United States air-drop operations in Antarctica, 1956–59

Extract

The establishment of the United States IGY stations at the South Pole and in Marie Byrd Land, with their subsequent annual re-supply, has involved the delivery of men and matériel by air on a scale previously unknown to Antarctic operations. “Amundsen-Scott” station at the South Pole was planned and executed entirely by air, with C-124 Globemasters of the United States Air Force air-dropping the great bulk of the required cargo tonnage, and Navy ski-equipped R4D and P2V aircraft delivering personnel and nondrop cargo. In the case of “Byrd” station, the bulk of the cargo was planned for delivery from “Little America V” by tractor train, assisted by skiequipped aircraft carrying personnel and some cargo to the station, and giving logistic support to the tractor trains. A considerable amount of matériel was also air-dropped by the C-124's, both cargo for the station and fuel for the tractor trains. In addition, a small amount of cargo was air-dropped for the setting up of the small summer station on the South Pole route (formerly “Liv Camp”, now the “Naval Auxiliary Air Facility, Beardmore Glacier”).