1973 USN Air Traffic Controller Antarctica Grouping

[Thrifter_01]

Last weekend, I had found this grouping in a yard sale. These items belonged to a local navy vet who had seen some service in Vietnam, and had then been sent to Antarctica to coordinate takeoffs and landings of various planes at the base he was stationed at. While there, he had taken over 50 photographs of his time and turned them into photo slides, including photos of the landscape, wildlife, and various historical sites.

 

I can only show a few, but I do plan on finding a slide projector and taking photos of the rest with higher quality. 

 

[Thrifter_01]

Now some of the photos of the slides. Most were developed in 1975 and in the Naval Photographic Center in Washington D.C.

 

 

 

[manayunkman]

Very cool group and I totally envy that you can yardsale this time of year.

 

I have a light box with a semi translucent white plastic sheet to cover the light.

 

I lay it flat on a table and sit the slides on the plastic surface, enough light shines through that you can see numerous images at the same time without light blinding you.

[Salvage Sailor]

Very Nice, he would have been assigned to a RATCC unit (Rat-See) directing air traffic for VXE-6 et al

 

RATCC-43 Radar Air Traffic Control Center 43 ("Rat-See" Forty Three)

detachment assigned to Air Traffic Control in Antarctica for VXE-6 Puckered Penguins

 

Southernmost Naval Air Traffic Control Headquarters

South Pole - Williams Field -MAC Center

 

 

[Thrifter_01]

19 hours ago, manayunkman said:

Very cool group and I totally envy that you can yardsale this time of year.

 

I have a light box with a semi translucent white plastic sheet to cover the light.

 

I lay it flat on a table and sit the slides on the plastic surface, enough light shines through that you can see numerous images at the same time without light blinding you.

 

Truth be told, it's probably the only one I will be able to do this month lol. That is a good idea on the light box as well, definitely need to buy one.

 

@Salvage Sailor Thank you for the extra info! I had no idea they had a whole unit dedicated to that. I think I saw one of those patches in the slides. 

[Castle_Keep]

That's truly an amazing discovery.  Congrats!

[Thrifter_01]

Bringing this back up as I have taken photos of the 35mm slides. Has various places, and wildlife.

 

[otter42]

Love the slide of the old food stuffs! Wonder if it goes that 1910 expedition.  An absolute time capsule.  

[Thrifter_01]

It infact does! On the crates it is marked for the SS Terra Nova

[AustinO]

I have a grouping to the Admiral who commanded the Antarctic post from 69-71.  He has some great shots of original stuff in the building from 1910. 

[Thrifter_01]

Update on this grouping, the seller got back to me and sent me a picture of more items he had. Including a whole box of 35mm slides. Will update once I recieve it.

 

[CinamonToastCrunch]

I got a grouping of a LCDR who served as an Aircraft commander who was a test pilot evaluating the LC-130 with Arctic Development Squadron 6 at the similar time in the early 1970s. Congrats you don't find grouping from veterans who participated in arctic operations too often.