Operation Deep Freeze (OpDFrz or ODF) is the codename for a series of United States missions to Antarctica, beginning with “Operation Deep Freeze I” in 1955–56, followed by “Operation Deep Freeze II”, “Operation Deep Freeze III”, and so on. Given the continuing and constant US presence in Antarctica since that date, “Operation Deep Freeze” has come to be used as a general term for US operations in that continent, and in particular for the regular missions to resupply US Antarctic bases, coordinated by the United States military.

The impetus behind Operation Deep Freeze I was the International Geophysical Year 1957–58. IGY as it was known was a collaborative effort among forty nations to carry out earth science studies from the North Pole to the South Pole and at points in between. The United States along with New Zealand, the United Kingdom, France, Japan, Norway, Chile, Argentina, and the U.S.S.R. agreed to go to the South Pole, the least explored area on Earth. Their goal was to advance world knowledge of Antarctic hydrography and weather systems, glacial movements, and marine life. The U.S. Navy was charged with supporting the U.S. scientists for their portion of the IGY studies.

In 1955, Task Force 43 was formed to carry out this work. Operation Deep Freeze I prepared a permanent research station and paved the way for more exhaustive research in later Deep Freeze operations. The expedition transpired over the Antarctic summer of November 1955 to April 1956.

The operation involved the following ships:

USS Wyandot (AKA-92), freighter

USS Arneb (AKA-56), freighter

USS Edisto (AGB-2), ice breaker

USS Glacier (AGB-4), ice breaker

USCGC Eastwind (WAGB-279), ice breaker

USS Nespelen (AOG-55), gasoline tanker

USNS Greenville Victory (T-AK-237), merchant marine freighter

On 31 October 1956, US Navy Rear Admiral George J. Dufek and others successfully landed an R4D Skytrain (Douglas DC-3) aircraft at the South Pole, as part of the expeditions mounted for the IGY. This was the first aircraft to land at the South Pole and the first time that Americans had set foot on the South Pole. The aircraft was named Que Sera, Sera after a popular song and is now on display at the Naval Aviation Museum in Pensacola, Florida. This marked the beginning of the establishment of the first permanent base, by airlift, at the South Pole (today known as the Amundsen–Scott South Pole Station) to support the International Geophysical Year.

The Operation Deep Freeze activities were succeeded by “Operation Deep Freeze II”, and so on, continuing a constant US presence in Antarctica since that date.