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Show Thursday, November 3, 1960 U. S. THE VALLEY VIEW NEWS Navy Stays in Like old time gold prospectors, scientists of 12 nations are bit by bit wresting long and pealously guarded secrets from the most mysterious continent on the face of the earth Antartica! Their quest is for knowledge, not wealth, an dthey have planes and ships an dtractors to help them instead of a pick and shovel and a burro. Nevertheless, since 1957 when the International Geophysical Year asbrought on the first full-scasault on Antartica, only portions of the South Polar region have been explored. But the efforts of the IGY have been expanded and extended by the nations taking part in Antartic exploration. A continuing program of research is being carried out in different degrees by each of these Antartica in terms of money, manpower and logistic support. And the job of supporting the American Antartic scientific program is being done by the U.S. Navy. It has been termed by experts as the greatest peacetime military logistic program in our history. In late 1954 the Navy was told by the President to take on the responsibility of building seven bases in Antartica in time for the IGY which began on July 1, 1957. Early in 1955 a task force was formed to carry out the assigned mission. The code name OPERA TION DEEP FREEZE was tagged to the program. In addition to building the bases the Navy had to supply and maintain them and also provide all support needed by our scientists. The first two bases went up durThe United States Antartic Pro- ing the Antartic summer season of gram is the largest of these efforts 1955-5A Naval' Air Facility was le ice-cover- ed 6. Page 7 established at McMurdo Sound as a staging base and a scientific headquarters was set up at Little America V. Both stations were located near the Ross Sea, at opposite ends of the Ross Ice Shelf, agloating sheet of glacial ice as large as France. season, five During the 1956-5- 7 more stations were bom in time for the start of IGY. Two of the stations were built inland; one at the geopgraphical South Pole and one in Marie Byrd Land. The other three were erected at widely separated points on the Antartic coastline. With the stations manned and fully supplied, Americas agreed commitments for the IGY were fulfilled and a successful scientific program .was assured. But when IGY was over at the end of 1958, 12 nations decided that they would continue their scientific programs in Antartica. In the fall of 1959 representatives of these countries, including the - TG o o o o United States and the USSR, met in Washington and signed a treaty guaranteeing the future of Antartica as a peaceful, scientific laboratory. Though still to be ratified by the countries concerned, this treaty is considered a model which could be followed for a treaty on space. With the decision to continue the Antartic program, the Navy was told to continue its logistic support In April 1959, RADM David M. Tyree, USN, assumed command of the Antartic Support Forces. Ahead of him, in addition to resupplying the bases, was the job of almost completely rebuilding the four stations which are being maintained indefinitely. Erected for IGY, the buildings were of a temporary nature and now partially require replacing. Some of this new construction was accomplished in 1959-6- 0 but much remains to be done. At Byrd Station a whole new undersnow camp will be built. This will eliminate the problem of ice accumulation on the roofs of the buildings which at present make permanent construction impossible. Another planned improvement is the installation of atomic reactors to provide heat, power and light At present oil is used for, these necessities but transporting the oil o to Antartica makes the cost of each barrel delivered skyrocket. Nuclear reactors will pay for themselves in from two and one half to five years, in the estimation of both Navy and Atomic Energy Commission experts. New airplanes and other equipment will gradually be phased Into use. Last season Hercules cargo made their first appearance planes in Antartica. these planes can land at the inland stations, thus, eliminating the need for air dropping cargo from Globemasters which were employed to build these remote stations. Since the first year, Navymen, as well as scientists, have remained in Antartica during the five month winter night The scientists carry out their programs of study, observation and research. 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