Burton Island (AGB 1) - Naval Cruise Book

Page 101 text:

Right: The Strip at McMurdo had to be cleared of four months' snow, and the GCA equipment reactivated. It took the winteringgover party six days to make a skiway 6,000 feet long, lined with oil drums, and in the middle of this labor they were interrupted by a storm. Although a temperature of 38 degrees below zero and winds of 86 knots had been recorded at McMurdo in the month of June, the plane landed in a 15-knot wind with a minus 14 degree temperature. Only once before in history had an aircraft landed in the Antarctic in darkness. In June, 1964, a second Herc went along for possible search and rescue duty, but this year a second plane was not avail- able at Quonset. The New Zealanders responded mag- nificently, holding two planes ready for SAR at Invercar- gill, the southernmost city in New Zealand, and sending a picket ship halfway to Antarctica for weather informa- tion. Above: Admiral Bakutis stands aside as Mayfield is put aboard the Herc, which also brought mail and fresh fruit and vegetables for the lonely men at McMurdo. After less than three hours on the ground, the plane was on its way back to Christchurch where Mayfield's ruptured bladder was operated on successfully.

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On June l, l966, when the Continent was dark, UTP2 Robert L, Mayfield tell at McMurdo and suffered serious internal iniuries. His condition was reported to Washing- ton by radio, and Admiral Bakutis ordered a Herc to take off from Quonset. lt was fitted with the same interior fuel tank that is used to supply inland stations on the ice, containing 35,000 pounds of JP4 and assuring at least fourteen extra flying hours. The plane carried almost three crews and was flown by Cdr Moe Morris, skipper of VX-6, iust before he relinquished command of the squadron. ln Washington, they picked up the Admiral and his staff doctor and staff meteorologists. Below: Cdr Morris reported a bright moon as he brought the plane in very high over the Continent. At about 4,500 feet he found cloud cover, but when he dropped below it he saw the blazing oil drums on the Strip. u. s. Navy t 'X W V X

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