Evening star., 1947-08-05
Alaska s86 Below Stirs Lonqinq
Of AAF Arctic Exhibit Aide

Washington's sultry summer
weather brings a touch of homesick-
ness for Alaska to C. Marion JET
ferson. who experienced a frigid
spell of SO degrees below zero in
the Arctic recently
He now is here as chief engineer
of the special Army Air Forces ex-
hibit at the SmithsoniaH Institution,
which features an Arctic display of
cold weather survival equipment for
airmen and the latest in military air
devices.
Mr.. Jefferson, who was graduated
from Virginia Military Institute,
served in the Arctic with the AAF
when it tested the equipment under
service conditions from January to
March of last year. He flew to
within 480 miles of the North Pole,
over the Arctic Ocean, he explained,
and it was nothing to find the ther-
mometer at 81 below zero at Fair
banks.
Asked what he thinks of Wash
tngton weather. Mr.. Jefferson de-
clared pointedly:
''I'll take Alaska. I never even
snif1ed there"
Neon FIuorescent Tent.
The Arctic survival equipment can
be dropped from parachute in a
kit to crashed or isolated units
Specially designed clothing and the
newest in rations are part of the
exhibit, which opened yesterday
But standing out like a beacon in
the display is the specially colored
tent, neon fluorescent and red in
color, which is capable of being
seen 10 miles at attitudes of from
5000 to 5000 feet.
Equipment like that In the Smith
sonian exhibit, which opened yes
terday, is being tested at Ladd Field,
Fairbanks It includes an ice pick,
shoes, sled, rife, snow shoes. a
small gas stove, self-generating
f1ashlight, compass and other arti-
cles necessary for survival
The parachute emergency rations
are made itno special kit for the
Arctic. They are more concentrated
than the normal AAF field rations
and consist of bullion, concen-
trated dinners and other tabloid"
foods. They are designed to give
immediate energy and the means
to 60 on until rescued.
$500,000 Exhibit.
The 100000 exhibit, which will
run to the end Of the month, in
cluding Saturdays and Sundays,
represents millions of dollars in re-
search. 1t includes the most pow
erful reciprocating engine now in
use-3,6 horsepower-and the J-33
engine. which powered the P-80 that
set the latest international speed
record at ga miles an hour recent
ly. A Lockheed P-30 Shooting
Star" stands outside the National
Museum Building, Tenth street and
Constitution avenue NV, as part
Of the show.
Also on display are a radio-con-
trolled target plane, used to train
anti-aircraft gunners; glide bomb,
radio controlled; an engine used in
the new B-36, and a circular wing
missile, launched from a plane in
fight. This is radio-controlled and
contains television equipment SO the
bombardier can get better view of
the target. =
An exhibit highlight is the bomb
sight used by Maj. Thomas w. Fer,
ebee, bombardier of the Enola Gay,
which directed the first atomic bomb
ever used as an instrument of war
and dropped on Hiroshima August 6,
l945, just two years ago tomorrow.
Battle Noises Reproduced.
A cacaphony of noises such as
might be heard on the battlefield re-
sounds through the National Mu-
scum as the initiated firing of ma
chine guns ON a BIS is accom-
plished through compressed air.
Then a supercharger, used to equal
ize air pressure in an airplane en-
gine to get maximum use, performs
and sounds like an air raid siren.
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Of the 630 million acres of forest
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