ice with theirprize.

When the three men had time to examine their catch, they found them-selves with what is believed to be the largest fish ever taken in Antarc-tic waters -- a 58-pounder, measuring 52 inches long. Although the exactidentity could not be determined immediately, it is of the family ofNototheniidae and is apparently similar to a fish obtained by the firstScott expedition. The latter specimen measured 46 inches and weighed 39pounds, but the head was missing and the body damaged. The new catchalso has a strong resemblance to the partially decomposed fish remainsfound last year off the nearby Dailey Islands. These remains have notbeen positively identified, but have been dated as about 1,100 years old.

AERIAL PHOTOGRAPHY

(See Bulletin, Vol. III, No. 1, p. 19.)

During DEEP FREEZE 62, the program of aerial photography will becontinued. Three kinds of photographs will be taken: those for topo-graphic mapping, those for interpretation, and those for albedo studiesin connection with an ice reconnaissance project. The first two proj-ects are under the direction of the United States Geological Survey,while the last is under the Weather Bureau. All photography will bedone by naval aircraft of VX-6.

The mapping effort will include portions of the Queen Maud Range,the southeast Sentinel Mountains, the Waigreen Coast, and part of theVictoria Mountains not covered last year. The interpretation photog-raphy will cover penguin rookeries, mountain areas to the west ofMcMurdo Sound, and strip photography from Cape Colbeck to the HaroldByrd Mountains. The photographs for albedo studies will be made overthe sea area north from McMurdo to the edge of the ice.

9

ANTARCTIC EXHIBIT

Sponsored by the United States Information Service, a travellingexhibit on the Antarctic opened in Zurich, Switzerland, on 22 July 1961.Built around the photographs of the distinguished Swiss photographer,Emil Schuithess, who visited Antarctica as the guest of the United Stateson DEEP FREEZE Iv (1958-59), the exhibition emphasizes United States ac-tivities in the area. In addition to the pictures, objects of interestwere contributed by the Navy, National Science Foundation, the UnitedStates Antarctic Projects Office, and private individuals. Among thelatter were Rear Admiral Richard B. Black, USNR (Ret.), Lieutenant Com-mander Richard E. Byrd, Jr., USNR, Dr. Carl R. Eklund., Dr. James E.Mooney, and Dr. Paul A. Siple. An international flavor was given to theexhibit by the loan from the Royal Geographical Society of several itemsof historical interest. The United States contribution was flowrA toZurich in a C-130BL of VX-6, which was put on public display and attracteda large number of visitors.

Before the exhibit closed in Zurich on 8 August, it was seen by morethan 200,000 persons. From Zurich, the exhibit moved for six weeks toMunich, Germany (1 September-14 October), and then to Hamburg (1-19 Novem-ber). About 1 December, the exhibit will go to Oslo, Norway, where itwill be a feature of the fiftieth anniversary celebration of Ainundsen'sdiscovery of the South Pole. To the core of pictures and objects, theNorwegians expect to add items specifically relating to Amundsen. FromOslo, it will return to Germany, where showings are scheduled until April.After that, it will be made available to other European countries, severalof which have expressed an interest.

PERSONAL

On 23 October 1961, Dr. James E. Mooney, Deputy to the United StatesAntarctic Projects Officer, was the principal speaker at a joint meetingof the Canadian Aeronautical Institute and the Institute of Aerospace Sci-ences at the Chateau Laurier in Ottawa, Canada. Dr. Mooney's subject wasthe "Antarctic Challenge," and, in addition to his remarks, he showed thefilm "Portrait of Antarctica."

During the 1960-61 season, Dr. Henry M. Dater, Historian for theUnited States Antarctic Projects Officer, accompanied the Argentine Ant-arctic expedition as United States official representative. On 1 Novem-ber, Rear Admiral Enrique Grunwaldt, Argentine Naval Attache, presentedDr. Dater with a certificate making him a member of the Grupo Naval Ant-artioo, the Argentine naval task force. Along with the certificate, Dr.Dater also received an Argentine Antarctic emblem.

10

COMMANDER, MATS, VISITS ANTARCTICA

On 13 October 1961, Lieutenant General Joe W. Kelly, USAF, Command-er, Military Air Transport Service, arrived at McMurdo Sound to observethe activities of the units from his command. He was accompanied aboardthe same C-124 by Rear Admiral David M. Tyree, USN, Sir Vivian Fuchs,the noted British explorer, and Dr. T.O. Jones, Head of the NationalScience Foundation's Office of Antarctic Programs, all three of whom hadattended the SCAR meeting in Wellington. Members of the MATS staff alsomade the trip. As General Kelly, highest ranking Air Force officer everto visit Antarctica, remarked, "If I want to see how the MATS men aredoing, I have to get out to where they are doing it."

Upon his return, General Kelly expressed high praise for the workbeing carried on by the Air Force units and his pleasure at the coopera-tion and harmony between his men and the Navy. "I am sure," he said,"that Admiral Tyree's outstanding leadership has inspired all the Ameri-cans engaged in Operation DEEP FREEZE in the Antarctic. The cooperationbetween the New Zealanders at Scott Base under the leadership of Mr.Athol Roberts and the Americans in Antarctica is certainly a fine exam-ple of international cooperation for the advancement of science."

ROOSEVELT ISLAND PROJECT

On 26 and 27 October 1961, aircraft of Navy VX-6 squadron placedseven young scientists from the University of Wisconsin on RooseveltIsland to begin an investigation that may take several years to com-plete. This landmark, roughly the size of Puerto Rico, appears to thecasual observer as a mound of ice rising out of the Ross Ice Shelfwhich completely surrounds it.

The long-term objective of this project is intensive study of alimited area with its ice dome as a model to obtain clues on the be-havior of massive ice sheets. During this season, the scientists willinvestigate the nature of the island and its underlying topography andset out stakes from which snow accumulation and ice movement may bedetermined in the future.

Leader of the party is Argentine-born glaciologist Mario B. Gio-vinetto. Other members are Manfred Hochstein, seismologist from WestGermany, Ray Logie, traverse engineer from New Zealand, Jerry F.Clark, seismologist, Hugh Keifier, general assistant, and James Clappand William Heilman, topographic engineers.

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HAROLD E. SAUNDERS, 1890-1961

Captain Harold E. Saunders (USN, Ret.), Technical Consultant to theChief, Bureau of Ships, died suddenly at his home in Takoma Park, Mary-land on November 11. Saunders, wartime director of the David TaylorModel Basin, enjoyed world eminence as a naval architect, a field in whichhe spent practically his entire naval career. At the Naval Academy, fromwhich he graduated in 1912, he earned the highest academic record compiledby any midshipman since 1885. He also earned an M.S. degree from M.I.T.Among Antarctic explorers, however, he was known for his avocation, Antarc-tic cartographer and place name authority.

A classmate and longtime friend of Admiral Richard E. Byrd, Saundersacted as cartographer for the Byrd Antarctic Expeditions of 1928-30 and1933-35. In this capacity he worked closely with the staff of both theNational Geographic Society and American Geographical Society. He was apioneer in the construction of Antarctic reconnaissance maps from airphotos and it is amazing what excellent results he achieved from obliquephotos of that period with very little ground control.

In 1943 he was appointed by Secretary of the Interior Ickes to serveas one of the original members of the Special Committee on AntarcticNames (now Advisory Committee on Antarctic Names) of the U. S. Board onGeographic Names. For the last 14 years Saunders was chairman of the Com-mittee. He played an important part in resolving vexing name problemsthen before the Board and in shaping a statement of policy to serve as aguide to future naming. He initiated informal exchanges with foreign com-mittees which led to greater international uniformity of names.

On three occasions in recent years Saunders made major contributionsto the Nation's position in the Antarctic through his skill with airphotos. In 1955 he instructed G. D. Blodgett in his method and directedand assisted him in the compilation of an excellent reconnaissance map ofthe Antarctic coast from 86° E. to 144° E. from air photos taken by U. S.Navy Operation Highjump. In 1957 Saunders produced the first delineationof the Pensacola Mountains from photos obtained on a trans-Antarcticflight of Operation Deep Freeze I. In June 1961 he sketched the mountainsbetween Liv and Beardmore Glaciers, combining ground control data obtainedby A. P. Crary with detail gleaned from examination of hundreds of photos.Saunders' success with air photos did not come easily but was the resultof patient and persistent attention to minute detail, the product of askilled and dedicated man.

During earlier periods in this century when Antarctic activity waxedand waned Saunders was one of a handful of Americans who provided continu-ity to United States efforts. All who knew him cherished his friendship.They admired his keen mind, his great ability and persistent applicationto the task at hand, but most of all they esteemed him for his greatpersonal integrity.

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ANTARCTIC CHRONOLOGY, 1961-62

(Greenwich mean time is used except where otherwise indicated.)

5 October

6 October

10 October

12 October

13 October

14 October

15 October

16 October

17 October

19 October

21 October

22 October

Commander, U.S. Naval Support Force, Antarctica, shiftedflag to Christchurch, N.Z.

NAAF Beardmore operative and communications established.

NAAF Little Rockford personnel on station; communicationswere established on 7 October.

First aerial photographic flight by P2V-7 aircraft fromMcMurdo.

Field party established in Wright Dry Valley.

Equipment for Lake Bonney Camp 75 per cent airlifted.

Lt. Gen. Joe W. Kelly, USAF, Corrznander, Military AirTransport Service, arrived NAF McMurdo Sound to inspectMATS operations.

Coninander, U.S. Naval Support Force, Antarctica, shiftedflag to NAF McMurdo Sound.

Automatic weather station installed at 78°21 1 S, 1780391E.

First flight of season to Hallett Station by R4D fromMcMurdo.

Project Coast (Antarctic cloud study) started, Scott Baseand NAF McMurdo Sound.

C.B. Taylor, New Zealand, relieved R.W. Titusof, UnitedStates, as Scientific Leader at Hallett Station.

USS ATKA reported to operational control of CTF-43 anddeparted Boston, Mass.

Ohio State University Victoria Dry Valley party placed infield.

CDR Ronald K. McGregor, USN, relieved CDR James J. Brosna-han, USN, as Commander, Antarctic Support Activities, andCommanding Officer, NAF McMurdo Sound.

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Representative, U.S. Antarctic Research Program, Byrd,established.

23 October

24 October

27 October

28 October

Rear Admiral Tyree inspected Hallett Station (returnedto NAF McMurdo Sound, 24 October).

International group of biologists lifted by Navy hell-oopter to Cape Crozier for two days of investigations.

First airdrop of season to Byrd Station by 0-124 ofNINTH Troop Carrier Squadron from NAP McMurdo Sound.

Automatic weather station installed at 80 0 30 1 S, 1760251W.

USCGC FASTWIND arrived Wellington, N.Z.

Air Development Squadron SIX (vx-6) detachment at ByrdStation activated.

USS ARNEB reported to operational control of CTF-43.

University of Wisconsin Roosevelt Island study groupplaced in field by two C-'130s and one R4D from NAPMcMurdo.

First flight of season to Amundson-Soott South PoleStation by 0-130 with Rear Admiral Tyree aboard.

One U.S. Army helicopter down on Mount Discovery; re-turned to McMurdo Sound after engine change 29 October.

USCGC EASTWIMD arrived Port Lyttelton, N.Z.

International ceremony at Amundsen-Soott South PoleStation marking fiftieth anniversary of the discoveryof the South Pole.

25 October

26 October

29 October

30 October

USNS CHATTAHOOCHEE arrived Port Lyttelton, N.Z.

First airdrops to South Pole Station by C-124s of9th TY3S.

2 Noviber

USS GLACIER arrived at Port Lyttelton, N.Z.

3 November

First increment of U.S. Geological Survey party placedin eastern Horliok Mountains by MD from Byrd Station.

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CTG 43.1 (Captain E.A. McDonald, USN) broke his flagaboard USS GLACIER at Port Lyttelton, N.Z.

USNS MIZAR arrived Port Lyttelton, N.Z.

IJSS ARNEB departed Davisville, R.I., carrying PM-3Anuclear reactor power plant.

5-9 NovemberP2V-7 (Bu. No. 140439) departed NAF McMurdo Sound forMirnyy Station (051552Z) on a scientific mission andto deliver Dr. Madison Pryor, exchange scientist, toMirnyy; arrived Mirnyy (060140Z approx.); departedMirnyy (080100Z approx.); arrived Wilkes (080340Z);on departure from Wilkes (090409Z) the plane crashedon takeoff with five fatalities and four casualties.

5 November

6 November

7 November

8 November

USCGC EASI'WIND departed Port Lyttelton, N.Z., forMcMurdo Sound, Ant., via Scott Island.

USS BURTON ISLAND arrived Port L.yttelton, N.Z.

University of Michigan Ross Ice Shelf party establishedCamp Nimrod.

Remainder of U.S. Geological Survey party placed ineastern Horlick Mountains.

USNS CHATPAHOOCHEE departed Port Lyttelton, N.Z., forMcMurdo Sound, Ant.

USNS MIZAR departed Port Lyttelton, N.Z., for McMurdoSound, Ant.

"Topo South" Tellurometer survey begun.

Ohio State University geological party placed in centralHorliok Mountains by R4D from Byrd Station.

USS BURTON ISLAND departed Port Lyttelton, N.Z., forMcMurdo Sound, Ant.

Aerial photography of Sentinel Mountains area completed.

9th TCS C-124s completed scheduled airdrops to SouthPole Station.

L.R. Martin relieved N.S. Benes as Scientific Leader atByrd Station.

9 November

10 November

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USS GLACIER departed Port Lyttelton, N.Z., for McMurdoSound, Ant.

Captain R.G. Shults, USN, reported for duty as Chiefof Staff and Aide to Commander, U.S. Naval SupportForce, Antarctica.

11 November9th TCS C-124s completed scheduled airdrops to ByrdStation.

12 NovemberR4D damaged landing gear, starboard wing, and tail onlanding in Sentinel Mountains at 77 0 35 1 S 9 870 W, whileplacing University of Minnesota geological party infield; no casualties. Crew of aircraft and three ci-vilian passengers returned to Byrd Station on 14 No-vember.

USCGC EASIWIND placed automatic weather station ashoreon Scott Island.

C-130 flew from NAF McMurdo to Wilkes Station and re-turned (13 November) with survivors and remains ofthose killed in P2V crash.

PUBLICATION AVAILABLE

James P. Minard, Glaciology and Glacial Geology of Antarctica, hasbeen received from the printer and may be obtained by application to theUnited States Antarctic Projects Office.

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