Interview of Walter R. Jones by Brian Shoemaker

• Main Author: Jones, Walter R., 1919-
• Other Authors: Shoemaker, Brian
• Format: Audio
• Language: English
• Published: Byrd Polar Research Center Archival Program 2007
• Subjects: McMurdo Station (Antarctica); Antarctica > Discovery and exploration > Interviews; Jones; Walter R.; 1919- > Interviews; Operation Deepfreeze (1955-1956); McMurdo Sound; New Zealand; Byrd; McMurdo Station; Siple; Petty; Byrd Station; Christchurch; Marvel; Little America; Antarc*; Antarctica; Icebreaker
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/1811/30150

Baker, Billy H., radioman, pp. 52-53 Keel, Max, lost his life in a crevasse, p. 14 Lyman, Carl, ham radio operator, p. 29 Marvel, [?], Commander, p. 50 Orendorf, Max, Head of the SeaBees, p. 28 Siple, Paul, Head Scientist at Byrd Station during Deep Freeze II, p. 19 The media can be accessed here: http://streaming.osu.edu/knowledgebank/byrd/oral_history/Mr_Walter_Jones.mp3 Walter Jones served in the U.S. Navy for twenty-five years, from 1943 to 1968. He was a mechanic (a “SeaBee”) in WWII, and also served in the Korean War, and achieved the rank of Chief Petty Officer. In 1956, Jones, an experienced EO, or Equipment Operator, volunteered for Operation Deep Freeze II. He was placed in charge of maintaining all of the heavy equipment, including the LGPD8’s, or Low Ground Pressure D8 Caterpillars, usually referred to as Cats. These indispensable tractors could pull 20-ton sleds, and yet because of their wide tread did not sink into the snow. En route to Antarctica, Jones flew to Christchurch, New Zealand, and from there he traveled to the base at McMurdo Sound aboard the USS Glacier, the Navy’s newest icebreaker at the time. After a one-day stop for unloading fuel, Jones proceeded to the base at Little America. The Cats were unloaded first, as they were needed to haul loads from the ship to the base. It was November when Jones arrived at Little America, and there was 24-hour daylight. Thus, there was no such thing as a regular working day for the men, who usually worked 12-hour shifts and sometimes longer. Among the highlights of Jones’ year in Antarctica were the two tractor train trips, or traverses, he made overland to Byrd Station. The first trip was made in November 1956. The traverse party consisted of seven Cats, each of which pulled two 20 tons sleds. In addition, one of the Cats also pulled a generator on skis for welding. The original plan was to proceed single file, but soon it was discovered that the last Cat in the train was exposed to very bumpy terrain caused by the tracks of the lead tractors. ...