Operation Deep Freeze
Posted: 18 Oct 2007, 19:52
I am putting a small project together to celebrate "Operation Deep Freeze". Deep Freeze has been going for over 50 years and its really a remarkable accomplishment.
Here is some info:
A C-17 Globemaster III from the 62nd Airlift Wing at McChord Air Force Base, Wash., has flown four missions from Christchurch, New Zealand, kicking off the 2006 to 2007 season for Joint Task Force Support Forces Antarctica, known as Operation Deep Freeze.
Servicemembers and equipment will stage to McMurdo Station, Antarctica, from Christchurch, via C-17 to prepare the ice runway for main C-17 and LC-130 operations beginning in October.
"Operation Deep Freeze is a unique joint and total force mission that has supported the National Science Foundation and U.S. Antarctic Program since 1955," said Maj. Gen. Edward A. Rice Jr., commander of 13th Air Force and Kenney Headquarters. "Kenney Headquarters is proud to lead the mission in its 51st year."
Main resupply operations consist of C-17 supply flights between Christchurch and McMurdo Station, and LC-130 flights from McMurdo to the South Pole and other camps throughout Antarctica.
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. Missions from New Zealand to Antarctica are flown by large USAF C-17 Globemaster III aircraft of the USAF Air Mobility Command (AMC) , After the C-17 arrives and is unloaded, LC-130 aircraft provide the logistical movement of cargo to remote operating locations on the continent. These aircraft augmented by the United States Coast Guard icebreakers, the AMC), 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. ANG DET 13 is a subordinate unit which administratively reports directly to the Air National Guard Readiness Center (ANGRC) at Andrews AFB, MD and operationally reports to Pacific Command (PACOM) in Hawaii. As of 2005 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.
Sea ice runway (ICAO: NZIR) This is the principal runway for the US Antarctic Program during the summer Antarctic field season due to its proximity to McMurdo Station (ICAO: NZIR). The other two runways in the area are Williams Field snow runway and the Pegasus blue ice runway. This runway is capable of handing wheeled aircraft, that have included to date: Lockheed C-5 Galaxy, Lockheed C-141 Starlifter, Boeing C-17 Globemaster III, Lockheed C-130 Hercules and Lockheed P-3 Orion.
Williams Field (ICAO: NZWD ) Is the United States Antarctic Program's principal airfield in Antarctica.
The Pegasus ice runway (ICAO: NZPG) is the farthest south of McMurdo Station's three frozen airstrips.
What I have found so far:
As part of the Alphasim freeware C-130s, I also found a LC-130 ski version in Pack 2. There is also a paint available for the 109th Airlift Wing.
There is some high quality scenery for Christchurch International which has the Antarctica Center displayed in it. It is very detailed and has a good AFCAD with it. I will post the link when I relocate it.
I have found AFCADs for the bases (NZ0A, NZ0B, NZIR, NZPG, NZRS, NZSP, NZWD) at McMurdo Station and the resupply fields. Not sure who made them but some of the elevations are wrong so trying to figure them out.
Plan on LC-130s deployment from KSWF to Christchurch. Then they redeploy on to NZWD with spares at Christchurch. Also the C-17 from McChord to Christchurch, then to NZIR.
The LC-130s will then do in-theater shuttle flights throughout the Antarctica.
Here is some info:
A C-17 Globemaster III from the 62nd Airlift Wing at McChord Air Force Base, Wash., has flown four missions from Christchurch, New Zealand, kicking off the 2006 to 2007 season for Joint Task Force Support Forces Antarctica, known as Operation Deep Freeze.
Servicemembers and equipment will stage to McMurdo Station, Antarctica, from Christchurch, via C-17 to prepare the ice runway for main C-17 and LC-130 operations beginning in October.
"Operation Deep Freeze is a unique joint and total force mission that has supported the National Science Foundation and U.S. Antarctic Program since 1955," said Maj. Gen. Edward A. Rice Jr., commander of 13th Air Force and Kenney Headquarters. "Kenney Headquarters is proud to lead the mission in its 51st year."
Main resupply operations consist of C-17 supply flights between Christchurch and McMurdo Station, and LC-130 flights from McMurdo to the South Pole and other camps throughout Antarctica.
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. Missions from New Zealand to Antarctica are flown by large USAF C-17 Globemaster III aircraft of the USAF Air Mobility Command (AMC) , After the C-17 arrives and is unloaded, LC-130 aircraft provide the logistical movement of cargo to remote operating locations on the continent. These aircraft augmented by the United States Coast Guard icebreakers, the AMC), 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. ANG DET 13 is a subordinate unit which administratively reports directly to the Air National Guard Readiness Center (ANGRC) at Andrews AFB, MD and operationally reports to Pacific Command (PACOM) in Hawaii. As of 2005 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.
Sea ice runway (ICAO: NZIR) This is the principal runway for the US Antarctic Program during the summer Antarctic field season due to its proximity to McMurdo Station (ICAO: NZIR). The other two runways in the area are Williams Field snow runway and the Pegasus blue ice runway. This runway is capable of handing wheeled aircraft, that have included to date: Lockheed C-5 Galaxy, Lockheed C-141 Starlifter, Boeing C-17 Globemaster III, Lockheed C-130 Hercules and Lockheed P-3 Orion.
Williams Field (ICAO: NZWD ) Is the United States Antarctic Program's principal airfield in Antarctica.
The Pegasus ice runway (ICAO: NZPG) is the farthest south of McMurdo Station's three frozen airstrips.
What I have found so far:
As part of the Alphasim freeware C-130s, I also found a LC-130 ski version in Pack 2. There is also a paint available for the 109th Airlift Wing.
There is some high quality scenery for Christchurch International which has the Antarctica Center displayed in it. It is very detailed and has a good AFCAD with it. I will post the link when I relocate it.
I have found AFCADs for the bases (NZ0A, NZ0B, NZIR, NZPG, NZRS, NZSP, NZWD) at McMurdo Station and the resupply fields. Not sure who made them but some of the elevations are wrong so trying to figure them out.
Plan on LC-130s deployment from KSWF to Christchurch. Then they redeploy on to NZWD with spares at Christchurch. Also the C-17 from McChord to Christchurch, then to NZIR.
The LC-130s will then do in-theater shuttle flights throughout the Antarctica.
