Skip to main content (Press Enter).
 News
    
        Photos

    Week in Photos

    Air Force TV

    Commentaries

    Features

    Art

    About Us
    
        Air Force Senior Leaders
    
        SECAF

    CSAF

    CMSAF

    Biographies

    Fact Sheets

    SECAF Reading List

    CSAF Leadership Library
    
        CSAF Leadership Library 2022

    CSAF Leadership Library 2021

    CSAF Reading List Pre-2020 Archive
    
        2018 CSAF Reading List

    2017 CSAF Reading List

    2016 CSAF Reading List

    CSAF Leadership Library 2023

    CMSAF Leadership Library

    50 Years of the CMSAF

    Adjunct Professors

    Air Force Strategic Documents

    Arctic Strategy

    Empowered Airmen

    State Licensure Portability

    Careers

    AF Federal Advisory Committees

    AF 75th Anniversary

    Policy Updates

    AF Content Management

    Contact Us

    AF Sites
    
        Site RegistrationU.S. Air Force LogoAir Force

        Policy UpdatesNewsroomReoptimizationBIOGRAPHIESAF Senior Leaders      An Eurocopter AS350 B2 single engine helicopter without its blades attached, along with pallets of cargo, are staged behind a Joint Base Lewis-McChord C-17 Globemaster III prior to being loaded Oct. 8th, 2014, at Christchurch, New Zealand. The helicopter was transported along with the cargo and 62 passengers to McMurdo Station in support of Operation Deep Freeze. (U.S. Air Force photo/Master Sgt. Todd Wivell)141008-F-PV259-001
                        
                        
                        An Eurocopter AS350 B2 single engine helicopter without its blades attached, along with pallets of cargo, are staged behind a Joint Base Lewis-McChord C-17 Globemaster III prior to being loaded Oct. 8th, 2014, at Christchurch, New Zealand. The helicopter was transported along with the cargo and 62 passengers to McMurdo Station in support of Operation Deep Freeze. (U.S. Air Force photo/Master Sgt. Todd Wivell)
                
                Photo Details /
                        Download Hi-Res
        


        A Caterpillar D-8 bulldozer is being loaded onto a Joint Base Lewis-McChord C-17 Globemaster III Oct. 8th, 2014, at McMurdo Station, Antarctica. U.S. Antarctic Program operations started Sept. 29, and will continue through early spring of 2015, however due to the changes in weather during the last few seasons, the rotations of the McChord crew and aircraft at Christchurch, New Zealand will end in November 2014.. (U.S. Air Force photo/Master Sgt. Todd Wivell)141008-F-PV259-007
                        
                        
                        A Caterpillar D-8 bulldozer is being loaded onto a Joint Base Lewis-McChord C-17 Globemaster III Oct. 8th, 2014, at McMurdo Station, Antarctica. U.S. Antarctic Program operations started Sept. 29, and will continue through early spring of 2015, however due to the changes in weather during the last few seasons, the rotations of the McChord crew and aircraft at Christchurch, New Zealand will end in November 2014.. (U.S. Air Force photo/Master Sgt. Todd Wivell)
                
                Photo Details /
                        Download Hi-Res
        


        Tech. Sgt. JD Dearborn connects heating ducts to the engine of a Joint Base Lewis-McChord C-17 Globemaster III Oct. 8th, 2014, at McMurdo Station, Antarctica. Five heating units were used to keep the aircraft from freezing up while it was being loaded as temperatures before wind chill were minus 19 degrees. Dearborn is a crew chief with the 304th Expeditionary Airlift Squadron and 62nd Aircraft Maintenance Squadron. (U.S. Air Force photo/Master Sgt. Todd Wivell)141008-F-PV259-004
                        
                        
                        Tech. Sgt. JD Dearborn connects heating ducts to the engine of a Joint Base Lewis-McChord C-17 Globemaster III Oct. 8th, 2014, at McMurdo Station, Antarctica. Five heating units were used to keep the aircraft from freezing up while it was being loaded as temperatures before wind chill were minus 19 degrees. Dearborn is a crew chief with the 304th Expeditionary Airlift Squadron and 62nd Aircraft Maintenance Squadron. (U.S. Air Force photo/Master Sgt. Todd Wivell)
                
                Photo Details /
                        Download Hi-Res
        


        Passengers depart a C-17 Globemaster III, Oct. 8th, 2014, after landing at McMurdo Station, Antarctica. More than 60 passengers were onboard the flight which included a helicopter as part of the cargo. (U.S. Air Force photo/Master Sgt. Todd Wivell)141008-F-PV259-003
                        
                        
                        Passengers depart a C-17 Globemaster III, Oct. 8th, 2014, after landing at McMurdo Station, Antarctica. More than 60 passengers were onboard the flight which included a helicopter as part of the cargo. (U.S. Air Force photo/Master Sgt. Todd Wivell)
                
                Photo Details /
                        Download Hi-Res

From helicopters to bulldozers, McChord supports Operation Deep FreezePublished Oct. 10, 2014
                    
                    By Master Sgt. Todd Wivell
                    
                    
                    62nd Airlift Wing Public Affairs
            **CHRISTCHURCH, New Zealand (AFNS) --**Continuing the Defense Department's longstanding support of the National Science Foundation, a Joint Base Lewis-McChord crew, made up of 62nd and 446th Airlift Wing members, safely completed another run to McMurdo Station, Antarctica, Oct 8, as part of their contribution to the U.S. Antarctic Program.
Typically the crews of Operation Deep Freeze take on passengers and pallets of cargo; however, the most recent trip consisted of transporting a helicopter out to the station and brought back a bulldozer to Christchurch, New Zealand.
The aircraft was an Eurocopter AS350 B2 single engine helicopter that did not have its blades attached. The blades were loaded separately in a crate and then installed once the helicopter was taken off the C-17 Globemaster III at McMurdo Station.
"This helicopter will be used to transport personnel around the ice," according to one of the helicopter pilots. "It will also be used to lift and move cargo around and has the capabilities of lifting up to 1.5 tons."
During the return flight to Christchurch, the crew took back a Caterpillar D-8 bulldozer.
"The C-17 provides tremendous capabilities to the USAP by transporting large equipment such as the helicopter and dozer," said Lt. Col. Rob Schmidt, the 304th Expeditionary Airlift Squadron commander and 62nd Operations Group deputy commander. "Those stationed at McMurdo greatly appreciate the mail, fresh fruits and vegetables we deliver but being able to transport this unique and heavy equipment is a key component of the C-17 ODF airlift capabilities."
USAP operations started Sept. 29, and will continue through early spring of 2015, however due to the changes in weather during the last few seasons the rotations of the McChord crew and aircraft at Christchurch will end in November 2014.
NSF manages the USAP and maintains three year-round stations on the continent.Antarctica 



Joint Base Lewis-McChord 



AMC 



C-17 



62nd Airlift Wing 



446th Airlift Wing 



McMurdo Station 



DEEP FREEZE Featured News
        Senior Leader Priorities
                SecAF Kendall visits Bangor ANG Base
                    
                    Vice President Harris congratulates USAFA Class of ‘24
                    
                    Senate confirms Melissa Dalton as next Under Secretary of the Air Force
                    
                    ‘One Team, One Fight’: SecAF visits Keesler AFB
                    
                    SecAF Kendall experiences VISTA of future flight test at Edwards AFBInnovation
                AFSFC reaches final phase of fielding Model Defender gear
                    
                    Around the Air Force: PCS Allowances, Air Task Forces, All-Volunteer Force
                    
                    AFIMSC focuses I-WEPTAC topics on GPC solutions
                    
                    Optimizing AI, Air University hosts Artificial Intelligence Symposium
                    
                    AFIMSC tools deliver data-driven solutions across DAFMAJCOM News
                AFMC to expand AcqDemo workforce
                    
                    AFMC empowers small businesses for Air Force reoptimization
                    
                    Acquisition Instructor Course Class 25A open for nominations
                    
                    Air Guard leaders host 2024 Wing Leader Conference
                    
                    Referral bonuses aim to help fill mission-critical vacancies
 Quick Links
AccessibilityContact UsEqual OpportunityFOIA | Privacy | Section 508Information QualityInspector GeneralJAG Court-Martial DocketLink DisclaimerNo FEAR ActOpen GovernmentOSI Tip LinePlain LanguageQuestionsResilienceRSSSite MapVeterans Crisis LineCareers
Join the Air ForceAir Force BenefitsAir Force CareersAir Force ReserveAir National GuardCivilian ServiceConnect
            Get Social with Us
            
            Official United States Air Force Website
    Hosted by Defense Media Activity - WEB.mil