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Operation Deep Freeze (OpDFrz or ODF) 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 United States of America —commonly referred to as the Given the continuing and constant US presence in Antarctica since that date, "Operation Deep Freeze" has come to be used as a general term for US operations in that continent, and in particular for the regular missions to resupply US Antarctic bases, coordinated by the United States military. The United States Armed Forces are the overall unified military forces of the United States

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Operation Deep Freeze I

The impetus behind Operation Deep Freeze I was the International Geophysical Year 1957–58. The International Geophysical Year or IGY was an international scientific effort that lasted from July 1, 1957, to December 31, 1958 Year 1957 ( MCMLVII) was a Common year starting on Tuesday (link displays the 1957 Gregorian calendar) IGY, as it was known, was a collaboration effort between forty nations to carry out earth science studies from the North Pole to the South Pole and at points in between. The North Pole, also known as the Geographic North Pole or Terrestrial North Pole, is subject to the caveats explained below defined as the point in the northern The South Pole, also known as the Geographic South Pole or Terrestrial South Pole, is the southernmost point on the surface of the Earth. The United States, along with Great Britain, France, Japan, Norway, Chile, Argentina, and the U.S.S.R. agreed to go to the South Pole—the least explored area on Earth. The United States of America —commonly referred to as the See also Kingdom of Great Britain Great Britain (Breatainn Mhòr Prydain Fawr Breten Veur Graet Breetain is the larger of the two main islands This article is about the country For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic France topics. For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Japan topics. Norway ( Norwegian: Norge ( Bokmål) or Noreg ( Nynorsk) officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Constitutional Chile, officially the Republic of Chile ( Spanish:) is a country in South America occupying a long and narrow Coastal strip wedged between the For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Argentina topics. The Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR was a constitutionally Socialist state that existed in Eurasia from 1922 to 1991 Their goal was to advance world knowledge of Antarctic hydrography and weather systems, glacial movements, and marine life. Hydrography focuses on the measurement of physical characteristics of Waters and marginal land The weather is a set of all the phenomena occurring in a given Atmosphere at a given Time. Glacial motion is the motion of Glaciers which can be likened to rivers of ice Marine biology is the scientific study of living Organisms in the Ocean or other marine or Brackish bodies of water The U.S. Navy was charged with supporting the U. S. scientists for their portion of the IGY studies.

The U.S. Navy already had a record of earlier exploration in Antarctica. As early as 1839, Captain Charles Wilkes led the first U.S. Naval expedition into Antarctic waters. Charles Wilkes ( April 3, 1798 &ndash February 8, 1877) was an American naval officer and explorer. The United States Exploring Expedition was an exploring and surveying expedition of the Pacific Ocean ("the Southern Seas" conducted by the United States Navy from In 1929, Admiral Richard E. Byrd established a naval base at Little America I, led an expedition to explore further inland, and conducted the first flight over the South Pole. Rear Admiral Richard Evelyn Byrd, USN ( October 25, 1888 &ndash March 11, 1957) was a pioneering American polar Rear Admiral Richard Evelyn Byrd, USN ( October 25, 1888 &ndash March 11, 1957) was a pioneering American polar From 1934–35, the second Byrd Expedition explored much further inland and also "wintered over". Rear Admiral Richard Evelyn Byrd, USN ( October 25, 1888 &ndash March 11, 1957) was a pioneering American polar The third Byrd Expedition, in 1940, charted the Ross Sea. NOAA Ross seajpg|thumb|200px|thumb|Ice in the Ross Sea Antarctica]] The Ross Sea is a deep bay of the Southern Ocean in Antarctica between Victoria

After World War II, from 1946–47, Byrd was instrumental in the Navy's Operation Highjump that charted most of the Antarctic coastline. World War II, or the Second World War, (often abbreviated WWII) was a global military conflict which involved a majority of the world's nations, including Operation Highjump (OpHjp, officially titled The United States Navy Antarctic Developments Program 1946-47, was a United States Navy operation organized by Rear In 1948, Commander Finn Ronne led an expedition that photographed over 450,000 square miles (1. The Norwegian-American Finn Ronne (in Norwegian Finn Rønne) ( 20 December 1899, Horten, Norway &ndash 12 January 1 million km²) by air. Then, in 1954–55, the icebreaker, [[[USS Atka (AGB-3)|USS Atka (AGB-3)]], made a scouting expedition for future landing sites and bays. An icebreaker is a special purpose Ship or Boat designed to move and navigate through Ice -covered waters

Operation Deep Freeze I prepared a permanent research station and pave the way for more exhaustive research in later Deep Freeze operations. The expedition transpired over the Antarctic summer of November 1955 to April 1956.

The operation involved the following ships:

Subsequent developments

In early 1996, the United States National Guard announced that the 109th Airlift Wing at Schenectady County Airport in Scotia, New York was slated to assume that entire mission from the United States Navy in 1999. Wartime service Wyandot (AKA-92 was laid down on 6 May 1944 under a Maritime Commission contract (MC hull 1192 at Oakland California by the Moore Ship's History 1942 - 1943 - 1944 - 1945 - 1946 - Ship's history 1942 - 24 August Keel laid at Western Pipe & Steel San Pedro CA USA 1943 - 31 March Launched at San Pedro CA USA For the National Guard of a State and other countries' National Guard see National Guard. Schenectady County Airport is a public Airport located three miles (5 km) north of the city of Schenectady in Schenectady County, Scotia is a village in Schenectady County, New York, United States. The 109th, which operated ski-equipped LC-130s, had been flying some National Science Foundation support missions to Antarctica since 1988. The LC-130 is a Ski -equipped variant of the Lockheed C-130 Hercules used in the Arctic and Antarctic. The National Science Foundation (NSF is a United States Government agency that supports fundamental Research and Education in all the non-medical It had flown scientific and military missions to Greenland and the Arctic since 1975. Greenland (Kalaallit Nunaat meaning "Land of the Greenlanders" Grønland is a self-governing Danish Province located between the The Antarctic operation would be fully funded by the National Science Foundation. The 109th expected to add approximately 235 full-time personnel to support that operation.

The possibility of the Air National Guard taking over the mission had first emerged in 1988. The Air National Guard ( ANG), often referred to as the Air Guard, is the air force militia organized by each of the several states and The 109th Airlift Wing had been notified that, almost overnight, one of the Distant Early Warning Line (DEW) radar sites that it supported in Greenland was going to be shut down. The other sites would soon follow and the 109th would be largely out of business because it main mission had ended. The unit had been informally keeping tabs on Navy LC-130 operations supporting the National Science Foundation in Antarctica. The National Science Foundation (NSF is a United States Government agency that supports fundamental Research and Education in all the non-medical Because its aircraft were older than the Air National Guard's and several of them were entering an extensive period of depot maintenance, the United States Navy asked if the 109th could provide a limited emergency search and rescue (SAR) capability for two years to support Operation Deep Freeze. The Air National Guard ( ANG), often referred to as the Air Guard, is the air force militia organized by each of the several states and For the TV series of this title see Search and Rescue (TV series. The Air Guard accepted. At that time, it had no thought of taking over the mission. The 109th believed that it was senseless for its aircraft to deploy to the Antarctic and just wait to conduct emergency SAR missions so it asked the Navy if it could help carry cargo to the South Pole. The South Pole, also known as the Geographic South Pole or Terrestrial South Pole, is the southernmost point on the surface of the Earth. The latter resisted at first because its procedures and cargo configurations differed from those of the Air Guard. But, eventually it relented. The main mission of the U. S. Navy and Air National Guard C-130s was to airlift fuel and supplies to the National Science Foundation's South Pole Station so that its personnel could survive in isolation during the long Antarctic winter which lasted from February to October. WikipediaWikiProject Aircraft. Please see WikipediaWikiProject Aircraft/page content for recommended layout

An Air National Guard working group had been formed to study the idea in 1990. The Air National Guard ( ANG), often referred to as the Air Guard, is the air force militia organized by each of the several states and The following year, a dialogue between the Air National Guard, the Air Staff, and the United States Navy began. The Air Staff is headed by the Chief of Staff of the United States Air Force (currently General Norton A Among other issues, it was difficult at first for the Air Guard to convince the Air Staff to commit long term resources to an area of the world that had not been declared a warfighting region because of international treaties. The Air Guard had supported military operations in Greenland and the Arctic (including classified U. Greenland (Kalaallit Nunaat meaning "Land of the Greenlanders" Grønland is a self-governing Danish Province located between the S. Navy operations) since the mid-1970s with the ski-equipped C-130s of the 109th Airlift Wing. WikipediaWikiProject Aircraft. Please see WikipediaWikiProject Aircraft/page content for recommended layout It convinced Headquarters, United States Air Force that it was not in the nation's best interest to abandon the capability to achieve quick and reliable air access to both polar regions.

In March, 1993, the U. S. Navy hosted a two-day workshop with representatives of the National Science Foundation, Air National Guard, and other interested parties to explore logistics support options for the operation. The National Science Foundation (NSF is a United States Government agency that supports fundamental Research and Education in all the non-medical The Air National Guard ( ANG), often referred to as the Air Guard, is the air force militia organized by each of the several states and A draft concept of operations had been prepared by the Air Directorate of the National Guard Bureau in 1993. In February, 1996, a commitment was made to transfer the mission, known as "Operation Deep Freeze" and all LC-130H aircraft operated within the U.S. Department of Defense to the Air National Guard. The LC-130 is a Ski -equipped variant of the Lockheed C-130 Hercules used in the Arctic and Antarctic. The United States Department of Defense ( DOD or DoD) is the federal department charged with coordinating and supervising all agencies and functions of the government In September, 1996, senior officers from the 109th Airlift Wing briefed the National Guard Bureau on their concept of operations and the status of their preparations to implement "Operation Deep Freeze".

A USAF C-141 Starlifter Participating in Operation Deep Freeze.
A USAF C-141 Starlifter Participating in Operation Deep Freeze. WikipediaWikiProject Aircraft. Please see WikipediaWikiProject Aircraft/page content for recommended layout

Under the transition plan which they had developed, the Air National Guard would continue to augment the United States Navy during the October, 1996 - March, 1997 operating season for the United States Antarctic Program. United States Antarctic Program (or USAP; formerly known as the United States Antarctic Research Program or USARP and the United States Antarctic At the end of the October, 1997 - March, 1998 season, the Air National Guard would assume command of the program. During the third year of the transition program, October, 1998 to March, 1999, the U. S. Navy would augment the ANG before the latter took over the entire program the following year. There would be 7 LC-130s in theater. They would stage from Christchurch International Airport in Christchurch, New Zealand to McMurdo Station, Antarctica. Christchurch International Airport is the main Airport that serves Christchurch, New Zealand. Christchurch (Ōtautahi The largest City in the South Island, it is also the second largest city and third largest urban area of New Zealand McMurdo Station is an American Antarctic research center located on the southern tip of Ross Island on the shore of McMurdo Sound, 2200 Traditional Guardsmen, technicians, and the cadre of Active Guard Reserves specifically brought on board to support "Operation Deep Freeze" would all be involved in the mission. Active Guard Reserve (abbreviated AGR refers to the United States Army federal military program which places Army National Guard and Army Reserve soldiers When fully transitioned to the Air National Guard, the 109th Airlift Wing would have ten LC-130s in its inventory. The LC-130 is a Ski -equipped variant of the Lockheed C-130 Hercules used in the Arctic and Antarctic. These would include upgrades of four LC-130 aircraft in-service with the unit plus three new aircraft and three that would be transferred from the U. S. Navy. Air National Guard estimates of the savings to be realized by consolidating the operation in the hands of the 109th Airlift Wing ranged from US $5 million to US $15 million a year. The United States dollar ( sign: $; code: USD) is the unit of Currency of the United States; it has also been The United States dollar ( sign: $; code: USD) is the unit of Currency of the United States; it has also been The actual transition to Air Guard control began in March, 1996.

By 1999 the United States Navy had transferred military support operations for Antarctica over to the United States Air Force and its contractor, Raytheon Polar Services. United States civilian and scientific operations on the Antarctica continent are overseen by the United States Antarctic Program (USAP) as well as the National Science Foundation (NSF) These subsequent military support missions flown from Christchurch International Airport in Christchurch, New Zealand, to Antarctica are conducted during the late September to early March time frame (summer season in Antarctica) each year. United States Antarctic Program (or USAP; formerly known as the United States Antarctic Research Program or USARP and the United States Antarctic The National Science Foundation (NSF is a United States Government agency that supports fundamental Research and Education in all the non-medical Christchurch International Airport is the main Airport that serves Christchurch, New Zealand. Christchurch (Ōtautahi The largest City in the South Island, it is also the second largest city and third largest urban area of New Zealand New Zealand is an Island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses (the North Island and the South Island Missions from New Zealand to Antarctica are flown by large USAF C-17 Globemaster III aircrafts of the United States Air Force Air Mobility Command (AMC), After the C-17 arrives and is unloaded, LC-130 Hercules aircraft provide the logistical movement of cargo to remote operating locations on the continent. WikipediaWikiProject Aircraft. Please see WikipediaWikiProject Aircraft/page content for recommended layout Air Mobility Command (AMC is a Major Command (MAJCOM of the U The LC-130 is a Ski -equipped variant of the Lockheed C-130 Hercules used in the Arctic and Antarctic. These aircraft augmented by the United States Coast Guard icebreakers, the Air Force Materiel Command, and the Military Sealift Command, are also known collectively as Operation Deep Freeze, which is managed from Christchurch, New Zealand, by a Detachment of the U.S. Air Force and Air National Guard members of Air National Guard Detachment 13. An icebreaker is a special purpose Ship or Boat designed to move and navigate through Ice -covered waters Air Force Materiel Command (AFMC is a major command of the United States Air Force. Mission The United States Military Sealift Command has the responsibility for providing Sealift and ocean transportation for all US military services as well as for other Christchurch (Ōtautahi The largest City in the South Island, it is also the second largest city and third largest urban area of New Zealand New Zealand is an Island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses (the North Island and the South Island The Air National Guard ( ANG), often referred to as the Air Guard, is the air force militia organized by each of the several states and Detachment 13 [1] is a subordinate unit which administratively reports directly to the Air National Guard Readiness Center (ANGRC) at Andrews Air Force Base, in Maryland and operationally reports to United States Pacific Command (USPACOM) in Honolulu, Hawaii. Andrews Air Force Base is a United States Air Force base in Prince George's County, Maryland, United States. The United States Pacific Command ( USPACOM) is a Unified Combatant Command of the armed forces of the United States, led by the Commander Honolulu is the Capital and most populous Census-designated place (CDP in the U As of 2008 the detachment consisted of a Full-time Officer (Commander) and 4 Full-time Non-Commissioned Officers (Logistics, Communications, Security Forces, and Information Management) which remain in New Zealand year round.

In 2005, through the office of the secretary of defense, the commander, U. S. Pacific Command was designated to support the Joint Task Force Support Forces Antarctica, Operation Deep Freeze. CDRUSPACOM delegated this joint operation to the Commander, Pacific Air Forces, who then delegated primary responsibility for execution of the JTF SFA operation to the commander, 13th Air Force.

See also

References

External links

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