VX-6
Air Development Squadron Six | |
---|---|
Edward M. Ward, 1955–57[1] CDR Vernon J. Coley, 1957–58[2] CAPT William H. Munson, 1959–61[3] CDR George R. Kelly, 1964[4] CDR F.S. Gallup Jr, 1965[5] CDR Marion Morris, 1966[6] CDR Daniel Balish, 1967[7] CDR Gordon K. Ebbe, June 1955–June 1956[9] LCDR Charles J. McCarthy, Ellsworth Station detachment, 1957–58[10] John K. Allison, 1959[11] LCDR Louis L. Helms, 1961[12] LCDR John A. Morton, 1964[13] LCDR William E. Shockley, 1966[14] LCDR David B. Eldridge Jr., 1967[15] | |
Aircraft flown | |
Reconnaissance | P2V-2 Neptune, DHC-3 Otter |
Transport | R4D Dakota, R5D Skymaster, LC-130 Hercules |
Air Development Squadron Six (VX-6 or AIRDEVRON SIX, commonly referred to by its nickname, "puckered penguins") 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 helicopters 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 first 14-years of its existence during the time it was designated VX-6, seventeen sailors and marines assigned died in Antarctica during Operation Deep Freeze missions.
History
VX-6 traces its roots to
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 1 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.[18]
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.[19] The squadron's mission was to conduct aviation operations in support of United States Department of Defense responsibilities in connection with the United States Antarctic Program. On 1 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 iceports and the establishment of bases on Antarctica that would enable scientists to conduct geophysical studies upon that continent.[20] 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.[20]
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.[19][21]
Following its return from Operation Deep Freeze I in February 1956, VX-6 was relocated to
On 31 October 1956, during Operation Deep Freeze II, Qué Será Será, a ski-equipped R4D Dakota piloted by LCDR
1957–1969
In 1957, the first letter of all the east-coast-based VX squadrons, including VX-6, was changed from X to J.[18] In January 1958, a VX-6 UC-1 Otter made the first wheels-on-dirt landing in Antarctica at Marble Point.[22] On 1 October 1959, RADM David M. Tyree (Commander, U.S. Naval Support Force Antarctica from 14 April 1959–26 November 1962)[40] 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.[20]
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)[41] 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.[20]
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[42] and carrying RADM James R. Reedy (Commander, U.S. Naval Support Force Antarctica from November 1962–April 1965)[43] among its passengers, made the 3,470-mile (5,580 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.[44] Also in February 1963, VX-6 completed the first delivery of bulk fuel by a Lockheed LC-130 Hercules.[22]
On 26 June 1964, an LC-130F Hercules, commanded by LT
On 7 June 1966, a C-130 Hercules, piloted by CDR
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 1 January 1969, VX-6 was redesignated as Antarctic Development Squadron Six (VXE-6).[22]
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
Aviation accidents and incidents
Seventeen sailors and marines assigned to VX-6 died in Antarctica in support of Operation Deep Freeze.[47]
On 18 October 1956, a P2V-2 Neptune crashed at McMurdo Station during a landing in whiteout conditions, killing David W. Carey,[48] Rayburn A. Hudman,[49] Marion O. Marze,[50] and Charles S. Miller.[51]
On 12 July 1957, an HO4S-3 crashed in the vicinity of McMurdo Station during
On 4 January 1959, a UC-1 Otter crashed on takeoff at Marble Point, killing Harvey E. Gardner[53] and Lawrence J. Farrell.[54]
On 9 November 1961, a P2V-7 crashed on takeoff from
On 2 February 1966, a LC-47J crashed on Ross Ice Shelf during takeoff, killing Ronald Rosenthal,[59] Harold M. Morris,[60] William D. Fordell,[61] Richard S. Simmons,[62] Wayne M. Shattuck,[63] and Charles C. Kelley.[64][65]
See also
References
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- ^ "Mount Munson". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior. Retrieved 19 May 2011.
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- ^ "Balish Glacier". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior. Retrieved 19 May 2011.
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- ^ "History: Douglas C-47 Skytrain Military Transport." Archived 2012-12-14 at the Wayback Machine Boeing. Retrieved: 7 August 2008.
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- ^ a b Tommy H. Thomason (2010). "U.S. Navy Aircraft History". blogspot.com. Retrieved 19 May 2011.
- ^ Naval Historical Center (1997). "Naval Aviation Chronology 1954-1959: The New Navy"(PDF). Washington, DC: Naval Historical Center. Retrieved 19 May 2011.
- ^ Earl D. Dryfoose, Harold Hereles. "History of Antarctic Development Squadron Six". Retrieved 19 May 2011.)
{{cite web}}
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- ^ a b c d e f g h i j Joe Hollern (1999). "History of Antarctic development Squadron Six". Webpage for United States Navy Squadron Antarctic Development Squadron Six. Retrieved 19 May 2011.
- ^ "Mount Hall". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior. Retrieved 19 May 2011.
- ^ Mike Subritzky (2008). "Operation Deep Freeze: The New Zealand Story". Matamata, New Zealand: New Zealand Antarctic Veterans Association. Retrieved 19 May 2011.
- ^ a b "Mount Shinn". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior. Retrieved 19 May 2011.
- ^ a b Maurice Cutler (1996). "First Plane Lands At South Pole" (PDF). The Antarctic Sun. 1996 (1 December): 1–2. Retrieved 19 May 2011.
- ^ a b Guy G. Guthridge (1997). "Antarctica Prepares for Science" (PDF). The Antarctic Sun. 1997 (29 November): 14. Retrieved 19 May 2011.
- ^ a b "Dufek Coast". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior. Retrieved 19 May 2011.
- ^ U.S. Centennial of Flight (2003). "Aviation History Facts". Aviation History Facts: October. Washington, D.C.: U.S. Centennial of Flight Commission. Archived from the original on 4 October 2012. Retrieved 19 May 2011.
- ^ Bill Spindler (2011). "Qué Será Será". Amundsen-Scott South Pole Station. Bill Spindler. Retrieved 19 May 2011.
- ^ "Cordiner Peaks". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior. Retrieved 19 May 2011.
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- ^ ISBN 1-112-16344-1. Retrieved 19 May 2011.
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- ^ Naval Historical Center (1997). "Naval Aviation Chronology 1960-1969: The Sixth Decade". Washington, DC: Naval Historical Center. Retrieved 19 May 2011.
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- ISSN 0003-5335.
Further reading
- Bill Gunston; Sharon Lucas, eds. (2001). Aviation Year By Year. New York: DK Publishing. ISBN 978-0-7894-7986-0.
- Paul Allen Siple (1959). 90° South. New York: G.P. Putnam's Sons.
External links
- Use of P2V aircraft for Operation Deep Freeze by United States Navy squadron VX-6
- United States Navy Otter service in Antarctica
- Lister Nunataks - landmark named for helicopter flight crewman Larry W. Lister with U.S. Navy Squadron VX-6 during Operation Deep Freeze 1966, 1967 and 1968