Operation Deep Freeze Early Photos Sought

[Dave Homewood]

I am posting this on behalf of UK aviation journalist Peter Cooper who is working on a project about Operation Deep Freeze.

"I would be interested in photos from the early “Deep Freeze” days both at Wigram and Harewood of the VX-6 aircraft during the 1950’/1960’s. Any decent C-121 Super Constellations, C-124 Globemasters, R4D Skytrains, R5D Skymaster, P2V Neptunes and the UF-1 Albatross. I have found some but the more the merrier to choose from."

Can anyone please help Peter out? His email is [e-mail]

Thanks.

[Dave Homewood]

Another request please.

Have you, or anyone you know, have a photo of a USAF Rescue SC-54D Skymaster that supported at least the first four "Deep Freeze" operations from Harewood. This was used when any VX-6 or USAF aircraft was in difficulty, or low on fuel, when returning to NZ. On one occasion it shadowed a C-124 Globemaster into Invercargill on 20 October 1961.

I would very much like a photo of this aircraft if one can be found please.

Stay safe and well.

And the rain is falling all around...

Best regards

Peter

[tbf2504]

Dave,
on the wigram pages of the air force musuem photo collection I found the following:
WG5775-56 USN Neptune taking off at Wigram using JATO
WG5670056 An R4D taxy in front of control tower
WGu7649-57 and the next few one's Admiral Dufek arriving at Harewood

[oj]

During the 1960's I was a member of the NZ Antarctic Society for about five years (though never got to Antarctica).
They had an excellent little quarterly magazine, about A5 size, usually about 20 pages or more and it was well illustrated with Operation Deep Freeze content featuring regularly if not every issue.
I retained this collection up until about 2004, when the Society was experiencing many requests for back-issues. I donated all mine and sent them to Christchurch. I also had a little library of books on the Antarctic but I have quit those as well.
So I cannot help directly, but if you contact the NZ Antarctic Society in Christchurch they may well have a digitized photo archive by now.
Also go to second hand bookshops and ask for any books relating to Antarctica and skim them for Deep Freeze content.

[skyhawkdon]

The Air Force Museum may also have other personal collections. My late uncle's (Dave Geddes) family donated quite a bit of stuff a couple of years ago. I recall there was a scrap book with lots of photos and newspaper clippings. Dave came from Invercargill and closely followed the early flights from Invercargill airport. He joined the RNZAF in 1964 as a navigator and in 1985 became the NZARP Operations Manager.

[denysjones]

I'd suggest

- the Des White photo collection (ex AHSNZ) I'm not sure where it physically is but Dave Duxbury would be the contact point I'd say
- Canterbury Museum
- Antarctica NZ (the modern name for NZARP)
- Archives NZ/National Library of NZ as they hold photo archives for a number of now closed newspapers
- Tony Phillips, author of "Guardians of the Air", "Gateway to the ice" etc, if you can track him down
- there's also a US organisation for veterans of the Ice I think I'm right it is OAE Old Antarctic Explorers

[emron]

The only photos I could find after a quick thumb through Papers Past was an article from The Press, 19 January 1956 about aircraft returning from Operation Deep Freeze I. The accompanying text:

AIRCRAFT OF “OPERATION DEEP FREEZE” RETURN TO CHRISTCHURCH AFTER A MONTH IN THE ANTARCTIC.

--- Photographs taken at the Royal New Zealand Air Force station, Wigram, yesterday afternoon, when four aircraft of the United States naval expedition to the Antarctic arrived back from McMurdo Sound. (1) The crew of the second Neptune aircraft. On the extreme right is Lieutenant-Commander J. H. Torbert, and next to him is Commander W. M. Hawkes, the squadron’s air adviser, who was injured in a flying accident in the Antarctic. Lieutenant-Commandeer Torbert, in this aircraft, made the longest flight to date in the South Polar regions, a distance of 3400 miles in 19.5 hours. (2) The first plane to arrive back at Wigram, Lieutenant-Commander H. P. Jorda’s Skymaster. (3) The four aircraft. In the foreground are the two Neptunes, and in the left background are the two Skymasters. (4) Master-Sergeant H. Strybing helps Lieutenant E. D. Ellinor out of his flying clothes.

When recently reading up about the earlier Operation High Jump I found some detailed info in the U.S, National Science Foundation’s Antarctic Journal. If Peter has not already looked there, it’s archive is available on-line.

[McFly]

"Front view of a United States Air Force DC6 at RNZAF Station Wigram. This is an aircraft involved with Operation Deep Freeze, flying from Wigram in the 1950s." (2014-058.13)

[McFly]

Mar 11, 2022 11:05:57 GMT 12 emron said:

The only photos I could find after a quick thumb through Papers Past was an article from The Press, 19 January 1956 about aircraft returning from Operation Deep Freeze I. The accompanying text:

AIRCRAFT OF “OPERATION DEEP FREEZE” RETURN TO CHRISTCHURCH AFTER A MONTH IN THE ANTARCTIC.

--- Photographs taken at the Royal New Zealand Air Force station, Wigram, yesterday afternoon, when four aircraft of the United States naval expedition to the Antarctic arrived back from McMurdo Sound. (1) The crew of the second Neptune aircraft. On the extreme right is Lieutenant-Commander J. H. Torbert, and next to him is Commander W. M. Hawkes, the squadron’s air adviser, who was injured in a flying accident in the Antarctic. Lieutenant-Commandeer Torbert, in this aircraft, made the longest flight to date in the South Polar regions, a distance of 3400 miles in 19.5 hours. (2) The first plane to arrive back at Wigram, Lieutenant-Commander H. P. Jorda’s Skymaster. (3) The four aircraft. In the foreground are the two Neptunes, and in the left background are the two Skymasters. (4) Master-Sergeant H. Strybing helps Lieutenant E. D. Ellinor out of his flying clothes.

When recently reading up about the earlier Operation High Jump I found some detailed info in the U.S, National Science Foundation’s Antarctic Journal. If Peter has not already looked there, it’s archive is available on-line.

[McFly]

Mar 10, 2022 9:07:28 GMT 12 Dave Homewood said:

Another request please.

Have you, or anyone you know, have a photo of a USAF Rescue SC-54D Skymaster that supported at least the first four "Deep Freeze" operations from Harewood. This was used when any VX-6 or USAF aircraft was in difficulty, or low on fuel, when returning to NZ. On one occasion it shadowed a C-124 Globemaster into Invercargill on 20 October 1961.

I would very much like a photo of this aircraft if one can be found please.

Stay safe and well.

And the rain is falling all around...

Best regards

Peter

Press 18 Oct 1960

"1700 MILES ON THREE ENGINES - Super Constellation's Flight - Feathering one of its four engines 400 miles after leaving McMurdo Sound a United States Navy Super Constellation carrying 32 passengers flew the remaining 1700 miles to Harewood Airport on three sound engines, arriving at 11.26 am. yesterday. For the last half of the journey the aircraft was accompanied by two Rescuemasters dispatched from Harewood after news had been received of the engine failure. The Super Constellation left McMurdo Sound at 1.07 am. yesterday. At 2.45 a.m. one engine cut out As the aircraft can fly on two engines if necessary it was decided to continue the flight to Christchurch. News of the engine failure and a request for assistance was received at Harewood about 7 a.m One Rescuemaster was immediately sent, and another left soon afterwards to intercept the crippled aircraft and accompany it for the rest of the journey. The dispatch of the two Rescuemasters was normal practice where an engine failure was reported, said an American officer. There was no real danger for the 1160 pound of cargo carried by the plane was a relatively light load. If it had been heaviei there might have been some difficulties but it that case as the aircraft was nearer to McMurdo Sound it would have returned there."

[McFly]

Mar 10, 2022 9:07:28 GMT 12 Dave Homewood said:

Another request please.

Have you, or anyone you know, have a photo of a USAF Rescue SC-54D Skymaster that supported at least the first four "Deep Freeze" operations from Harewood. This was used when any VX-6 or USAF aircraft was in difficulty, or low on fuel, when returning to NZ. On one occasion it shadowed a C-124 Globemaster into Invercargill on 20 October 1961.

I would very much like a photo of this aircraft if one can be found please.

Peter

These might be useful. From the 'Air-Britain' photo collection - (link)


"USAF Douglas SC-54D Rescuemaster - Christchurch - International (CHC / NZCH), New Zealand - 1961"


"USAF Douglas SC-54D Rescuemaster - Christchurch - International (CHC / NZCH), New Zealand - 1963"


"USAF Douglas SC-54D Rescuemaster - Christchurch - International (CHC / NZCH), New Zealand - 1963"



And a few more links to Antarctic photo collections which may turn up something after a bit of digging...?

USAP Antarctic Photo Library - (link)

Antarctic New Zealand - (link) and (link)

Cool Antarctica (VX6 & VXE6) - (link) and (link)

[avenger]

Mar 2, 2022 7:47:31 GMT 12 Dave Homewood said:

I am posting this on behalf of UK aviation journalist Peter Cooper who is working on a project about Operation Deep Freeze.

"I would be interested in photos from the early “Deep Freeze” days both at Wigram and Harewood of the VX-6 aircraft during the 1950’/1960’s. Any decent C-121 Super Constellations, C-124 Globemasters, R4D Skytrains, R5D Skymaster, P2V Neptunes and the UF-1 Albatross. I have found some but the more the merrier to choose from."

Can anyone please help Peter out? His email is [e-mail]

Thanks.

FYI. I have replied directly to Peter and posted my collection photographed at Wigram and Christchurch from the periods 1957 - 58 and 1960 - 61.
Included were depictions of all the above aircraft types with the exception of the Albatross. Also included were some helicopters, these latter machines all at Wigram during the summer of 1957 -58.
My posts to him 03 March.

[dupuis]

Jun 5, 2022 16:19:26 GMT 12 avenger said:

Mar 2, 2022 7:47:31 GMT 12 Dave Homewood said:

I am posting this on behalf of UK aviation journalist Peter Cooper who is working on a project about Operation Deep Freeze.

"I would be interested in photos from the early “Deep Freeze” days both at Wigram and Harewood of the VX-6 aircraft during the 1950’/1960’s. Any decent C-121 Super Constellations, C-124 Globemasters, R4D Skytrains, R5D Skymaster, P2V Neptunes and the UF-1 Albatross. I have found some but the more the merrier to choose from."

Can anyone please help Peter out? His email is [e-mail]

Thanks.

FYI. I have replied directly to Peter and posted my collection photographed at Wigram and Christchurch from the periods 1957 - 58 and 1960 - 61.
Included were depictions of all the above aircraft types with the exception of the Albatross. Also included were some helicopters, these latter machines all at Wigram during the summer of 1957 -58.
My posts to him 03 March.

[dupuis]

Mar 2, 2022 7:47:31 GMT 12 Dave Homewood said:

I am posting this on behalf of UK aviation journalist Peter Cooper who is working on a project about Operation Deep Freeze.

"I would be interested in photos from the early “Deep Freeze” days both at Wigram and Harewood of the VX-6 aircraft during the 1950’/1960’s. Any decent C-121 Super Constellations, C-124 Globemasters, R4D Skytrains, R5D Skymaster, P2V Neptunes and the UF-1 Albatross. I have found some but the more the merrier to choose from."

Can anyone please help Peter out? His email is [e-mail]

Thanks.

[dupuis]

Mar 2, 2022 7:47:31 GMT 12 Dave Homewood said:

I am posting this on behalf of UK aviation journalist Peter Cooper who is working on a project about Operation Deep Freeze.

"I would be interested in photos from the early “Deep Freeze” days both at Wigram and Harewood of the VX-6 aircraft during the 1950’/1960’s. Any decent C-121 Super Constellations, C-124 Globemasters, R4D Skytrains, R5D Skymaster, P2V Neptunes and the UF-1 Albatross. I have found some but the more the merrier to choose from."

Can anyone please help Peter out? His email is [e-mail]

Thanks.

[dupuis]

Mar 29, 2024 13:32:31 GMT 12 dupuis said:

Mar 2, 2022 7:47:31 GMT 12 Dave Homewood said:

I am posting this on behalf of UK aviation journalist Peter Cooper who is working on a project about Operation Deep Freeze.

"I would be interested in photos from the early “Deep Freeze” days both at Wigram and Harewood of the VX-6 aircraft during the 1950’/1960’s. Any decent C-121 Super Constellations, C-124 Globemasters, R4D Skytrains, R5D Skymaster, P2V Neptunes and the UF-1 Albatross. I have found some but the more the merrier to choose from."

Can anyone please help Peter out? His email is [e-mail]

Thanks.

[dupuis]

Mar 29, 2024 16:14:46 GMT 12 dupuis said:

Mar 2, 2022 7:47:31 GMT 12 Dave Homewood said:

I am posting this on behalf of UK aviation journalist Peter Cooper who is working on a project about Operation Deep Freeze.

"I would be interested in photos from the early “Deep Freeze” days both at Wigram and Harewood of the VX-6 aircraft during the 1950’/1960’s. Any decent C-121 Super Constellations, C-124 Globemasters, R4D Skytrains, R5D Skymaster, P2V Neptunes and the UF-1 Albatross. I have found some but the more the merrier to choose from."

Can anyone please help Peter out? His email is [e-mail]

Thanks.

[dupuis]

Mar 29, 2024 16:16:26 GMT 12 dupuis said:

Mar 29, 2024 16:14:46 GMT 12 dupuis said:

[dupuis]

www.facebook.com/photo?fbid=10159666162701533&set=pcb.1144187473403026

[dupuis]

www.facebook.com/photo?fbid=10159666162316533&set=pcb.1144187473403026