Operation Deep Freeze: Involvement by mobility Airmen continues some 55 years later

Published Nov. 4, 2010
By Master Sgt. Scott T. Sturkol
Air Mobility Command Public Affairs

SCOTT AIR FORCE BASE, Ill. -- Few people know that the explorer, British Navy Capt. Robert Falcon Scott, was the first person to fly in Antarctic airspace as he ascended 800 feet in a tethered balloon near the Ross Ice Shelf on Feb. 4, 1902.

Captain Scott's achievement was part of the British National Antarctic, or "Discovery," Expedition that took place from 1901 to 1904. More than 100 years later, U.S. military aviators are sharing that same airspace every year through Operation Deep Freeze.

According to the Air Mobility Command History Office publication, "Operation Deep Freeze, 50 Years of U.S. Air Force Airlift in Antarctica, 1956-2006," the operation officially began in 1956 but there were many efforts to build the aviation capabilities in the Antarctic long before Deep Freeze began.

For example, in 1929, U.S. Navy Rear Adm. Richard E. Byrd led an expedition that included three aircraft, the history publication shows. From a U.S. base called "Little America" near the Rockefeller Mountains in Antarctica, Admiral Byrd flew the first mission over the South Pole in November 1929. He completed his 1,600-mile, round-trip flight in just one day.

By 1947, Admiral Byrd led further U.S. expeditions to Antarctica - including Operation High Jump that was a task force of more than 4,700 men aboard 13 ships - that helped develop scientific stations and build up air operations for supplying those stations.

After Admiral Byrd, in 1955, Navy Rear Adm. George J. Dufek was given two years to have five scientific stations ready by 1957 and have other stations built by 1958, states the book written by AMC historian, Mr. Ellery D. Wallwork, with support from Ms. Kathryn A. Wilcoxson. Operation Deep Freeze I started in November 1955, with the Navy being the lead, and ended March 30, 1956.

By the start of Operation Deep Freeze II on Oct. 28, 1956, mobility Airmen had already begun their involvement with the operation that continues today. The first C-124 Globemaster II to land in Antarctica arrived on Oct. 21, 1956, and was part of eight C-124s that were assigned to provide airlift support and "to airdrop equipment at the South Pole."

Over the years, the Air Force portion of Operation Deep Freeze has been with Tactical Air Command, Military Air Transport Service, Military Airlift Command and AMC. When AMC was activated in 1992, the main responsibility went to Pacific Air Forces Command where it continues today.

During the first 50 years of Operation Deep Freeze, mobility Airmen made a sizeable contribution to supplying Antarctica. According to the book, between 1956 and 2006, mobility Airmen flew more than 5,800 missions moving more than 78,900 tons of cargo. Additionally, they moved more than 94,500 passengers between New Zealand and Antarctica "and around Antarctic continent itself."

History also shows there have been a wide variety of airlift aircraft involved throughout the years for the operation. Following are some of the historical airlift "firsts" involving Operation Deep Freeze.

-- The first C-130D Hercules landed at the South Pole on Jan. 27, 1960.

-- The first C-130E landed at McMurdo Sound on Oct. 14, 1963.

-- The first C-141 Starlifter to land at McMurdo Sound was on Nov. 14, 1966.

-- The first C-5B Galaxy landed at the Ross Sea ice runway near McMurdo Sound on Oct. 4, 1989.

-- The first C-17 Globemaster III to land at McMurdo Sound was on Oct. 15, 1999.

For the 2010-11 Operation Deep Freeze season, operations will be coordinated through Joint Task Force-Support Forces Antarctica at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii, an October PACAF news report shows.

The 55th year for Operation Deep Freeze began in October as a New York Air National Guard LC-130 Hercules, equipped with retractable ski-wheels, departed to support the U.S. Antarctic Program and the National Science Foundation's research at international sites throughout the Antarctic continent. The LC-130 is from the 109th Airlift Wing in Schenectady, N.Y., and is the only organization in the world that flies the ski-equipped LC-130s.

An LC -130 pilot from the 109th AW quite possibly summed up the feeling of most mobility Airmen on the importance of supporting Operation Deep Freeze.

"This is a great mission to be a part of and great ski bird to fly," said 17-year LC-130 pilot, Lt. Col. Chris Sander. "I enjoy the challenge of the weather and the support we're providing the National Science Foundation and the U.S. Antarctic Program because of the work they're doing."

(Tech. Sgt. Kerry Jackson, 13th Air Force Public Affairs, and the AMC History Office contributed to this story.)