Operation Windmill 1947-48 After the return of Operation Highjump to the United States it was determined that the 70,000 photographs were impossible to reconstruct in a useful manner since there had been no accurate ground control points. Thus, 30 landmarks were selected as reference points and at the end of 1947, Operation Windmill was born. The icebreakers Edisto and Burton Island arrived at the pack ice on Christmas Day, 1947 and immediately headed for the Davis Sea, sight of their first target. In 23 days, nine points along a 600 mile stretch of coast were surveyed. After their success on the Wilkes Land Coast, the ships sailed for Little America and the Ross Sea to continue operations. However, it was already too late in the year and as a result they were unable to survey any more of their targets so they headed for home.
Click here for an enlarged image of the "Mother-Of-All" Windmill covers! Here is the reverse side. This beauty is the rarest cover in my collection and possibly unique. The story behind it is fascinating. Since 1939, the only privately organized expedition from the United States has been the Ronne Antarctic Research Expedition. Ronne's expedition was quite small when compared to scientific expeditions of today. However, significant accomplishments were made during the expedition. A number of governmental agencies, including the Army, Navy and Air Force helped in making the expedition possible, particularly by providing equipment. Individuals from other government agencies provided advice and assistance as well. The expedition's Main Base was set up on Stonington Island, Marguerite Bay, in the buildings used as East Base during Byrd's 3rd Antarctic expedition, the United States Antarctic Service Expedition 1939-41. This vicinity was also home to the Falkland Islands Dependencies "Base E" campsite, under the command of Major K. S. Pierce-Butler. A very good relationship was established between the men and as a consequence, some scientific work was shared between the groups. In January 1948, preliminary preparations were made to bring the expedition to an end. Departure had originally been planned for mid-March, as Ronne assumed the bay ice would be clear enough for their ship, Port of Beaumont, to get out. Cold weather returned in February, indicating an early Antarctic autumn, risking the probability of another ice-locked winter season. At the same time, the U.S. Navy Task Force 39, consisting of the icebreakers Burton Island and Edisto were approaching the vicinity of Marguerite Bay on their way home from the conclusion of Operation Windmill. As a result of conversations between Ronne and Commander Gerald Ketchum, USN, of the Task Force, it was agreed that the icebreakers would come to Stonington Island to break a passage for the Port of Beaumont to open water. The operation was a success, having been accomplished on February 20, 1948. This cover, officially a "Windmill" cover, was run ashore, and posted at the Falkland Islands Dependencies "Base E" on the day Burton Island broke through. To make things even more interesting, the year date is incorrectly applied (1947 rather than 1948). Click here for an enlarged image of this Edisto cover. Deepfreeze II: Byrd (L); Siple (Next to Byrd) Operation Deepfreeze was planned in two stages. Deepfreeze I, in 1955-56 was designed to build an airfield at McMurdo Sound. Another base was to be built near Little America in the Bay of Whales. Seven ships and 1800 men participated in the first year. Deepfreeze II, in 1956-57, was intended to build a permanent station at the South Pole along with establishment of three other IGY stations...Byrd station in Marie Byrd Land, Wilkes station in Vincennes Bay and Ellsworth station on the Filchner Ice Shelf. Even though Byrd was in command of the operation, effective control of the operations were under Rear Admiral George Dufek. Deepfreeze I was a resounding success and with twelve ships and the assistance of 3400 men, Deepfreeze II succeeded in the establishment at the South Pole. Initially, a support base was built near the Beardmore Glacier where supply planes returning from the pole could stop and refuel. The base could also serve as an emergency rescue site. At the pole, the construction team built shelters, a power station and workshops. Plane after plane dropped hundreds of tons of supplies and equipment to make the base self sufficient. Once completed, the construction team was flown out and the scientific team flown in to be the first humans to spend winter at the South Pole. The station was completed in March 1947 and 18 men remained for the long winter. Chief of the scientific staff at the South Pole was Paul Siple, who was 19 years old when he accompanied Byrd on his first expedition in 1928. On September 18, 1957 the temperature reached a record -107°F. Preliminary Reconnaissance for Operation Deepfreeze Click here for a larger image. This is one exhibits the rare "Helicopter Flight" cachet. Deepfreeze I 1955-56 Click here for a larger image. Deepfreeze II 1956-57 (First to Winter Over) Click here for a larger image. Deepfreeze III 1957-58 Click here for a larger image. Deepfreeze IV 1958-59 Click here for a larger image. Transantarctic Expedition 1957-58 / IGY Click here for a larger image. This cover is signed by the parties that crossed
the Antarctic continent at the South Pole Station, including now "Sir
Fuchs". One was made and given to each man that wintered-over and assisted
at the South Pole (mid-way point in the crossing). A total of 18 covers
exist. Some of the signers later climbed Mt. Everest with Sir Edmund
Hillary. Click here for an example from Eights Coast. Click here for an example from Amundsen Sea Coast. Click here for an example from Marie Byrd Land Coast. Click here for a rare SIGNED / FLOWN Sir Hubert Wilkins North Pole / South Pole IGY cover. Click here for the reverse of the above cover. NOTE: For those of you wishing to obtain postmarks from the U.S. Antarctic stations, an opportunity exists for philatelists to receive mail by following certain procedures. Philatelic mail is processed and returned to the sender as soon as possible, but processing of this mail is in addition to regular duties of station personnel. Thus, several months may pass before mail is returned. Some processing is done during the Austral winter when Antarctic stations are isolated, thereby creating further delays. Patience is a must! For instructions and suggestions, click here. RECOMMENDED READING: "Assault on Eternity", by Lisle A. Rose "Operation Deepfreeze", by Rear Admiral George J. Dufek "The Crossing of Antarctica", by Sir Vivian Fuchs and Sir Edmund Hillary "Americans in Antarctica 1775-1948", by Kenneth J. Bertrand BIBLIOGRAPHY: "Assault on Eternity", by Lisle A. Rose "Americans in Antarctica 1775-1948", by Kenneth J. Bertrand "Chronological List of Antarctic Expeditions and Related Historical Events", by Robert K. Headland "Antarctica; the Extraordinary History of Man's Conquest of the Frozen Continent", published by Reader's Digest, second edition. [Previous] The
Postal History: BYRD I, II, III
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