Ice Station - Alpha II

UPDATED: 25 Nov 2005

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15 April 1959 - Ice Station Alpha II was instituted on 15 April when a ski equipped C-47 with 15 persons on board landed on the selected flow about 300 miles north of Point Barrow. Immediately following touch down, two C-124 Globemasters circling above the flow began parachuting the first section of 450 tons of supplies to the 10 persons who remained behind. Included in the drop were two Jamesway huts, food, gas and oil, and a pair of weasels, the all purpose track vehicles.

30 April 1959 - The official opening of the 1959 scientific encampment on Alpha II took place on the 30th when General Necrason raised a 49-star flag to the summit of a flagpole anchored into the ice. Recognition was given to the fact that the expedition, although primarily of a scientific nature, also had military significance, In the words of General Necrason, "Our nation's future well-being may someday depend to a large degree upon the fund of Arctic knowledge we manage to accumulate through undertakings of this nature."

References:

Ice Island - Polar Science and the Arctic Research Laboratory by Tim Weeks and Ramona Maher, The John Day Company, New York - 1965 Library of Congress Card Number 64-14200

History of the Alaskan Air Command 1 July 1958 - 30 June 1959 (Declassified DOD DIR 5200.10)

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