Taken from the edge of the ice, this whale could be sizing me up for a meal...they will try to knock seals off the ice edge if they can.
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Ship's gear: The GPT 750-D2, and 90RX, transmitter, and receiver. Used both Christmas' to patch most of the crew home.
| Ice Hinge |
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VIPs |
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In December of 64 - summertime down there, we made it all the way to McMurdo. The CBs pushed volcanic ash over the ice that remained attached to the shore, and we tied up to it like a dock. It was just a walk to "town".
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Clockwise from top left: Scott Base leader; McMurdo base Commander; Bondeson - Captain of Towle; Towle Engineer - Johnson, and me.
Scott Base, much smaller than McMurdo, but cozy, was popular with many.
| Mess |
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C-130 |
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Supposedly, when the ice thaws, and floats away, all the garbage should leave. Possibly it didn't happen yet here.
All the bases have this problem with waste.
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The plane of choice in the Antarctic. I flew to the South Pole Station in Dec of '64 in this one...just me, and barrels of diesel fuel...no other passengers. William's Field is the air-strip.
| Nose Wheel Ski |
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Stbd Landing-gear Ski |
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Husky - "Lucky" inspecting C-130's nose wheel, and ski. Orders came down to shoot all the huskies at the Pole Station...they ran out of bullets when it came to Lucky. He followed me all around the station.
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Breaking the suction on take-off could be a problem if a good bump couldn't be found. I personally, as a passenger, couldn't notice any difference between wheel, and ski operations
| Plane - Port Side |
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South Pole...then |
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Only stayed on the "ground" for two hours...enough time to discharge, pick up mail, and leave.
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It was 15�F below, sunny, and calm. Could have taken off the parker, but left it on for effect.
| | Front Door |
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Surface Buildings |
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Silver-colored corrugated tube leads to the Station below. Entrance door was like that for refrigerators, but reversed...the cold stayed out. As everyone arriving, I was treated to a steak sandwich right off. Afterwards I meandered top-sides, and spotted the mail clerk at the far end of this cavernous Butler Building, still busily sorting mail. "Bob, KC4USN ( his ham station call )?" I called out...my voice bouncing off the walls in an eerie fashion. Startled, he turned, saw me, but continued to scan around me, especially above me...like I dropped from the sky. I announced myself: "Carl - WB2LTL - KC4UST ( the Towel's call letters )...how are you?" "Where the hell did you come from? How'd you get here?" he enquired most startled.
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It was in one of these buildings I surprised the mail orderly. Imagine, turning around as he did, and seeing me standing there, this after about an hour after the plane's arrival. In many QSOs after, when I returned to sea on the Towle, Bob would bring up our encounter, telling everyone about me probably being the only ham ever to travel to the South Pole just for an "eyeball".
It certainly was unique. However, many of us involved in Operation Deep Freeze were hams, and met on the air before on the ice. See my story here.
The Pacific may appear deserted, and lonely, but when I was "on the air" I was in the finest company anyone could want, and seldom was there ever anyone interferring, nor static - QRM, QRN.
| | The C-130's Flight Deck |
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Lyttleton |
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I was invited on our return trip to visit the Flight Deck. Still the only passenger, the cargo bay now empty, this was possible. Got a great view of the Beardmore Mountains, and glacier. The flight took several hours, and went as usual without incident...the weather clear, and as sunny as could be.
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A little town on the side of a hill. The port serving Christ Church, a lovely, modern city...the people of New Zealand marvelous. Visited a few ham friends while there, in turn, inviting them to the ship. The harbor water is, because of certain mineral deposits, the color of Robin's Egg Blue.
| | Third Mate |
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Second Mate |
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With a different view of the town behind, here is Mr. Johnson - one of our two Third Officers...Gary Tober, not shown, the other.
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Mr. Joe Morrissey - Second Officer. An academy graduate, like the two "Thirds", Joe was a good shipmate, and officer.
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