FLIGHT FROM McMURDO

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31079, 7 June 1966, Page 1

FLIGHT FROM McMURDO

Hercules Bringing Sick Seaman A ski-equipped Hercules of the United States Navy’s VX6 Squadron is due to land at Christchurch Airport at 3.6 a.m. today with a seriously ill seaman from McMurdo Station. He is Petty Officer A. Mayfield.

The flight is the second in two years to evacuate a sick man from Antarctica in mid-winter.

The Hercules left for McMurdo Station from Christchurch Airport at 7.19 a.m. yesterday. It made a jetassisted take-off. The plane landed at McMurdo Station at 4.16 p.m., an hour behind schedule, because of strong head winds that reached 70 knots.

The spell between the landing and the successful take-off al 7.18 p.m. allowed Petty Officer Mayfield to be flown by helicopter from the McMurdo dispensary to the waiting Hercules, and the plane’s crew to have a hot meal at the station’s mess.

At 12.45 a.m. today the Hercules was 440 miles from Christchurch.

On board were 14 persons, including the crew, RearAdmiral F. E. Bakutis, commander of the United States Navy Antarctic support force. Lieutenant-Commander P. E. Tyler, a Navy surgeon, Commander A. C. Kranz, the staff meteorologist, and Commander C. A. Olds, the executive officer of Antarctic support activities, whose normal headquarters is at McMurdo Station.

As well as its normal fuel load on its flisrht from Christchurch the Hercules carried a specially-fitted internal tank which held about 3000 gallons and a spare engine. There were, in addition, about 2801 b of mail for McMurdo Station and Scott Base, 4501 b of fresh provisions, about 50'b o f magazines, and several tins of biscuits—a gift from the Can-

terbury branch of the New Zealand Antarctic Society. At 9.15 a.m. yesterday, H.M.N.Z.S. Taranaki was reported to be about 500 miles south of New Zealand. The ship had had to slow down on Sunday night because of rough seas. United States Navy headquarters in Christchurch was yesterday morning in excellent voice contact (by sideband radio) with the Taranaki, McMurdo Station, Byrd Station, the South Pole Station. and the Hercules flying south.

No weather probe by an R.N.Z.A.F. aircraft was sought, although an R.N.Z.A.F. Bristol Freighter from Whenuapai was standing by at Invercargill for possible search-and-rescue duty. While the Hercules was on the way to McMurdo Station, Admiral Bakutis spoke to the captain of the Taranaki by radio. He also spoke with each of the American bases in the Antarctica with the exception of Palmer Station, on the Antarctic Peninsula.

At McMurdo men and machines worked around the clock to prepare the main 8000 ft skiway at Williams Field, and a 6000 ft cross-way, for the Hercules. Special lights had been strung out along the main skiway, and flaming oil drums placed at 1000 ft intervals illuminated the crossway. The runway lights were taken to McMurdo at the end of last summer.

According to a weather reoort to Christchurch shortly before the plane landed, there was visibility for 50 miles, winds of about five knots and a temperature of minus four degrees. Light snow was falling. The injured man was described as being in good shape for the flight. No complications on the way to Christchurch were expected. A message from the Hercules at 9.15 p.m. said it was being helped by a tail wind of 24 knots.

The Christchurch Hospital was on the alert last evening to provide medical care for Petty Officer Mayfield as soon as he arrived by United States naval ambulance from the airport. At Evensong in Christchurch Cathedral the Dean of Christchurch (the Very Rev. W. A. Pyatt) asked the congregation to pray for the success of the Antarctic mission of mercy, and spoke of the unselfishness of those taking part who were venturing into the depths of an Antarctic winter to bring help to a sick comrade.