This briefing film “The Antarctic” was prepared especially for members of Operation HIGHJUMP. HIGHJUMP, officially titled The United States Navy Antarctic Developments Program, 1946–1947, was a United States Navy operation to establish the Antarctic research base Little America IV. The film draws upon footage shot in 1939-1941 by the Antarctic Service Expedition, also often referred to as Byrd’s Third Antarctic Expedition. The Expedition consisted of 125 men aboard two ships, USMS North Star and USS Bear. Observations were conducted in every conceivable area: seismic, cosmic ray, auroral, biological, tidal, magnetic and physiological to name a few. Two bases were established, only to be abandoned as the world political climate deteriorated. HIGHJUMP represented a return to the Antarctic by Byrd and the United States Navy.
Opening titles and message for members of Highjump: U.S. Navy – The Antarctic (:07-1:16). Map shows South Pole and Little America. Staggerwing biplane flies above the Antarctic. USS Bear and USMS North Star shown at anchor by an ice floe. ships. An expedition member holds a shovel, others have frozen beards. A blizzard event — the men walk through it. Norfolk, VA Navy Yard, November, 1939, USS Bear is shown with the Barkley-Grow T8P-1 airplane on its deck. The plane has specially built pontoons for arctic service. USS Bear leaves the harbor (1:17-3:29). Sailors work on the boat en route to Antarctica from Panama, they assemble sledges. The men move the sledges. A man ties pieces together to make the sledge ready (3:30-5:26). King Neptune Ceremony at the Equator, and the initiation of the polywogs into the mysterious Order of the Deep. A lieutenant shakes hands with a man dressed as Neptune. People in costume rub and feed a hapless victim. They slap at him with objects, as the hazing ritual continues. Men climb ropes on the sailing vessel with toilet paper and bottles, as part of the game (5:27-7:06). Icebergs are passed, water churns and the ice pack is reached. The expedition proceeds to the Ross Sea. From the ship, one can see broken ice, choppy waters, and the ship slowly make its way through the Bay of Whales. Killer whales swim nearby. The ship arrives and moors on the ice using ropes and “deadmen” — pieces of timber attached to ropes which are used to hold the ship in place . A landing party is sent ashore with picks and axes to create holes for the deadmen and secure the ship. Penguins stand on the ice as the ship moves slowly in the background. Men walk the ice as penguins move near them (7:07-9:05). Penguins put on a show on the ice, as the Bear and North Star sits at anchor nearby. At 9:47, a rare view of the ill-fated Antarctic Snow Cruiser vehicle, designed from 1937 to 1939 under the direction of Thomas Poulter,. Penguins run and glide on the ice. Cargo is hoisted off the ship. A ramp is set to unload the Snow Cruiser. The Snow Cruiser comes down the ramp, which it breaks, and almost slides off. The Snow Cruiser is rushed to thicker barrier ice away from the edge, before the ice breaks up. A Curtiss T-32 Condor II airplane is then unloaded. Dog sleds and tractors are used (9:06-10:58). Tractors tow supplies. M2 light tank gets stuck in the snow due to narrow tracks and presumably heavy weight (11:43). Tractor pulls out the tank. Tank backs up with a man behind it (10:59-12:31). No end credits.
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This film is part of the Periscope Film LLC archive, one of the largest historic military, transportation, and aviation stock footage collections in the USA. Entirely film backed, this material is available for licensing in 24p HD and 2k. For more information visit http://www.PeriscopeFilm.com
