VX-6
Encyclopedia
Air Development Squadron Six (VX-6 or AIRDEVRON SIX, commonly referred to by its nickname, The Ice Pirates) was a United States Navy
Air Development Squadron based at McMurdo Station
, Antarctica. Established at Naval Air Station Patuxent River
, Maryland on 17 January 1955, the squadron's mission was to conduct operations in support of Operation Deep Freeze
, the operational component of the United States Antarctic Program
.
Using the tail code
XD, the squadron flew numerous fixed-wing aircraft
and helicopter
s over the course of its existence—many of which were pioneering endeavors. For example, the first air link between Antarctica and New Zealand was established by men and aircraft of VX-6 in 1955. The following year, a ski-equipped R4D Dakota of VX-6 became the first aircraft to land at the South Pole
. In 1961, the first emergency midwinter medical evacuation flight was conducted from Byrd Station
to Christchurch
. In 1963, an LC-130F Hercules of VX-6 made the longest flight in Antarctic history. In 1967, a United States Navy LC-130F of VX-6 completed the first scheduled winter flight to Antarctica, landing at Williams Field
.
VX-6 changed the tail code of its aircraft to JD in 1957, and was redesignated as Antarctic Development Squadron Six (VXE-6
) on 1 January 1969. Over the 14-year course of its existence, seventeen sailors and marines
assigned to VX-6 died in Antarctica in support of Operation Deep Freeze.
(1946–1947), the fourth Antarctic expedition conducted by United States Navy Rear Admiral
Richard Evelyn Byrd
. That expedition set out in December 1946 to conduct an extensive aerial survey
of Antarctica, using Martin PBM Mariners based in the pack ice
of the Ross Sea
, as well as land-based R4D Dakotas (Dakota, from the acronym "DACoTA" for Douglas Aircraft Company Transport Aircraft, was the designation used by the United States Navy to refer to the Douglas C-47 Skytrain). By the time Operation Highjump was concluded in late February 1947, the team had mapped about 5500 miles (8,851.4 km) of coastline and 1500000 square miles (3,884,982.2 km²) of the interior of the continent.
VX-6 was one of six air development squadrons formed by the United States Navy beginning in 1946 to develop and evaluate aircraft tactics and techniques. These squadrons were initially directed by the Operational Development Force, which was redesignated in May 1959 as the Operational Test and Evaluation Force
(OPTEVFOR). These six squadrons were initially designated as VX-1 (tail code XA), VX-2 (tail code XB), VX-3 (tail code XC), VX-4
(tail code XF), VX-5 (tail code XE) and VX-6 (tail code XD). On 01 January 1969, the surviving Air Development Squadrons (VX-1, VX-4, VX-5 and VX-6) became Air Test and Evaluation Squadrons. Their designations were changed to VXE-1, VXE-4, VXE-5 and VXE-6. Their tail codes of these squadrons were changed to JA, JF, JE and JD, respectively.
responsibilities in connection with the United States Antarctic Program. On 01 February, Task Force 43 was activated to plan Antarctic operations scheduled to begin in the fall under the code name Operation Deep Freeze, with Captain George J. Dufek
as commanding officer. Dufek would remain as commanding officer through Operation Deep Freeze IV, which concluded in 1959. The mission of Task Force 43 was to provide all the logistical support necessary for the successful U.S. participation in the upcoming International Geophysical Year
(1957–8). More specifically, this meant that Task Force 43 was responsible for the construction of airstrips and iceport
s and the establishment of bases on Antarctica that would enable scientists to conduct geophysical studies upon that continent. On 14 November, the flagship of the recently promoted RADM Dufek, Commander Task Force 43, steamed from Naval Station Norfolk
, Virginia to rendezvous in New Zealand
with other ships of the task force for the onward voyage to Antarctica.
VX-6 made its first deployment at that time as part of Task Force 43 (the logistics
arm of Operation Deep Freeze). That first season, VX-6 completed nine long-range exploratory flights. The squadron also transported people and materials necessary for the construction of Little America Base Camp, the Naval Air Operations Facility on Hut Point Peninsula
(Ross Island
), the first South Pole Station (now referred to as "Old Pole"), and assisted in the establishment of four other bases on the continent. On 20 December 1955, two Lockheed P2V-2 Neptunes and two R5D Skymasters (R5D was the designation used by the United States Navy to refer to the Douglas C-54 Skymaster) established the first air link between Antarctica and New Zealand with a flight from Christchurch to McMurdo Station.
Following its return from Operation Deep Freeze I in February 1956, VX-6 was relocated to Naval Air Station Quonset Point
, Rhode Island. Naval Construction Battalion Center Davisville
, the site of manufacture of the first Quonset hut
s, was also located at Quonset Point. NCBC Davisville was the home of Naval Construction Battalion
200, which had been established to perform the construction of any facilities required by the United States Antarctic Program. In September of that year, LCDR Ray E. Hall
drew the first rendition of "Puckered Pete", a cartoon character which later became the unofficial mascot of VX-6.
On 31 October 1956, during Operation Deep Freeze II, Qué Será Será, a ski-equipped R4D Dakota piloted by LCDR Conrad S. Shinn
, became the first plane to land at the South Pole. The seven United States Navy men (RADM George J. Dufek
, CAPT Douglas L. Cordiner
, CAPT William M. Hawkes
, LCDR Conrad S. Shinn
, LT John R. Swadener
, AD2 John P. Strider
, and AT2 William A. Cumbie, Jr.
) aboard that aircraft were the first to stand at this spot in 44 years, the last being Robert Falcon Scott
's ill-fated Terra Nova Expedition
in January 1912. RADM Dufek had chosen LCDR Shinn and his flight crew to attempt the landing, which was an extraordinary undertaking since the South Pole was almost 10000 feet (3,048 m) above sea level where the aircraft engines would operate considerably below their optimum power levels. In addition it was expected that extremely cold conditions could be expected on the surface. The landing party remained at the South Pole for only 49 minutes, setting up navigational aids to assist the future delivery of materials and equipment for constructing a scientific observation station at the spot. Also in 1956, an R4D Dakota delivered the first group of 11 Seabee
s and 11 dog sled
s, together with tents and other equipment to the South Pole, to begin construction of the first South Pole Station.
made the first wheels-on-dirt landing in Antarctica at Marble Point
. On 01 October 1959, RADM David M. Tyree
(Commander, U.S. Naval Support Force Antarctica from 14 April 1959–26 November 1962) arrived at Naval Air Facility McMurdo Station from Christchurch aboard an R5D Skymaster piloted by LCDR J. A. Henning of VX-6. This first flight of the season marked the operational implementation of Operation Deep Freeze V.
On 9–10 April 1961, the first midwinter medical evacuation flight was conducted to rescue Leonid Kuperov, a seriously ill Soviet
scientist, from Byrd Station. Two VX-6 C-130BL Hercules from Quonset Point flew from to Christchurch. One (piloted by CDR Lloyd E. Newcomer
) then flew on to Byrd Station to pick up Kuperov, while the other stood by in Christchurch. The total distance flown during this rescue mission was just under 13000 miles.
On 22 February 1963, an LC-130F Hercules of VX-6 made the longest flight in Antarctic history, covering territory never before seen by man. The plane (piloted by CDR William H. Everett
and carrying RADM James R. Reedy
(Commander, U.S. Naval Support Force Antarctica from November 1962–April 1965) among its passengers, made the 3470 miles (5,584.4 km) flight from McMurdo Station, beyond the South Pole to the Shackleton Range
and then southeastward to the pole of inaccessibility
before returning to McMurdo Station; the duration of this journey was 10 hours and 40 minutes. Also in February 1963, VX-6 completed the first delivery of bulk fuel by a Lockheed LC-130 Hercules.
On 26 June 1964, an LC-130F Hercules, commanded by LT Robert V. Mayer
of VX-6, completed a round-trip flight from Christchurch to Antarctica in an emergency evacuation of petty officer B. L. McMullen, critically injured in a fall. As in the earlier medical evacuation of 1961, two planes, with teams of medical specialists on board, flew from NAS Quonset Point to Christchurch where one plane stood by while the other undertook the hazardous flight. On 30 September 1964, three LC-130 Hercules aircraft of VX-6 took off from Melbourne
, Christchurch and Punta Arenas, respectively. The three aircraft flew to Antarctica, landing on Williams Field, 7 miles (11.3 km) from McMurdo Station. The flight from Melbourne, the first in history from Australia to Antarctica, passed over the South Pole to drop a 50-pound sack of mail to the wintering-over party, then landed at Byrd Station before proceeding to McMurdo Station. The arrival of RADM Reedy on this flight marked the official opening of Operation Deep Freeze 1965. Also in 1964, VX-6 conducted the first flight from Cape Town
, South Africa
to McMurdo Station, the first flight of a U.S. aircraft to the Soviet Vostok Station
, and the first successful demonstration of trimetrogon aerial photography
, used extensively to map Antarctica.
On 07 June 1966, a C-130 Hercules, piloted by CDR Marion Morris
of VX-6, returned to Christchurch after a flight to McMurdo Station to evacuate UT-2 Robert L. Mayfield, who had been critically injured in a fall. It was the third emergency air evacuation from Antarctica during the winter night.
On 18 June 1967, The first scheduled winter flight to Antarctica was successfully completed when a United States Navy LC-130F of VX-6 flying from Christchurch landed at Williams Field. Although earlier winter flights had been made to Antarctica as a result of medical emergencies, this was the first planned flight. On 02 December 1967, an LC-117D Skytrooper landed at McMurdo Station from Hallett Station
. This was the last C-117 flight on the Antarctic continent, marking the end of 11 years of service to VX-6 by the Douglas C-47 Skytrain airframe.
On 01 January 1969, VX-6 was redesignated as Antarctic Development Squadron Six (VXE-6
).
(R7D and R7V models), and the Lockheed LC-130 Hercules. The ski-equipped LC-130 Hercules, whose long range and heavy load capability significantly increased the capabilities of the unit, was introduced during Operation Deep Freeze 1961. Helicopters included the Sikorsky Seahorse (HUS-1A and HUS-1L models), and the Sikorsky HO4S-3.
conditions, killing David W. Carey
, Rayburn A. Hudman
, Marion O. Marze
, and Charles S. Miller
. On 12 July 1957, an HO4S-3 crashed in the vicinity of McMurdo Station during austral
winter, killing Nelson R. Cole
. On 04 January 1959, a UC-1 Otter crashed on takeoff at Marble Point, killing Harvey E. Gardner
and Lawrence J. Farrell
. On 09 November 1961, a P2V-7 crashed on takeoff from Wilkes Station
, killing William D. Counts
, Romuald P. Compton
, William W. Chastain
, and James L. Gray
. On 02 February 1966, a LC-47J crashed on Ross Ice Shelf
during takeoff, killing Ronald Rosenthal
, Harold M. Morris
, William D. Fordell
, Richard S. Simmons
, Wayne M. Shattuck
, and Charles C. Kelley
.
United States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
Air Development Squadron based at McMurdo Station
McMurdo Station
McMurdo Station is a U.S. Antarctic research center located on the southern tip of Ross Island, which is in the New Zealand-claimed Ross Dependency on the shore of McMurdo Sound in Antarctica. It is operated by the United States through the United States Antarctic Program, a branch of the National...
, Antarctica. Established at Naval Air Station Patuxent River
Naval Air Station Patuxent River
"Pax River" redirects here. For the river, see Patuxent River.Naval Air Station Patuxent River , also known as NAS Pax River, is a United States Naval Air Station located in St. Mary's County, Maryland on the Chesapeake Bay near the mouth of the Patuxent River. It is home to the U.S...
, Maryland on 17 January 1955, the squadron's mission was to conduct operations in support of Operation Deep Freeze
Operation Deep Freeze
Operation Deep Freeze is the codename for a series of United States missions to Antarctica, beginning with "Operation Deep Freeze I" in 1955–56, followed by "Operation Deep Freeze II", "Operation Deep Freeze III", and so on...
, the operational component of the United States Antarctic Program
United States Antarctic Program
United States Antarctic Program is an organization of the United States government which has presence in the continent of Antarctica. It co-ordinates research and the operational support for research in the region...
.
Using the tail code
Tail Code
Tail codes are the markings usually on the vertical stabilizer of U.S. military aircraft that help to identify the aircraft's unit and/or base assignment and occasionally other information that is not unique. This is not the same as the serial number, bureau number, or aircraft registration which...
XD, the squadron flew numerous fixed-wing aircraft
Fixed-wing aircraft
A fixed-wing aircraft is an aircraft capable of flight using wings that generate lift due to the vehicle's forward airspeed. Fixed-wing aircraft are distinct from rotary-wing aircraft in which wings rotate about a fixed mast and ornithopters in which lift is generated by flapping wings.A powered...
and helicopter
Helicopter
A helicopter is a type of rotorcraft in which lift and thrust are supplied by one or more engine-driven rotors. This allows the helicopter to take off and land vertically, to hover, and to fly forwards, backwards, and laterally...
s over the course of its existence—many of which were pioneering endeavors. For example, the first air link between Antarctica and New Zealand was established by men and aircraft of VX-6 in 1955. The following year, a ski-equipped R4D Dakota of VX-6 became the first aircraft to land at the South Pole
South Pole
The South Pole, also known as the Geographic South Pole or Terrestrial South Pole, is one of the two points where the Earth's axis of rotation intersects its surface. It is the southernmost point on the surface of the Earth and lies on the opposite side of the Earth from the North Pole...
. In 1961, the first emergency midwinter medical evacuation flight was conducted from Byrd Station
Byrd Station
Byrd Station refers to a research station established by the United States during the International Geophysical Year by the U.S. Navy during Operation Deep Freeze II in West Antarctica at 80°, 120°W...
to Christchurch
Christchurch
Christchurch is the largest city in the South Island of New Zealand, and the country's second-largest urban area after Auckland. It lies one third of the way down the South Island's east coast, just north of Banks Peninsula which itself, since 2006, lies within the formal limits of...
. In 1963, an LC-130F Hercules of VX-6 made the longest flight in Antarctic history. In 1967, a United States Navy LC-130F of VX-6 completed the first scheduled winter flight to Antarctica, landing at Williams Field
Williams Field
Williams Field or Willy Field is a United States Antarctic Program airfield in Antarctica. Williams Field consists of two snow runways located on approximately 8 meters of compacted snow, lying on top of 80 meters of ice, floating over 550 meters of water...
.
VX-6 changed the tail code of its aircraft to JD in 1957, and was redesignated as Antarctic Development Squadron Six (VXE-6
VXE-6
VXE-6, Antarctic Development Squadron 6 , commonly referred to by its nickname, The Puckered Penguins was a United States Navy Air Test and Evaluation Squadron based at McMurdo Station, Antarctica...
) on 1 January 1969. Over the 14-year course of its existence, seventeen sailors and marines
United States Marine Corps
The United States Marine Corps is a branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for providing power projection from the sea, using the mobility of the United States Navy to deliver combined-arms task forces rapidly. It is one of seven uniformed services of the United States...
assigned to VX-6 died in Antarctica in support of Operation Deep Freeze.
History
VX-6 traces its roots to Operation HighjumpOperation Highjump
Operation Highjump , officially titled The United States Navy Antarctic Developments Program, 1946-1947, was a United States Navy operation organized by RADM Richard E. Byrd Jr. USN, , Officer in Charge, Task Force 68, and led by RADM Richard H. Cruzen, USN, Commanding Officer, Task Force 68....
(1946–1947), the fourth Antarctic expedition conducted by United States Navy Rear Admiral
Rear admiral (United States)
Rear admiral is a naval commissioned officer rank above that of a commodore and captain, and below that of a vice admiral. The uniformed services of the United States are unique in having two grades of rear admirals.- Rear admiral :...
Richard Evelyn Byrd
Richard Evelyn Byrd
Rear Admiral Richard Evelyn Byrd, Jr., USN was a naval officer who specialized in feats of exploration. He was a pioneering American aviator, polar explorer, and organizer of polar logistics...
. That expedition set out in December 1946 to conduct an extensive aerial survey
Aerial survey
Aerial survey is a geomatics method of collecting information by using aerial photography, LiDAR or from remote sensing imagery using other bands of the electromagnetic spectrum, such as infrared, gamma, or ultraviolet. It can also refer to the chart or map made by analysing a region from the air...
of Antarctica, using Martin PBM Mariners based in the pack ice
Polar ice packs
Polar ice packs are large areas of pack ice formed from seawater in the Earth's polar regions, known as polar ice caps: the Arctic ice pack of the Arctic Ocean and the Antarctic ice pack of the Southern Ocean, fringing the Antarctic ice sheet. Polar packs significantly change their size during...
of the Ross Sea
Ross Sea
The Ross Sea is a deep bay of the Southern Ocean in Antarctica between Victoria Land and Marie Byrd Land.-Description:The Ross Sea was discovered by James Ross in 1841. In the west of the Ross Sea is Ross Island with the Mt. Erebus volcano, in the east Roosevelt Island. The southern part is covered...
, as well as land-based R4D Dakotas (Dakota, from the acronym "DACoTA" for Douglas Aircraft Company Transport Aircraft, was the designation used by the United States Navy to refer to the Douglas C-47 Skytrain). By the time Operation Highjump was concluded in late February 1947, the team had mapped about 5500 miles (8,851.4 km) of coastline and 1500000 square miles (3,884,982.2 km²) of the interior of the continent.
VX-6 was one of six air development squadrons formed by the United States Navy beginning in 1946 to develop and evaluate aircraft tactics and techniques. These squadrons were initially directed by the Operational Development Force, which was redesignated in May 1959 as the Operational Test and Evaluation Force
Operational Test and Evaluation Force
The Operational Test and Evaluation Force serves as independent and objective agency within the United States Navy for the operational testing and evaluation of naval aviation, surface warfare, submarine warfare, C4I, cryptologic, and space systems in support Navy and U.S...
(OPTEVFOR). These six squadrons were initially designated as VX-1 (tail code XA), VX-2 (tail code XB), VX-3 (tail code XC), VX-4
VX-4
VX-4, Air Test and Evaluation Squadron Four, , commonly referred to by its nickname, The Evaluators) was a United States Navy air test and evaluation squadron based at Naval Air Station Point Mugu, California...
(tail code XF), VX-5 (tail code XE) and VX-6 (tail code XD). On 01 January 1969, the surviving Air Development Squadrons (VX-1, VX-4, VX-5 and VX-6) became Air Test and Evaluation Squadrons. Their designations were changed to VXE-1, VXE-4, VXE-5 and VXE-6. Their tail codes of these squadrons were changed to JA, JF, JE and JD, respectively.
Operation Deep Freeze I and II
Air Development Squadron Six (VX-6) was formally established on 17 January 1955 at Naval Air Station Patuxent River, Maryland. The squadron's mission was to conduct aviation operations in support of United States Department of DefenseUnited States Department of Defense
The United States Department of Defense is the U.S...
responsibilities in connection with the United States Antarctic Program. On 01 February, Task Force 43 was activated to plan Antarctic operations scheduled to begin in the fall under the code name Operation Deep Freeze, with Captain George J. Dufek
George J. Dufek
George John Dufek was an American naval officer, naval aviator, and Arctic expert. He served in World War II and the Korean War and in the 1940s and 1950s spent much of his career in the Antarctic, first with Admiral Byrd and later as supervisor of U.S. programs in the South Polar regions...
as commanding officer. Dufek would remain as commanding officer through Operation Deep Freeze IV, which concluded in 1959. The mission of Task Force 43 was to provide all the logistical support necessary for the successful U.S. participation in the upcoming International Geophysical Year
International Geophysical Year
The International Geophysical Year was an international scientific project that lasted from July 1, 1957, to December 31, 1958. It marked the end of a long period during the Cold War when scientific interchange between East and West was seriously interrupted...
(1957–8). More specifically, this meant that Task Force 43 was responsible for the construction of airstrips and iceport
Iceport
An iceport is a a more-or-less permanent indentation in the front of an ice shelf, that can serve as a natural ice harbor. Though useful, they are not always reliable, as calving of surrounding ice shelves can render an iceport temporarily unstable and unusable.-Historical and present use of...
s and the establishment of bases on Antarctica that would enable scientists to conduct geophysical studies upon that continent. On 14 November, the flagship of the recently promoted RADM Dufek, Commander Task Force 43, steamed from Naval Station Norfolk
Naval Station Norfolk
Naval Station Norfolk, in Norfolk, Virginia, is a base of the United States Navy, supporting naval forces in the United States Fleet Forces Command, those operating in the Atlantic Ocean, Mediterranean Sea, and Indian Ocean...
, Virginia to rendezvous in New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
with other ships of the task force for the onward voyage to Antarctica.
VX-6 made its first deployment at that time as part of Task Force 43 (the logistics
Logistics
Logistics is the management of the flow of goods between the point of origin and the point of destination in order to meet the requirements of customers or corporations. Logistics involves the integration of information, transportation, inventory, warehousing, material handling, and packaging, and...
arm of Operation Deep Freeze). That first season, VX-6 completed nine long-range exploratory flights. The squadron also transported people and materials necessary for the construction of Little America Base Camp, the Naval Air Operations Facility on Hut Point Peninsula
Hut Point Peninsula
Hut Point Peninsula is a long, narrow land mass from 2 to 3 miles wide and 15 miles long, projecting southwest from the slopes of Mount Erebus on Ross Island....
(Ross Island
Ross Island
Ross Island is an island formed by four volcanoes in the Ross Sea near the continent of Antarctica, off the coast of Victoria Land in McMurdo Sound.-Geography:...
), the first South Pole Station (now referred to as "Old Pole"), and assisted in the establishment of four other bases on the continent. On 20 December 1955, two Lockheed P2V-2 Neptunes and two R5D Skymasters (R5D was the designation used by the United States Navy to refer to the Douglas C-54 Skymaster) established the first air link between Antarctica and New Zealand with a flight from Christchurch to McMurdo Station.
Following its return from Operation Deep Freeze I in February 1956, VX-6 was relocated to Naval Air Station Quonset Point
Naval Air Station Quonset Point
Naval Air Station Quonset Point was a United States Naval Base in Quonset Point, Rhode Island that was deactivated in 1974. Next to NAS Quonset Point was Camp Endicott at Davisville, home of the Naval Construction Battalions known as the Seabees. Quonset Point also gave its name to the Quonset hut,...
, Rhode Island. Naval Construction Battalion Center Davisville
Camp Endicott
Camp Endicott, later known as Davisville Naval Construction Battalion Center, was a United States Navy base Seabee base. It is now a historic site between Seventh and Tenth streets in North Kingstown, Rhode Island....
, the site of manufacture of the first Quonset hut
Quonset hut
A Quonset hut is a lightweight prefabricated structure of corrugated galvanized steel having a semicircular cross section. The design was based on the Nissen hut developed by the British during World War I...
s, was also located at Quonset Point. NCBC Davisville was the home of Naval Construction Battalion
Seabee
Seabees are members of the United States Navy construction battalions. The word Seabee is a proper noun that comes from the initials of Construction Battalion, of the United States Navy...
200, which had been established to perform the construction of any facilities required by the United States Antarctic Program. In September of that year, LCDR Ray E. Hall
Mount Hall
Mount Hall is a rock peak standing 1.5 nautical miles southwest of Mount Daniel, surmounting the snow-covered, tabular mountain block which forms the south end of Lillie Range, in the foothills of the Prince Olav Mountains. Discovered and photographed by the U.S. Ross Ice Shelf Traverse Party ...
drew the first rendition of "Puckered Pete", a cartoon character which later became the unofficial mascot of VX-6.
On 31 October 1956, during Operation Deep Freeze II, Qué Será Será, a ski-equipped R4D Dakota piloted by LCDR Conrad S. Shinn
Mount Shinn
Mount Shinn is a mountain 4660m in altitude, standing 4 miles southeast of Mount Tyree in the Sentinel Range, Ellsworth Mountains. Discovered on IGY reconnaissance flights in January 1958, and named by Advisory Committee on Antarctic Names for Lieutenant Commander Conrad S. Shinn, U.S....
, became the first plane to land at the South Pole. The seven United States Navy men (RADM George J. Dufek
Dufek Coast
Dufek Coast is that portion of the coast along the southwest margin of the Ross Ice Shelf between Airdrop Peak on the east side of the Beardmore Glacier and Morris Peak on the east side of Liv Glacier. Named by New Zealand Antarctic Place-Names Committee in 1961 after Rear Admiral George J...
, CAPT Douglas L. Cordiner
Cordiner Peaks
The Cordiner Peaks are a group of peaks extending over an area of , standing southwest of Dufek Massif in the northern part of the Pensacola Mountains. They were discovered and photographed on January 13, 1956 in the course of a transcontinental nonstop plane flight by personnel of U.S. Navy...
, CAPT William M. Hawkes
Mount Hawkes
Mount Hawkes is the highest mountain along the Washington Escarpment, standing at the east side of Jones Valley in the Neptune Range, Pensacola Mountains. Discovered and photographed on January 13, 1956 in the course of the trans-Antarctic nonstop plane flight by personnel of U.S. Navy Operation...
, LCDR Conrad S. Shinn
Mount Shinn
Mount Shinn is a mountain 4660m in altitude, standing 4 miles southeast of Mount Tyree in the Sentinel Range, Ellsworth Mountains. Discovered on IGY reconnaissance flights in January 1958, and named by Advisory Committee on Antarctic Names for Lieutenant Commander Conrad S. Shinn, U.S....
, LT John R. Swadener
Mount Swadener
Mount Swadener is a peak located in Edward VII Land, West Antarctica. This mountain is located in the Sneddon Nunataks, a group of coastal nunataks on the north side of the Alexandra Mountains of Edward VII Peninsula...
, AD2 John P. Strider
Strider Rock
Strider Rock is a rock 1 nautical mile northwest of Mount Nilsen in the Rockefeller Mountains of Edward VII Peninsula, Marie Byrd Land, West Antarctica.-Discovery and naming:...
, and AT2 William A. Cumbie, Jr.
Cumbie Glacier
Cumbie Glacier is a short, steep glacier just east of Scott Nunataks, flowing north into Swinburne Ice Shelf along the southwest side of Sulzberger Bay. Mapped by United States Geological Survey from surveys and U.S. Navy air photos, 1959-66. Named by Advisory Committee on Antarctic Names for...
) aboard that aircraft were the first to stand at this spot in 44 years, the last being Robert Falcon Scott
Robert Falcon Scott
Captain Robert Falcon Scott, CVO was a Royal Navy officer and explorer who led two expeditions to the Antarctic regions: the Discovery Expedition, 1901–04, and the ill-fated Terra Nova Expedition, 1910–13...
's ill-fated Terra Nova Expedition
Terra Nova Expedition
The Terra Nova Expedition , officially the British Antarctic Expedition 1910, was led by Robert Falcon Scott with the objective of being the first to reach the geographical South Pole. Scott and four companions attained the pole on 17 January 1912, to find that a Norwegian team led by Roald...
in January 1912. RADM Dufek had chosen LCDR Shinn and his flight crew to attempt the landing, which was an extraordinary undertaking since the South Pole was almost 10000 feet (3,048 m) above sea level where the aircraft engines would operate considerably below their optimum power levels. In addition it was expected that extremely cold conditions could be expected on the surface. The landing party remained at the South Pole for only 49 minutes, setting up navigational aids to assist the future delivery of materials and equipment for constructing a scientific observation station at the spot. Also in 1956, an R4D Dakota delivered the first group of 11 Seabee
Seabee
Seabees are members of the United States Navy construction battalions. The word Seabee is a proper noun that comes from the initials of Construction Battalion, of the United States Navy...
s and 11 dog sled
Dog sled
A dog sled is a sled pulled by one or more sled dogs used to travel over ice and through snow. Numerous types of sleds are used, depending on their function. They can be used for dog sled racing.-History:...
s, together with tents and other equipment to the South Pole, to begin construction of the first South Pole Station.
1957–1969
In 1957, the first letter of all the east-coast-based VX squadrons, including VX-6, was changed from X to J. In January 1958, a VX-6 UC-1 OtterDe Havilland Canada DHC-3 Otter
The de Havilland Canada DHC-3 Otter is a single-engined, high-wing, propeller-driven, STOL aircraft developed by de Havilland Canada. It was conceived to be capable of performing the same roles as the earlier and highly successful Beaver, but was overall a larger aircraft.-Design and...
made the first wheels-on-dirt landing in Antarctica at Marble Point
Marble Point
Marble Point, Antarctica, is a rocky promontory on the coast of Victoria Land located at 77° 26' S latitude and 163° 50' E longitude. The United States operates a station at the point. The outpost is used as a helicopter refueling station supporting scientific research in the nearby continental...
. On 01 October 1959, RADM David M. Tyree
Mount Tyree
Mount Tyree is the second highest mountain of Antarctica located 13 kilometres northwest of Vinson Massif , the highest peak on the continent....
(Commander, U.S. Naval Support Force Antarctica from 14 April 1959–26 November 1962) arrived at Naval Air Facility McMurdo Station from Christchurch aboard an R5D Skymaster piloted by LCDR J. A. Henning of VX-6. This first flight of the season marked the operational implementation of Operation Deep Freeze V.
On 9–10 April 1961, the first midwinter medical evacuation flight was conducted to rescue Leonid Kuperov, a seriously ill Soviet
Soviet Union
The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....
scientist, from Byrd Station. Two VX-6 C-130BL Hercules from Quonset Point flew from to Christchurch. One (piloted by CDR Lloyd E. Newcomer
Newcomer Glacier
Newcomer Glacier is a glacier 20 nautical miles long transecting the north part of the Sentinel Range, flowing southeast from the vicinity of Allen Peak and then east to where it leaves the range north of Bracken Peak. Named by the Advisory Committee on Antarctic Names for Commander Loyd E....
) then flew on to Byrd Station to pick up Kuperov, while the other stood by in Christchurch. The total distance flown during this rescue mission was just under 13000 miles.
On 22 February 1963, an LC-130F Hercules of VX-6 made the longest flight in Antarctic history, covering territory never before seen by man. The plane (piloted by CDR William H. Everett
Everett Range
Everett Range is a rugged, mainly ice-covered mountain range nearly 95 km long between the Greenwell and Ebbe glaciers in northwest Victoria Land, Antarctica...
and carrying RADM James R. Reedy
Reedy Glacier
The Reedy Glacier is a major glacier in Antarctica, over 160 km long and from 10 to 19 km wide, descending from the polar plateau to the Ross Ice Shelf between the Michigan Plateau and Wisconsin Range, and marking the limits of the Queen Maud Mountains on the west and the Horlick...
(Commander, U.S. Naval Support Force Antarctica from November 1962–April 1965) among its passengers, made the 3470 miles (5,584.4 km) flight from McMurdo Station, beyond the South Pole to the Shackleton Range
Shackleton Range
The Shackleton Range is a mountain range in Antarctica. Rising to , it extends in an east-west direction for about between the Slessor and Recovery glaciers....
and then southeastward to the pole of inaccessibility
Pole of inaccessibility
A pole of inaccessibility marks a location that is the most challenging to reach owing to its remoteness from geographical features that could provide access...
before returning to McMurdo Station; the duration of this journey was 10 hours and 40 minutes. Also in February 1963, VX-6 completed the first delivery of bulk fuel by a Lockheed LC-130 Hercules.
On 26 June 1964, an LC-130F Hercules, commanded by LT Robert V. Mayer
Mayer Crags
Mayer Crags is a rugged V-shaped massif, 10 nautical miles long, surmounted by several sharp peaks, located at the west side of the mouth of Liv Glacier, where the latter enters Ross Ice Shelf. Named by Advisory Committee on Antarctic Names for Lieutenant Robert V. Mayer, U.S...
of VX-6, completed a round-trip flight from Christchurch to Antarctica in an emergency evacuation of petty officer B. L. McMullen, critically injured in a fall. As in the earlier medical evacuation of 1961, two planes, with teams of medical specialists on board, flew from NAS Quonset Point to Christchurch where one plane stood by while the other undertook the hazardous flight. On 30 September 1964, three LC-130 Hercules aircraft of VX-6 took off from Melbourne
Melbourne
Melbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia. The Melbourne City Centre is the hub of the greater metropolitan area and the Census statistical division—of which "Melbourne" is the common name. As of June 2009, the greater...
, Christchurch and Punta Arenas, respectively. The three aircraft flew to Antarctica, landing on Williams Field, 7 miles (11.3 km) from McMurdo Station. The flight from Melbourne, the first in history from Australia to Antarctica, passed over the South Pole to drop a 50-pound sack of mail to the wintering-over party, then landed at Byrd Station before proceeding to McMurdo Station. The arrival of RADM Reedy on this flight marked the official opening of Operation Deep Freeze 1965. Also in 1964, VX-6 conducted the first flight from Cape Town
Cape Town
Cape Town is the second-most populous city in South Africa, and the provincial capital and primate city of the Western Cape. As the seat of the National Parliament, it is also the legislative capital of the country. It forms part of the City of Cape Town metropolitan municipality...
, South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
to McMurdo Station, the first flight of a U.S. aircraft to the Soviet Vostok Station
Vostok Station
Vostok Station was a Russian Antarctic research station. It was at the southern Pole of Cold, with the lowest reliably measured natural temperature on Earth of −89.2 °C . Research includes ice core drilling and magnetometry...
, and the first successful demonstration of trimetrogon aerial photography
Metrogon
Metrogon is a high resolution, low-distortion, extra-wide field photographic lens design, popularized by Bausch and Lomb. Variations of this design are said to have been used extensively by the US military for use in aerial photography on the T-11 camera .The most common Metrogon lenses have a f...
, used extensively to map Antarctica.
On 07 June 1966, a C-130 Hercules, piloted by CDR Marion Morris
Morris Glacier
Morris Glacier is a glacier flowing north to the head of Sea Leopard Fjord in the Bay of Isles, South Georgia. Charted in 1912-13 by Robert Cushman Murphy, American naturalist aboard the brig Daisy, who named it for Edward Lyman Morris, a botanist who was then head of the Deptartment of Natural...
of VX-6, returned to Christchurch after a flight to McMurdo Station to evacuate UT-2 Robert L. Mayfield, who had been critically injured in a fall. It was the third emergency air evacuation from Antarctica during the winter night.
On 18 June 1967, The first scheduled winter flight to Antarctica was successfully completed when a United States Navy LC-130F of VX-6 flying from Christchurch landed at Williams Field. Although earlier winter flights had been made to Antarctica as a result of medical emergencies, this was the first planned flight. On 02 December 1967, an LC-117D Skytrooper landed at McMurdo Station from Hallett Station
Cape Hallett
Cape Hallett is a snow-free area on the northern tip of the Hallett Peninsula on the Ross Sea coast of Victoria Land, East Antarctica. A very large Adelie penguin rookery is located at Cape Hallett...
. This was the last C-117 flight on the Antarctic continent, marking the end of 11 years of service to VX-6 by the Douglas C-47 Skytrain airframe.
On 01 January 1969, VX-6 was redesignated as Antarctic Development Squadron Six (VXE-6
VXE-6
VXE-6, Antarctic Development Squadron 6 , commonly referred to by its nickname, The Puckered Penguins was a United States Navy Air Test and Evaluation Squadron based at McMurdo Station, Antarctica...
).
Aircraft
In support of Operation Deep Freeze, the squadron operated a variety of aircraft throughout the course of its existence. Fixed-wing aircraft included the Grumman UF-1L Albatross, UC-1 Otter, Douglas Skytrain (R4D Dakota and C-47 models), Douglas Skymaster (R5D and C-54 models), Lockheed Neptune (P2V-2 and P2V-7 models), Lockheed ConstellationLockheed Constellation
The Lockheed Constellation was a propeller-driven airliner powered by four 18-cylinder radial Wright R-3350 engines. It was built by Lockheed between 1943 and 1958 at its Burbank, California, USA, facility. A total of 856 aircraft were produced in numerous models, all distinguished by a...
(R7D and R7V models), and the Lockheed LC-130 Hercules. The ski-equipped LC-130 Hercules, whose long range and heavy load capability significantly increased the capabilities of the unit, was introduced during Operation Deep Freeze 1961. Helicopters included the Sikorsky Seahorse (HUS-1A and HUS-1L models), and the Sikorsky HO4S-3.
Aviation accidents and incidents
Seventeen sailors and marines assigned to VX-6 died in Antarctica in support of Operation Deep Freeze. On 18 October 1956, a P2V-2 Neptune crashed at McMurdo Station during a landing in whiteoutWhiteout (weather)
Whiteout is a weather condition in which visibility and contrast are severely reduced by snow or sand. The horizon disappears completely and there are no reference points at all, leaving the individual with a distorted orientation...
conditions, killing David W. Carey
Carey Glacier
Carey Glacier is a glacier on the east side of Miller Peak in the south end of the Sentinel Range, Ellsworth Mountains, flowing southeast to Minnesota Glacier. It was mapped by the United States Geological Survey from surveys and from U.S. Navy air photos, 1957–59, and named by the Advisory...
, Rayburn A. Hudman
Hudman Glacier
Hudman Glacier is a glacier between Marze Peak and Miller Peak at the south end of Sentinel Range, Ellsworth Mountains, flowing south-southeast to Minnesota Glacier. Mapped by United States Geological Survey from surveys and U.S. Navy air photos, 1957-59. Named by Advisory Committee on Antarctic...
, Marion O. Marze
Marze Peak
Marze Peak is a rock peak with twin summits near the south end of the ridge between Wessbecher and Hudman Glaciers, in Petvar Heights at the south end of Sentinel Range, Ellsworth Mountains in Antarctica. Mapped by United States Geological Survey from surveys and U.S. Navy air photos, 1957-59....
, and Charles S. Miller
Miller Peak (Sentinel Range)
Miller Peak is a peak with twin summits on the central part of the ridge between Hudman and Carey Glaciers, in Petvar Heights at the south end of Sentinel Range in Ellsworth Mountains, Antarctica. First mapped by United States Geological Survey from surveys and U.S. Navy air photos, 1957-59. Named...
. On 12 July 1957, an HO4S-3 crashed in the vicinity of McMurdo Station during austral
Southern Hemisphere
The Southern Hemisphere is the part of Earth that lies south of the equator. The word hemisphere literally means 'half ball' or "half sphere"...
winter, killing Nelson R. Cole
Mount Cole
Mount Cole is a mountain over high, on the west side of Shackleton Glacier, between the mouths of Forman Glacier and Gerasimou Glacier, in the Queen Maud Mountains. It was discovered and photographed by U.S. Navy Operation Highjump, 1946–47, and named by the Advisory Committee on Antarctic Names...
. On 04 January 1959, a UC-1 Otter crashed on takeoff at Marble Point, killing Harvey E. Gardner
Mount Gardner
Mount Gardner is a mountain standing 1.5 nautical miles west of Mount Tyree in the W-central part of the Sentinel Range, Ellsworth Mountains. Discovered by the Marie Byrd Land Traverse party, 1957–58, under C.R. Bentley. Named by Advisory Committee on Antarctic Names for Lieutenant Harvey L....
and Lawrence J. Farrell
Mount Farrell (Antarctica)
Mount Farrell is a mountain over 2,600 m, rising just northwest of Dater Glacier and about 13 nautical miles east of Mount Shear, in the Sentinel Range, Ellsworth Mountains. First mapped by United States Geological Survey from surveys and U.S. Navy air photos, 1957-59. Named by Advisory Committee...
. On 09 November 1961, a P2V-7 crashed on takeoff from Wilkes Station
Wilkes Station
Wilkes Station was an Antarctic research station established 29 January 1957 by the United States as one of seven U.S. stations established for the International Geophysical Year program in Antarctica...
, killing William D. Counts
Counts Icefall
Counts Icefall is a steep, heavily-crevassed icefall at the juncture of the Ford Massif and the western end of the Bermel Escarpment, in the Thiel Mountains. It was surveyed by the United States Geological Survey Thiel Mountains party, 1960–61, and named by the Advisory Committee on Antarctic...
, Romuald P. Compton
Compton Valley
Compton Valley is an ice-filled valley indenting the north side of Ford Massif between Reed Ridge and Walker Spur, in the Thiel Mountains. It was surveyed by the United States Geological Survey Thiel Mountains party, 1960–61, and named by the Advisory Committee on Antarctic Names for Lieutenant...
, William W. Chastain
Chastain Peak
Chastain Peak is a peak, high, near the center of the Moulton Escarpment, at the western margin of the Thiel Mountains. It was surveyed by the United States Geological Survey Thiel Mountains party, 1960–61, and named by the Advisory Committee on Antarctic Names after William W. Chastain, Aviation...
, and James L. Gray
Gray Spur
Gray Spur is a rock spur between Aaron Glacier and Counts Icefall on the east side of Ford Massif, in the Thiel Mountains. A small peak rises from the end of the spur. Mapped by the United States Geological Survey Thiel Mountains party of 1960-61. Named by Advisory Committee on Antarctic Names ...
. On 02 February 1966, a LC-47J crashed on Ross Ice Shelf
Ross Ice Shelf
The Ross Ice Shelf is the largest ice shelf of Antarctica . It is several hundred metres thick. The nearly vertical ice front to the open sea is more than 600 km long, and between 15 and 50 metres high above the water surface...
during takeoff, killing Ronald Rosenthal
Mount Rosenthal
Mount Rosenthal is a prominent mountain, 1,840 m, at the north end of Liberty Hills, in the Heritage Range, Ellsworth Mountains. Named by Advisory Committee on Antarctic Names for Lieutenant Commander Ronald Rosenthal, U.S. Navy, navigator on LC-47 aircraft, who perished in a crash on the Ross...
, Harold M. Morris
Morris Cliff
Morris Cliff is a steep, east-facing cliff between the Marble Hills and Independence Hills in the Heritage Range, Ellsworth Mountains. Named by Advisory Committee on Antarctic Names for Lieutenant Harold M. Morris, U.S. Navy, pilot of LC-47 aircraft, who perished in a crash on the Ross Ice Shelf,...
, William D. Fordell
Mount Fordell
Mount Fordell is a mountain, 1,670 m, marking the south end of the Marble Hills in the Heritage Range. Named by Advisory Committee on Antarctic Names for Lieutenant William D. Fordell, U.S. Navy, co-pilot of LC-47 aircraft, who perished in a plane crash on the Ross Ice Shelf, February 2, 1966....
, Richard S. Simmons
Mount Simmons
Mount Simmons is a mountain, 1,590 m, forming the north end of the Independence Hills, in the Heritage Range. Named by Advisory Committee on Antarctic Names for aviation electronics technician Richard S. Simmons, U.S. Navy, air crewman on LC-47 aircraft, who perished in a crash on the Ross Ice...
, Wayne M. Shattuck
Mount Shattuck
Mount Shattuck is a peak, 1,430 m, located at the south end of Independence Hills, about 3 miles northwest of Redpath Peaks, in the Heritage Range. Named by Advisory Committee on Antarctic Names for aviation machinist Wayne M. Shattuck, U.S. Navy, air crewman on LC-47 aircraft, who perished in a...
, and Charles C. Kelley
Kelley Peak (Antarctica)
Kelley Peak is a peak, 1,710 m, forming the south end of Liberty Hills in the Heritage Range. Named by Advisory Committee on Antarctic Names for air crewman Charles C. Kelley, United States Navy, who perished in the crash of the LC-47 aircraft on the Ross Ice Shelf, February 2, 1966....
.