Staten Island (AGB 5) - Naval Cruise Book

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493' -A U K Mk EN ROUTE T0 WILKES The trip around to Wilkes was not a dull one as the xx exe several diversions worthy of notlce The first these conceined the desire of an Antarctic veteran to see h15 old home SIR RAYMOND PRIESTLEY of England fpictuied leitj xx IS one of our most notable guests during OPEP -XTION DEEPFREEZE IV This years recipient of the Founder s Med il of the Roy il Geographical Society SIR HAXNIOND has many years of efcplorlng and scien- tific work in distant places belnnd him including serv- ice with the Shackleton and Scott expeditions to the Antarctic shortly after the turn of the twentieth century. f Among his adventures are included spending an entire Antarctic winter in a cave of ice with a few weeks pro- visions, augmented by seals and penguins, waiting foi? the ship that never camel One winter, however, SIR RAYMOND remained in the Antarctic in relative comfort, at Cape Adare, the north- western corner of the Ross Sea. His hut is still standing tsee helowl as we found out when we stopped at Cape

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banding parties, observation groups and the like roamed the premises. The Coast Guard icebreaker NORTHWIND was also at Hallett, but a change of plans diverted her to assume the tasks of the GLACIER, leaving STATEN ISLAND to finish up NORTHVVIND3 work, which consisted of completing the evacuation of Little America V. So back to the other end of the Ross Sea went STATEN ISLAND and ARNEB, and the last remaining personnel and sup- plies were taken aboard, the remnants being left to the wind and snow. The familiar sight of Bit. Erebus in Nlchlnrdo Sound greeted us once more, as the icebreaker got in a few more licks at lengthening the channel. Finally she was relieved by NORTHXVIND, and the long voyage out of the Ross Sea and around the continent to the Indian Ocean side-and XVilkes Station- was about to begin. CLEVER l.lTTl.E BIRDS: NICHOLAS AG2 topper rightl RICH- ARD PENNEY flower leftl and RAINER GOLDSMITH llovver rightl civilians, all have their moments at Hallett with the clever little creatures who make this Antarctic paradise their summer headquarters Cmiddle rightl. all 1 x- QQ X A In 0' -ga . 'f .- -. '--s.- 4',---ww 55' ,aff 1 ' ' ' ' , ..- ru ., Q 4 I , ', ' ' --if Y . - ' ' . ' 4 - V ,V .L . ,. . Lt... , . , . I - ,--.- -, .. I-x,. A , - Q- . .. . x . rf 1 . J ' t ' i if I Eff V in -'li' 1Ahf fL Q. N -lf FM ' .L - ' J ' 5- , -J?-i,2,f.' ,ff ' 'rg .-Q-.I - 4 f fi -t.-. -f ISM., -5-'f - 'M HY.: ery! king? .61 Q A . la D? ss at - , A 5 A ., Q,-- . ., .7 N, 45-3 ,gh A, .Al-sho. ' 1 line. ' ig X goliixgl' agp, f - :vs .-. J 'I .,'Q1 t sei' ., 1, ke. '- a, V . . ,gi gi as , Av if- -'WV' 'L.-l..-- quid-f 'fl7' ' S bf, 39 7-:WM ,4-'ft ' A -- -f- Lf f'f

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Adare briefly, although damaged and with the roof blown away. XVhile in Robertson Bay, oceanographic studies were conducted, and the 50 year-old campsite visited. .X second stop was made for several days at the Balleny Islands, discovered in 1830 by a British sealer, but virtually unexplored since that time. A group from the icebreaker became the first on record to land on Buck- ley Island, the largest of the five volcanic heaps which comprise this landmark. Oceanographic and cartographic studies were made dur- ing this time, considerable amounts of rock and marine algae specimens were collected, five Adelie penguin rookeries were newly discovered and numerous photo- graphs including aerial shots were taken. Not only was it difficult landing the LCVP's on the current-swept beaches of the Ballenies but it was also touch-and-go conning the icebreaker itself through waters abounding with jagged pinnacles climbing peri- lously close to the surface, any one of which could have torn a gaping hole in the hull. . ,,,g. Ye Z'- j' '..iu.. 4 W' 4' X 4. . I' + i.gf'9..'Q 1:4 Above: SIR RAYMOND PRIESTLEY and the Commanding Officer inspect the remains of SIR RAYMOND'S former winter quarters on Cape Adare. Upper right: Constant maintenance on the helicopters was necessary to keep the whirly-birds in operating trim. Lower right: ANDERSON SN gazing at the photographer as another landing party goes ashore for scientific and tourist-style endeavors. Finally it was on to Wilkes. En route we sighted Iapan- ese, British and even Russian whaling vessels plying their trade in the calm waters off the continent, the tiny whalers scurrying around chasing the mammoth beasts and the large factory ships handling the abund- ance of tasks involved in making the Moby Dicks com- mercially valuable. Little ice was encountered on this journey, but there were icebergs galore, all shapes and sizes, and a con- tinuing delight for shutterbugs. There were also some of the most beautiful sunsets ever witnessed, as the ship had progressed far enough north so that night became more than just a name once more. l I . . sd,- s U, f'. .. f 'Q' 77 .... wi . s-.ff .V . V Hg W-is 5 ab' 41 e 'n