Airmen return from deep freeze

WRIGHT-PATTERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Ohio (AFPN) -- The last C-141 Starlifter from the 445th Airlift Wing returned March 4 from Christchurch, New Zealand, after completing its role in Operation Deep Freeze.

Operation Deep Freeze flights support the National Science Foundation, which operates scientific stations in Antarctica to explore the origins of the universe and mankind.

The wing, along with its sister C-141 unit, the 452nd Air Mobility Wing at March Air Reserve Base, Calif., carried 1.6 million pounds of cargo to and from McMurdo Station, Antarctica. The aircrews flew 3,446 passengers and logged more than 426 flying hours.

The missions to the bottom of the world are flown in three phases. The initial preparation phase called Winfly, because it occurs during the winter in Antarctica, begins in August. The resupply phase takes place during the continent's spring and summer from the end of September through mid-November. The redeployment phase takes place in February and ends before winter begins.

This year C-141s flew 19 times to Antarctica for the resupply phase and 22 times for the redeployment phase. Besides aircrews, wing maintainers also were deployed to New Zealand to keep the 60s-vintage aircraft airworthy.

Three C-141 missions to Antarctica had to be aborted because of weather conditions and one for maintenance. Mission to the ice is considered by many pilots to be the most difficult noncombat environment to fly in because of the weather.

Average temperatures there range from minus 70 in the interior during the winter to 36 degrees along the cost in the summer, but they can change in a moments notice. Winds can gust up to 200 mph.

This was the fourth year the 445th AW participated in Operation Deep Freeze.