Evening star., 1957-04-25
Dufek Proposes
S5OMi||ionbase
In Anfarctica

Rear Admiral George j. Dufek,
commander of Operation Deep
freeze. yesterday urged construc-
tion Of permanent American
air base at McMurdo Sound in
Antarctica at a cost Of between
$50 million and $50 million.
"We3can open up the Antarctic
for keeps" Admiral Dufek told
a luncheon at the National Press
Club
Il have been over the area and
airmen and scientists tell me an
airf1eld can be constructed there
within four or f1ve years. It
would have all the modern con-
trolls, including GCA (ground
trolled approach) and housing.
I'VE are presently in the same
situation in Antarctica as we
were Is years ago in the Arctic.
Now the Arctic is a heavily trav-
eled area. The great circle routes
are the same. / see no reason
as a private citizen, why we
should not go ahead and get a
flve-year Jump on the project"
lee Unreliable
Admiral Dufek explained that
the ice field now used for land
ing large transport planes at
McMurdo Sound is imperma-
nent. The ice is not always
there, and if 1t goes away soon.
We will have no place to land
our large aircraft, Admiral
Dufek declared.
The explorer also advocated
establishment of a permanent
agency of the Government to
guide American policy on polar
matters and act as q repository
for all data and information on
the Arctic and Antarctic regions.
He explained that Defense De-
partment support of the Inter-
national Geophysical Year ends
in 1859 and, after that. he knows
of no plans for continuing ex-
ploration or scientific work at
the South Pole.
He said the Antarctic is get
ting colder. With Washington
enduring a plus-8S degree day
yesterday. he said Antarctica was
having minus-88 weather.
But the Is Americans who are
spending the Antarctic winter
on the exact spot Of the South
Pole will endure temperatures
of as low as 100 degrees below
zero.
Fun Relieves Grimness
Life, however. is not always
grim at the South Pole, he said.
The boys have a little fun. too.
After the last air-drop of sup
plies to the Is men spending the
winter, he said they decided to
make just one more drop-a life
size mannikin of a pretty girl in
a bathing suit. Written on the
present were the words, Lest
you forget"
He also recalled an incident
during one Of the expeditions of
the late Admiral Richard Byrd.
when the polar pioneer was
scrubbing his own clothes. A
young sailor, newly enlisted in
the Navy, was staring at Ad-
miral Byrd. and finally Byrd
asked him. What's the matter.
young man, didn't you ever see
an admiral washing his clothes
before?"
No. sir" the kid replied. 1--WE
never seen an admiral before"
Explains Winnings
Is IT true. a Press Club wae
asked, that one of Admiral Du-
fek's officers financed a leave to
the United States with money he
won from the admiral at gin
rummy?
Admiral Dufek said he has no.
ticed a peculiar curve in his gin
rummy playing.
when We start on a six
month cruise" he said. Il notice
that lose with regularity, but
toward the end, when am pre-
pairing to make out the fitne IS
reports Of my officers. I note
that my winnings have a tend
ency to increase"
Members Of the club applauded
the speaker, who was cited by
president Ben Grant as "the first
man to fly the nag Of the Ma
tional Press Club over the South
Pole and dtifte o0ssihlv the Ia st