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UPDATED: 25 Nov 2005

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USS BURTON ISLAND

A Brief History

The Burton Island was built and launched by the Western Pipe and Steel Co., at San Pedro, CA. Her keel was laid in 1945 and she subsequently commissioned in December 1946. Her design is that of the "Wind" class icebreaker, and she was the first replacement of the three "Wind" class icebreakers that were given to Russia under the "Lend-Lease" program in 1945.

Immediately after commissioning, she sailed to the frozen continent to participate in Admiral Byrd’s "Operation Highjump" which marked the opening of Antarctica to modern scientific study. The Burton Island, also pioneered operations in the Bering Sea, which lies between Alaska and Russia. The inhabitants of Nome were quite surprised to see this polar ice pick steam into their frozen harbor during the Arctic winter in 1949.

The Burton Island has also explored east of Port Barrow, AK and well north into the Prince of Wales Strait and Melville Sound and becoming the first American vessel to cross McClure Strait from the west. It was this exploration crossing that opened the Northwest Passage for navigation by deep draft vessels.

In 1958, she sailed through the Panama Canal to aid in beach surveys and resupply the scientific stations along the coast of Greenland. During Deep Freeze ¢60, she became the first ship to penetrate the Bellingshausen Sea, along with the USS GLACIER (AGB-4). For this outstanding achievement her crew was awarded the Navy Unit Commendation. Later that year, she sailed north and helped establish ARLIS I, a scientific station on a large Arctic ice floe.

During the 1962 cruise Burton Island carried oceanographic and underwater sound propagation experiments in the Beaufort and Chukchi Seas. This is when she made a record penetration for a surface vessel into the icepack north of Alaska to LAT 79° 11¢ North and within 600 miles of the North Pole.

During Deep Freeze ¢ 64, the Burton Island led the way into McMurdo Sound and resupplied the joint U.S. – New Zealand station at Cape Hellett. Barely home from Antarctica she proceeded north for further exploration in an attempt to reach Norway, via the East Siberian Sea. She stopped at LONG 150° because of Russian objections.

From April 1948 through December 1956, the Burton Island made 19 voyages to Arctic and Alaskan waters and we do not have the dates of all cruises.

USCGC BURTON ISLAND

A Brief History

The Burton Island can to the Coast Guard with all the Navy icebreakers in late 1966. According to all records, she was classified WAGB 283 on 15 MAR 1966, but did not come under Coast Guard control until 15 DEC 1966.  Her post office was established on 25 Aug 1967, and our earliest known cancel is 2 Nov 1967.

The Burton Island participated in Deep Freeze operations (1968 - 1971) and used the same type cachet, shield with penguins (upper left) and polar bear (lower right), during these polar cruises.  The only thing that changed was the year (1968 thru 1971).

During Deep Freeze ¢6 while cutting a channel through to McMurdo, her sister-ship, USCGC EDISTO (WAGB 284) was knocked out of commission when her rudder broke.  Operating alone, the Burton Island managed to complete the tasks assigned to the EDISTO.

She was awarded the Coast Guard Unit Commendation for her Arctic West , Summer (Stand-by) for the period 15 Sep - 5 Oct 75 with "O" device.  In December 1976 , she arrived in Wellington, New Zealand during a torrential downpour that left a flooded valley.  The cutter's crew donated blood to the victims of this disaster and the cooks volunteered to man emergency food service facilities.  She was awarded the CG Meritorious Unit Commendation for her stop-over in New Zealand (19-30 Dec 1976).

During Deep Freeze ¢75, the Burton Island made the furthest south penetration to LAT 73º 35¢ South, near Lindsey Island in the Amundsen Sea (13 - 21 Feb 1975).

In 1977, the 30th Anniversary of "Operation Highjump" saw the deployment of the CGC NORTHWIND (WAGB 282) and the Burton Island,a type 2n cancel with wording 30 YEARS/OF POLAR/SERVICE between the killer bars.  It appears to only have been used on 1 Jan 1977.

Note:  The above article was originally published in "Hooligan's Navy" Newsletter #60 (No. 4, CY '95) SPECIAL 1995.  Printed with permission of the Editor - John Young, USCS #8219.

Minor changes have been made by the webmaster for clarity. 

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