Burton Island (AGB 1) - Naval Cruise Book

Page 99 text:

a bf: 1 7 ' - Lf 71i-7-.r 7-.H'?-2-wil-?1-?'1-1-H al' T- The leader of a scientific party on the Ross lce Shelf reads his Christmas mail. Since the Goon that flew out to resupply them couldn't get to them for a few days be- cause of bad weather, they were happy to see visitors. Opposite: Adelie penguins in an Agnes DeMille ballet.

Page 98 text:

In the Pensacola Mountains, the largest scientific party of the season found evidence that Antarctica, which may have been link- ed to South America long ago, according to geological similarities in the Andes and the Trans-Antarctic Range, may also have been a part of India. Tillites - glacial debris - from the carboniferous period, about 300 million years ago, occur at almost the same levels in Antarctica, South Africa, South America, and India. Fossils in the Horlick Mountains, such as braclziopoda, an early form of scallop, show that the Antarctic was much warmer once and had a lush vegetation. After ten years of investigation, sup- ported by Operation Deep Freeze, the geologists are beginning a new era of detailed analyses, in which they will write the compli- cated geological history of Antarctica. Toward the end of February, the Continent prepared to shut down for the winter. After the last aircraft flew out, a ship or two, engaged in scientific Work, prowled around the coasts, but after the last letters departed, the men at the five lonely stations had only radio contact with the rest of the world. Here, the true heroes remained, almost all of them members of Antarctic Support Activities, to keep the stations running for the next seven months. They perform many humble jobs, but the clue to the vitality of Deep Freeze is the patience with which the men of ASA back up the often invisible work of the scientists. Even the penguins disappeared. The sun stood lower and lower above the horizon, and soon there was ordinary sunrise and sunset, before the final curtain of night, on April 22. It requires an unusual determination to remain - in total darkness - on the ice. 5 W if if ffm. izfi , S. ' X , If , ff, ff 5 i.Ji,.ig px, ,, 55X g 5

Page 100 text:

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