PROJECT ICE SKATE, FLETCHER'S ICE ISLAND Reel 1 · Part 2

Description

Summary: Coverage of the transportation of equipment, men, and supplies to Fletcher's Ice Island (T-3) utilizing C-47, C-54, C-123, and C-124 aircraft in connection with the International Geophysical Year. Reel 1: SLATE: 18 FEBRUARY 1957. CAMERAMAN: FERRIS. 6') Several views of three airmen wearing parkas, rolling an oil drum over deep snow. 58') MS as Maj. Willis Johnson enters scene and attaches a gadget he invented to the oil drum to facilitate its movement over the snows. 115') MS airmen roll drums up to C-47 parked in hard snow -- engine wind guards on ground. 133') LS forward section of three C-47's as airmen work on left engine of first aircraft. 152') MS's of airmen using hammer and punch to loosen caps on drum -- engine of C-47 and tail section of another in bg. 162') MLS camera pans right with C-47, equipped with skis, taxiing on hard-packed snows. 181') MS airman on left wing of C-47 refueling aircraft. 186') LS windsock on level snow-covered field. 196') No good. 197') LS camera pans left with ski-equipped C-47 taxiing after landing on snows. 215') LS camera pans left with ski-equipped C-47 approaching and landing on snow. 243') MS camera pans left with ski-equipped C-47 taxiing past camera. 252') MS and MLS right SV C-47 parked on snow -- two airmen work on right engine propeller. 280') CU two airmen wearing parkas work on right engine propeller of C-47. 297') AV's of Ice Island (T-3). 382') MS Maj. George Rubald, Deputy Commander of Task Force, answers phone, then walks to wall map and pencils in position of T-3 bound aircraft. 417') CU map of T-3. 425') AV of Ice Island (T-3). 435') ELS low angle, three C-47's circle Ice Island (T-3). 458') LS A/G C-47 landing on snow. 463') ALS ski-equipped C-47 makes approach for landing at Ice Island (T-3). 469') LS A/G C-47 approaches and almost touches down on snow at Ice Island (T-3). 473') MS airmen wearing parkas unload C-47 at Ice Island. 486') MS three airmen wearing parkas try to move prefabricated section of building in snow. 505') MS building section is moved end-over-end, away from C-47, by three airmen. 517') MLS camera pans left to show two C-47's parked in snow. 526') MS three airmen climb into C-47 through cargo door. 537') LS low angle, C-l24 parachutes a caterpillar tractor to Ice Island. 563') Total footage in reel. Reel 2: 18') SLATE: CAMERAMAN: TUCKER. PEPPERRELL AFB, NEWFOUNDLAND. 26') MS INT Col. Robert Gates and two other officers enter roof marked: AIRLIFT TASK FORCE, PROJECT ICE SKATE -- introductions are made to an officer seated at desk and all four walk to wall map. 124') MS INT four officers walk from behind camera to map, and point out the route from St. John's, Newfoundland to Thule AB, Greenland, to Fletcher's Ice Island (T-3). 205') CU INT as officer explains map to Col. Gates. 265') MS INT as Col. Gates, seated at his desk, explains operation to two officers standing at his side. 295') CU INT Col. Gates points to a map of T-3 lying on his desk. 367') SLATE: 15 JANUARY l957. CAMERAMAN: TUCKER. PEPPERRELL AFB, NEWFOUNDLAND. 375') SLATE: 26 FEBRUARY 1957. CAMERAMAN: FERRIS. PEPPERRELL AFB, NEWFOUNDLAND. 392') Several MS's & CU's of map and Capt. Robert McGraw, Ice Skate Photo Officer, during briefing -- he points out route from St. John's, Newfoundland to Thule AB, Greenland, to T- 3. 451') CU's of map showing approximate locations of T-3 in May 1956, May 1957, May 1958, and May 1959 -- a broken line indicates the route from Thule AB to T-3. 489') CU map of T-3 Ice Island. 573') Total footage in reel. Reel 3: SLATE: 18 FEBRUARY 1957. GOOSE AB, LABRADOR. CAMERAMAN: FERRIS. 6') Several INT shots of Maj. Willis Johnson, Project Operations Officer, sketching his invention on a piece of paper to explain how it will facilitate the movement of oil drums over snow. 75') CU INT sign: PROJECT OFFICER, PROJECT ICE SKATE. 95') SLATE: CAMERAMAN: FERRIS. 102') No good. 104') LS two C-47's parked at Eureka, Ellesmere Island, being refueled by airman. 113') MS's & CU's of airman hand-pumping gasoline into a C-47 at Eureka, Ellesmere Island -- aircraft engine is being warmed by engine heater. 166') LS camera pans right to show four C-47's and a C-54 parked at Eureka, Ellesmere Island -- one C-47 is being refueled. 188') MLS camera pans left to show oil drums on snow at Eureka, Ellesmere Island. 199') SLATE: No good. 202') MLS C-47 parked on snow -- engine heater is connected to aircraft. 217') MS airman starts engine heater, then carries heater hose to C-47 and connects it to left engine. 246') CU engine heater unit showing instruments and control knob. 295') SLATE: 18 FEBRUARY 1957. CAMERAMAN: FERRIS. GOOSE AB, LABRADOR. 305') CU drum, with Maj. Johnson's invention for moving heavy drums over snow attached to it. 314') MS Maj. Johnson demonstrates invention to three airmen. 331') MS's as airman pulls drum, with Maj. Johnson's invention, over snow -- two C-47's in bg. 386') SLATE: FEBRUARY l957. GOOSE AB, LABRAD0R. CAMERAMAN: FERRIS. 396') MS INT looking through a window of C-47 as it takes off from ice and snow-covered lake near Goose AB, Labrador. 420') LS camera pans left with C-47 landing on ice and snow-covered lake. 480') No good. 485') MS left RV of C-47 minus vertical stabilizer and part of horizontal stabilizer which was ripped off during wind storm at Thule AB, Greenland. 496') MS right SV rear section of damaged C-47 showing horizontal stabilizer and fragments of the vertical stabilizer. 504') MS left SV C-47 showing damaged rudder. 515') LS left SV & MLS's FV & RV C-54 tied down and held by caterpillar tractor. 553') LS two C-47's -- C-54 held by caterpillar tractor parked in bg. 570') SLATE: FEBRUARY 1957. THULE AB, GREENLAND. CAMERAMAN: KRANZ. 586') No good. 587') MS three radio operators on duty -- a sergeant enter's' frame left, and a report, which he records on wall map, is handed to him. 632') CU map of Arctic region surrounding Thule AB, Greenland, and T-3 Island -- sergeant draws line to T-3 Island. 660') Total footage in reel. Reel 4: LS, MS & CU of C-124, with engine heaters connected and operating at Thule AB, Greenland. 53') MS airman removes cloth wind guard from engine. 67') CU engine of C-l24 being cranked prior to starting. 83') CU right engine of C-l24 idling. 99') CU's INT C-123 as pilot and copilot check controls and instruments. 144') CU INT C-l23 showing pilot at aircraft controls. 166') AV of snow-covered mountains of Ellesmere Island as seen through windshield of C-l23. 199') SLATE: 18 MARCH 1957. THULE AB, GREENLAND. CAMERAMAN: FERRIS. 208') LS camera pans right with C-l24 maneuvering on ground so that caterpillar can be hoisted through elevator well. 225') MS caterpillar tractor, packed for shipment, on ground -- C-l24 is moving into loading position. 246') MS & CU of loading officer directing C-124 over caterpillar for loading into elevator well. 269') MS looking into elevator well -- lift operator is visible. 276') MS three airmen look up elevator well of C-124. 283') MS airmen inside C-l24 looking down through elevator well. 292') SLATE: 9 MAY 1957. THULE AB, GREENLAND. CAMERAMAN: FERRIS. 299') MCU left side of C-124 showing the words: TROOP CARRIER and a pelican, drawn to resemb1e an aircraft dropping men and equipment by parachute. 316') LS left SV C-54 being refueled from gasoline truck. 326') LS left RV C-54 being refueled -- cargo is being loaded by fork lift. 337') Several MS's of boxed rations being loaded into C-54 by fork lift. 393') SLATE: 18 MARCH 1957. THULE AB. CAMERAMAN: FERRIS. 401') LS & CU house trailers used by IGY personnel while on T-3. 425') ECU labels on boxes for Operation Ice Skate. 439') LS's camera pans left to show house trailers and gasoline barrels -- snow on ground. 477') SLATE: 8 MAY 1957. THULE AB. CAMERAMAN: FERRIS. 484') No good. 488') MS two husky dogs being put into aircraft for transportation to T-3. 507') CU as dog tries to climb ladder into aircraft. 511') MS dog and airman walk up ramp of C-l24. 523') CU low angle, clamshell doors close on C-124. 541') MS C-124 parked at Thule AB -- airmen in fg. 552') MS as right engines of C-124 are started -- two C-124's and a C-54 in bg. 575') SLATE: 10 MAY 1957. THULE AB, GREENLAND. CAMERAMAN: FERRIS. 580') MS camera pans left with tractor (type A-2) pulling a house trailer on runners past parked C-124 with clamshell doors open and ramp down. 624') MS & CU two crewmen in front of large shipping box which contains a snow melter -- approximately 10 feet high. 643') CU sign on side of box: BUILDING 1170, 6604 AB WING, PEPPERRELL AFB, ST. JOHN'S, NEWFOUNDLAND, AF 65 (208-109) FOR AF PROJECT ICE SKATE. 649') MS & CU snow me1ter components grouped together for transportation. 668') SLATE: CAMERAMAN: FERRIS. 674') Several views of damaged C-l24 after crash landing on runway at T-3 -- shows CU's of damaged clamshell doors, right engine propeller, fuselage and co11apsed nose wheel. 765') SLATE: 18 MARCH 1957. THULE AB. CAMERAMAN: FERRIS. 774') LS caterpillar tractor on trailer bed -- portable crane is ready to unload it. 789') MLS & MS's as crane hook is lowered to caterpillar and attached by airmen -- caterpiller is lifted and trailer bed moved ahead, then caterpillar is lowered to ground. 864') Total footage in reel. Reel 5: SLATE:8 MAY 1957. THULE AB. CAMERAMAN: FERRIS. l') CU left SV C-124 taxiing past camera. 18') LS C-124 takes off at Thule AB, Greenland -- camera pans right as aircraft passes. 64') MCU & CU low angle, caterpillar tractor is hoisted into elevator of C-124. 113') MS elevator well doors partially closed on C-124. 128') MS FV low angle, left section of C-124. 135') CU insignia on side of C-124 showing a beaver carrying supplies - it reads: 54TH CARRIER SQUADRON H, EAGER BEAVERS. 146') SLATE: 18 MARCH 1957. THULE AB. CAMERAMAN: FERRIS. 157') No good. 164') AV's of C-54 in flight over frozen ocean. 222') AV's of frozen terrain from Thule AB to T-3 Island. 263') LS C-124 parked in front of hangar at Thule AB - cargo to be loaded in fg. 282') No good. 283') MS & CU of cargo to be loaded aboard C-l24 bound for T-3. 303') CU stencil on side of box reading: GLASS, AST, DOVER, DELAWARE, M/SAFB 5504 AF SQUADRON THULE, GREENLAND. PROJECT ICE SKATE. REQUISITION NO 1011080-T/A-l TA-l US-80-lC-l251-AF3. NEAC NEEDS VIA AIR. 331') CU box: HIGH-VALUE DELICATE INSTRUMENTS - HANDLE WITH CARE. 343') CU's of boxes reading: THIS SIDE UP. 358') CU box: NEAC NEEDS VIA AIR. 364') SLATE: 9 MAY 1957. THULE AB, GREENLAND. CAMERAMAN: FERRIS. 367') MS FV C-54 on ramp at Thule AB. 372') MCU low angle of copilot looking out cockpit window of stationary C-54. 378') CU FV right inboard engine of C-54 starting. 384') MS from under right wing of C-54 as right outboard engine is started - airman with CO2 bottle walks out left frame. 399') MS left inboard engine of C-54 starting. 419') MS camera pans left to show the main landing gears of C-54 as aircraft starts to take off. 436') LS C-54 gains altitude after takeoff from Thule AB - fire truck at end of runway. 466') MS INT C-123 showing large dirt roller chained to the deck - airman standing at left. 479') Several CU's INT C-123 showing crew and passengers during flight from Thule AB to T-3 - one airman is reading a book; another, sleeping; and one, looking out of window. 543') MS INT C-123 showing road grader in fg - roller in bg. 553') MS INT pilot and passenger in cockpit of C-l23. 567') SLATE: 8 MAY 1957, THULE AB. CAMERAMAN: FERRIS. 574') MLS camera pans right to show C-124's parked on ramp at Thule AB. 633') MS prefabricated section of building being hoisted into elevator well of C-124. 660') MS low angle, Strategic Air Command insignia on side of C-l24. 676' Total footage in reel. Good (Basic: Mas Pos)

Collection

Records of U.S. Air Force Commands, Activities, and Organizations

Series

Moving Images Relating to Military Aviation Activities