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Show flew inland and picked up the wintering party and some equipment, equip-ment, but weather conditions made' the resupplying and landing land-ing of the new personnel impossible. impos-sible. A dispatch to the commanding officer of the Burton Island from the commander of the Naval Supply Sup-ply Forces of Antartica, read in part, "Your 17 day battle to render ren-der assistance in the face of heavy ice and gale winds is in the best traditions of the U. S. Navy and an example of the spirit of cooperation between nations na-tions that is characteristic of the Antarctic IGY program. Well done to all hands and best wishes for a pleasant voyage home." After escorting the Soya Maru to safe waters and away from the ice packs, making as little as two miles in a 12 hour period, the Burton Island proceeded further westward around the Antarctic continent and freed two Norwegian Norwe-gian ships who had been locked in the ice for 30 days, and then set steam for the U. S. S. L. Man Returns Operation Deep Freeze After Serving In Gert S. Prawitt, seaman apprentice, ap-prentice, USN, son of Mr. and Mrs. Arthur Prawitt of 232 W. 1st North, returned to Seattle, Wash., this month aboard the icebreaker USS Burton Island, after completing "Operation Deepfreeze III" in the Antarctic. Leaving Seattle last November the Burton Island proceeded to the Antarctic loaded with supplies sup-plies for the seven U. S. International Inter-national Geophysical Year stations, sta-tions, arriving one month later at Wilkes Station. After unloading the icebreaker made way to the Russian IGY Mirny Station. On Jan. 29, over 200 U. S. Navy men, IGY scientists, and news men were joyfully welcomed the first Americans to visit this main Russian base in Antartica. Greeted with sincere hospitality, hospital-ity, the men were treated to a dinner and taken on a tour of the laboratories, living facilities facili-ties and airstrip. Later that evening eve-ning the Russian personnel came aboard the Burton Island for refreshments, re-freshments, a tour of the ship and were shown an American movie. Scientific information was exchanged ex-changed between the American and Russian scientists. Pictures, coins and other souvenirs were exchanged. The Russian personnel showed great interest in American magazines maga-zines and returned to the base with over 400 back dated issues. After leaving the Russian sta- tion the ice breaker was ordered to the aid of the Japanese ship Soya Maru, which was having trouble getting through the ice packs to resupply a Japanese IGY station. For 17 days the two ships smashed the ice and tried different differ-ent routes only to be halted by snow and rough seas. The Burton's Bur-ton's helicopter flew continuous ice reconnaissance flights under all weather conditions, trying to find a way through the ice to the base. The ships managed to maneuver man-euver within 50 miles of the station. sta-tion. The Japanese vessel's seaplane |