Weasel in antarctica

[JBOYLE]

Here are some shots Ronne Antarctic Research Expedition, an expedition from 1947-1948 which researched the Weddell Sea area of Antarctica.
It was privately funded, but the Beech 18 and the UC-64 retain military markings.
Notice the weasel. I wonder if its still down there?

[raprice]

Nice pix. Good clarity and color. Thanks.
Rog

[Skip Lackie]

In 1962, I spent three months doing research and living in a hut built on the sea ice of the Arctic Ocean near the North Pole. We were supplied from the Arctic Research Lab in Barrow by Navy R4D (DC-3) aircraft, flown by civilian contractor personnel. The Navy strongly preferred tail-draggers for flying to stations built on the ice, due to the uneven "runway" surfaces. The Navy was still using DC-3s for Arctic research work as late as the late 1980s due to their indestructibility and hauling capacity. One experimental unit even had a third engine mounted in its nose.

The camp had two weasels, both lettered for and owned by the Navy. One was used exclusively for towing a heavy slab as a runway grader; the other for everything else, including ferrying VIPs and freight from the runway to the camp, about a mile. They were in use almost every day and were very highly regarded for their ability to do almost everything. About a year after I left, one of them broke through some thin ice and went to the bottom. The driver got wet, but was unhurt. Frankly, no one paid any particular attention to the weasels. Studebaker was still in business and (for all we knew) assumed to still be making them.

DC-3s were similarly expendable -- the Navy and Air Force owned hundreds of them in storage at Davis-Monthan AFB, so when one broke, it was flown out for scrap and another one resurrected for use.

Somewhere I have a couple of color slides of the weasels. I know some folks will want to see them, but it will take a while for me to find them again. It's been a couple of decades since I saw them.

[stude dude]

One of two Australian Army Weasels has been brought back to the Australian mainland from the Antarctic Territory for restoration by a local enthusiast. It should be almost ready to hit the road/dirt/snow again soon!

Chris.

[DEEPNHOCK]

Here's from an earlier thread on Antarctica....

http://forum.studebakerdriversclub.com/showthread.php?44879-Weasel-in-Antarctica&highlight=antarctica

[JBOYLE]

I know, I posted that too!
My dad was a C-124 pilot, I love that shot.

[EssexExport]

Great stories. A pleasure to read them.

[DEEPNHOCK]

I know, I posted that too!
My dad was a C-124 pilot, I love that shot.

If you noticed the link posted at the beginning of that reply, it referred to YOUR post from way back in 2010
All I did was found a larger copy of the pic so it would be easier for all to see...

[DEEPNHOCK]

And to add....
Walking into the gaping cargo ramp on a C-124 gives a good perspective as to the size of this airplane.
We get jaded about the C5A or the Antenov... But this thing is big...and a recip, to boot...
This pic is from the Smithsonian out at Dulles..

[Chris Pile]

Wonder how a B-52 compares in size to the C-124?

[Skip Lackie]

How do you define "size" of an airplane. The B-52 is certainly heavier and with longer wings, though their swept back nature hides it. But the fuselage of the C-124 is impressive.