Interview of Philip W. Porter, Jr. by Dian O. Belanger

• Main Author: Porter, Philip W., Jr.
• Other Authors: Belanger, Dian Olson, 1941-
• Format: Other/Unknown Material
• Language: English
• Published: Byrd Polar Research Center Archival Program 2009
• Subjects: United States. Navy > Ice breaking operations > Interviews; Operation Deep Freeze; Arctic regions > Discovery and exploration > Interviews; Polar regions > Discovery and exploration > Interviews; Antarctica > Discovery and exploration > Interviews; Porter; Philip W.; Jr > Interviews; Antarctic; Arctic; Deception Island; Fuchs; Icebreaker Glacier; Kista; Omni; The Antarctic; Antarc*; Antarctica; Icebreaker
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/1811/36737

The Antarctic Deep Freeze oral history project was funded by a grant from the National Science Foundation and supported by the Antarctic Deep Freeze Association. The original paper copies and unaltered tapes have been deposited in the library of the National Science Foundation. Captain Philip Porter, who had earlier been part of the support force for Operation Highjump in 1946-47, commanded the icebreaker Glacier during Deep Freeze 60 and 61. He considered this a plum assignment; orders were general and dependent on conditions and the still-new ship enjoyed popular interest and press attention. The Glacier carried numerous scientists, whose itineraries he planned with NSF representative Philip Smith-what Smith wanted to do, what he felt he could do. He rescued the ice-bound Danish vessel Kista Dan, which had been chartered by Vivian Fuchs, and then, with Fuchs, visited Deception Island and the Falkland Islands, where they were royally treated. Porter explained ship operations as conducted under his supervision, and his own omni-presence on the bridge during icebreaking. Porter said breaking ice was almost instinctual with a trustworthy ship, but his men thought he was exceptionally good at it. National Science Foundation Antarctic Deep Freeze Association