New Zealand Aircrew Assists US Airmen During Antarctica Mission

A Royal New Zealand Air Force P3-Orion lands on the ice runway at McMurdo Station, Antarctica. (Royal New Zealand Air Force photo.)

Focus on Defense:

HICKAM AIR FORCE BASE, Hawaii, Oct. 31, 2008 -- A Royal New Zealand Air Force aircrew assisted Airmen from the U.S. Pacific Command's Joint Task Force Support Forces Antarctica by delivering a mission essential part Oct. 27 to a disabled aircraft at Pegasus White Ice Runway, Antarctica.

An electronic engine controller and three Air Force aircraft maintainers were delivered by the RNZAF P-3K Orion to the disabled C-17 Globemaster III after one of its engines broke Oct. 26.

C-17s operated by aircrews from the 62nd Airlift Wing and 446th AW at McChord Air Force Base, Wash., carry cargo and personnel between Christchurch, New Zealand, and McMurdo Station, Antarctica. The missions are part of Operation Deep Freeze which supports the National Science Foundation and the U.S. Antarctic Program.

"I'd like to acknowledge and give special thanks to Antarctic New Zealand for answering our request for assistance so quickly," said Lt. Col. Jim McGann, 304th Expeditionary Airlift Squadron commander. "Their efforts reduced the C-17 ground time by a whopping 72 hours minimum. They were simply phenomenal."

Operation Deep Freeze, the Department of Defense's support to NSF and USAP, is unlike any other U.S. military operation. Operations are conducted in Antarctica, the coldest, windiest, highest, driest and most inhospitable continent on the globe.

Headquartered here and led by 13th Air Force, JTF SFA's mission is to provide air and sealift support to the NSF and USAP.

"The National Science Foundation, U.S. Air Force, Antarctica New Zealand and the Royal New Zealand Air Force have a great working relationship," said RNZAF Air Commodore Gavin Howse, air component commander. "As an exercise in international cooperation it was fantastic that we were able to assist. It is also nice to know, that should we find ourselves in a similar situation, we can rely on their support."

(Report by by Capt. Genieve David, JTF Support Forces Antarctica Public Affairs.)

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