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Rockefeller Mountains

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The Rockefeller Mountains ( 78°0′S 155°0′W  /  78.000°S 155.000°W  / -78.000; -155.000  ( Rockefeller Mountains ) ) are a group of low-lying, scattered granite peaks and ridges, almost entirely snow-covered, standing 30 nautical miles (56 km; 35 mi) south-southwest of the Alexandra Mountains on the Edward VII Peninsula of Antarctica.

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36-1022: Download coordinates as: The Rockefeller Mountains are on the south side of the Edward VII Peninsula in Marie Byrd Land , to the south of the Alexandra Mountains. They are north of the Prestrud Inlet and west of the Kiel Glacier. They run from southwest to northeast. Western features, from south to north, include Mount Butler, Tennant Peak, Gould Peak, Breckinridge Peak, Mount Nilsen and Strider Rock- Central features, from south to north, include Washington Ridge, Mount Franklin, Fokker Rocks, Mount Schlossbach, Mount Paterson and Melbert Rocks. Northern features, from south to north, include Mount Shideler, Mount Fitzsimmons, Mount Jackling and Mount Frazier. Drummond Peak

72-624: A brief postwar stint in Japan, Dufek was assigned as chief staff officer to a U.S. Navy- Coast Guard task force to establish weather bases in the polar regions. While there he participated in Operation Highjump , a Naval expedition to Antarctica under the command of Byrd. He served as commander of the Eastern Group (Task Group 68.3) which consisted of a seaplane tender, a destroyer and a tanker. During Operation Highjump he made

108-762: A lieutenant, requested and received an assignment to Rear Admiral Richard E. Byrd 's third expedition to Antarctica , which was officially named the United States Antarctic Service Expedition , where he served as navigator of the USS ; Bear , the flagship of the expedition. In recognition of his many hours of exploratory flying over the South Polar continent, Dufek later received the United States Antarctic Expedition Medal . After

144-673: A member of the ByrdAE (1933-35) and member of the USAS party which occupied the Rockefeller Mountains seismic station during November-December 1940. 78°02′S 154°36′W  /  78.033°S 154.600°W  / -78.033; -154.600 . A pyramidal mountain about 2 nautical miles (3.7 km; 2.3 mi) northeast of Mount Schlossbach. Discovered by the ByrdAE (1928-30) and later named by Byrd for Seward M. Paterson, manufacturer who furnished shoes and ski boots for

180-527: A patron of the expedition. The geologist Laurence M. Gould and his team flew out to this mountain range in their plane; but after landing, a snow storm blew it half a mile away onto the ice, destroying it. This left them stranded for 11 days with limited food until the Byrd team in the Little America settlement could be reached and could send another plane to pick them up. These events are captured in

216-466: A trail to Byrd Station. 77°51′S 153°58′W  /  77.850°S 153.967°W  / -77.850; -153.967 . A low, isolated rock peak 19 nautical miles (35 km; 22 mi) southwest of La Gorce Peak , rising above the ice surface of Edward VII Peninsula. Mapped by USGS from surveys and United States Navy air photos, 1955-59. Named by US-ACAN for Lieutenant (j.g.) Glenn N. Drummond, Jr., United States Navy, Assistant Aerologist on

252-710: Is Shirase Coast . In the north and east the Swinburne Ice Shelf is located. Edward VII Peninsula was discovered on 30 January 1902 by the British National Antarctic Expedition (BrNAE) (1901–1904) under Robert Falcon Scott , who named it King Edward VII Land for King Edward VII of the United Kingdom . The coastline was further explored by the Nimrod Expedition under Ernest Shackleton in 1908–09, and

288-578: Is a stub . You can help Misplaced Pages by expanding it . George J. Dufek George John Dufek (February 10, 1903 – February 10, 1977) was an American naval officer , naval aviator , and polar expert. He served in World War II and the Korean War and in the 1940s and 1950s spent much of his career in the Antarctic , first with Admiral Byrd and later as supervisor of U.S. programs in

324-406: Is an isolated nunatak to the northeast. The exposed part of the Rockefeller Mountains covers about 20 square miles (52 km). It has black and pink peaks that rise to 1,500 to 2,000 feet (460 to 610 m) above sea level, but that only protrude from the ice by a few hundred feet. The northern group are higher, but more deeply buried in the ice. Mount Margaret Wade (now called Mount Fitzsimmons)

360-563: Is the second highest in the Edward VII Peninsula after Mount LaGorce (now called La Gorce Peak ). Most of the peaks are pink or red, made up of acidic intrusives. A small central group is dark grey or black and composed of metamorphosed sediments. The Rockefeller Mountains were discovered by the Byrd Antarctic Expedition (ByrdAE) on January 27, 1929. They were named by Byrd for John D. Rockefeller Jr. ,

396-559: The U-546 , the last of 13 submarines (11 German and 2 Japanese) sunk by Bogue during World War II. During the Korean War the Navy placed Dufek in command of the aircraft carrier USS  Antietam from 17 January 1951 – 6 May 1952. Antietam operated off the coast of the Korean peninsula from October 1951 to April 1952 and received four battle stars . Dufek was then given command of

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432-774: The Ross Dependency . Edward VII Peninsula is defined by the Ross Ice Shelf on the southwest, Okuma Bay on the west, and to the east by Sulzberger Bay and the Saunders Coast , all essentially on the Ross Sea / Southern Ocean in Antarctica . The northwest extremity of the peninsula is Cape Colbeck . Edward VII Peninsula is located at 77°40′S 155°00′W  /  77.667°S 155.000°W  / -77.667; -155.000 . The western coast

468-818: The South Polar regions . Rear Admiral Dufek was the director of the Mariners' Museum in Newport News, Virginia after his retirement from the Navy in 1959. Born in Rockford, Illinois , he joined the Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) at his local high school and was appointed to the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland in 1921. Upon graduation in 1925 he received his ensign's commission and commenced his career aboard

504-555: The ByrdAE (1933-35). 78°02′S 155°07′W  /  78.033°S 155.117°W  / -78.033; -155.117 . Rock outcrops close northwest of Mount Paterson. Discovered by the ByrdAE, 1928-30. Named by US-ACAN for George W. Melbert, UTCN, United States Navy, Utilitiesman at Byrd Station, 1966. 77°55′S 154°51′W  /  77.917°S 154.850°W  / -77.917; -154.850 . A peak 1 nautical mile (1.9 km; 1.2 mi) southeast of Mount Fitzsimmons. Discovered on January 27, 1929, by members of

540-662: The ByrdAE in 1929, and named by Byrd for Charles ("Chips") Gould, carpenter on the expedition. 78°04′S 155°07′W  /  78.067°S 155.117°W  / -78.067; -155.117 . A peak in the south group of the Rockefeller Mountains, standing 1 nautical mile (1.9 km; 1.2 mi) southwest of Mount Nilsen. Discovered by the ByrdAE in 1929, and named by Byrd for Colonel and Mrs. Henry Breckinridge of New York. 78°03′S 155°00′W  /  78.050°S 155.000°W  / -78.050; -155.000 . A peak 4 nautical miles (7.4 km; 4.6 mi) west-southwest of Mount Paterson. Discovered in 1929 by

576-431: The ByrdAE on January 27, 1929. The name was applied by the USAS (1939–41), which established a seismic station camp on this peak. 78°04′S 155°10′W  /  78.067°S 155.167°W  / -78.067; -155.167 . Rock outcrops just south of Mount Schlossbach. The name, applied by US-ACAN, recalls the fact that a Fokker airplane of the ByrdAE, 1928-30, was damaged beyond repair by strong winds while it

612-478: The ByrdAE on an exploratory flight over this area. The name appears to have been applied by the US AS (1939–41). 77°54′S 154°55′W  /  77.900°S 154.917°W  / -77.900; -154.917 . A peak standing between Mounts Jackling and Shideler. Discovered on January 27, 1929, by members of the ByrdAE on an exploratory flight to this area. Named for Roy G. Fitzsimmons, physicist in charge of

648-626: The ByrdAE, and named by Byrd for Captain Nilsen of the Norwegian whaler C.A. Larsen , which towed the City of New York through the pack ice. 78°02′S 155°26′W  /  78.033°S 155.433°W  / -78.033; -155.433 . A rock 1 nautical mile (1.9 km; 1.2 mi) northwest of Mount Nilsen. Discovered by the ByrdAE in 1929. Named by US-ACAN for John P. Strider, Aviation Machinist's Mate, United States Navy, plane captain on

684-425: The Navy's Operation Deep Freeze , a scientific polar research expedition. When planning was complete Dufek was given command of Task Force 43 which, with more than 80 officers and 1000 enlisted men, three ice-breakers , and three cargo ships , was charged with logistics and support for the expedition. Dufek's first flagship for the operation was the attack cargo ship USS Arneb . He later transferred his flag to

720-425: The Rockefeller Mountains seismic station for the US AS during November-December 1940. 77°54′S 154°58′W  /  77.900°S 154.967°W  / -77.900; -154.967 . A peak 1 nautical mile (1.9 km; 1.2 mi) south of Mount Frazier. Discovered on January 27, 1929, by members of the ByrdAE on an exploratory flight over this area. The name was applied by the USAS (1939-41) which explored

756-449: The Rockefeller Mountains. Discovered on January 27, 1929, by members of the ByrdAE on an exploratory flight over this area. Named for Raymond Butler, member of the USAS party which occupied the Rockefeller Mountains seismic station during November and December 1940. 78°09′S 155°18′W  /  78.150°S 155.300°W  / -78.150; -155.300 . A peak 1 nautical mile (1.9 km; 1.2 mi) south of Gould Peak in

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792-480: The Rockefeller Mountains. The glacier was partially delineated from aerial photographs obtained by the ByrdAE (1928-30) and subsequently was observed from the air by several United States expeditions to the area. It is named for driver Max R. Kiel, United States Navy, Mobile Construction Battalion, who lost his life on March 5, 1956, when his tractor fell into a crevasse about 20 nautical miles (37 km; 23 mi) westward of this glacier while attempting to establish

828-547: The aircraft carrier USS Saratoga in 1938. During World War II Dufek commanded a flight training squadron, served as senior naval aviator in Algeria during the invasion of North Africa , assisted in the planning for the invasion of Sicily and Salerno and, after his promotion to captain and subsequent reassignment, the invasion of southern France. In September 1944 he assumed command of the escort carrier USS  Bogue , which, on 24 April 1945, along with its escorts, sank

864-752: The area. 77°52′S 154°58′W  /  77.867°S 154.967°W  / -77.867; -154.967 . Northernmost peak of the Rockefeller Mountains, standing 1 nautical mile (1.9 km; 1.2 mi) north of Mount Jackling. Discovered on January 27, 1929, by the ByrdAE. Named for Russell G. Frazier, medical officer at West Base of the USAS (1939–41), and observer with the Rockefeller Mountains Geological Party, which visited this area in December 1940. 78°18′S 156°00′W  /  78.300°S 156.000°W  / -78.300; -156.000 . A re-entrant in

900-488: The battleship USS  Maryland . He was later assigned to the submarine USS S-39 and was promoted to lieutenant (junior grade) in 1928. In 1932 he entered flight training school at the Naval Air Station Pensacola , Florida; after graduating as a naval aviator in 1933 he served as navigator and executive officer on three different ships. He was promoted to lieutenant in 1935 and assigned to

936-690: The documentary With Byrd at the South Pole . The mountains were mapped for the first time from aerial photographs taken later in 1929. Several parties of the second Burd Antarctic Expedition 1933-35 explored the mountains, including separate visits to Mount Helen Washington and Mount Nilsen. A more thorough exploration was made by the United States Antarctic Service Expedition of 1939-1941. 78°10′S 155°17′W  /  78.167°S 155.283°W  / -78.167; -155.283 . The southernmost peak of

972-549: The first Americans to set foot at the South Pole and to plant the American flag, and the first men to land on the pole from the air. On November 28, 1957, Dufek was present with a US congressional delegation during a change of command ceremony held at McMurdo Sound. After Admiral Byrd's death, Dufek was appointed to succeed him as supervisor of U.S. programs in the South Polar Regions. Dufek fully retired from

1008-553: The first flight over the Thurston Peninsula and later led the rescue of six survivors of a crash of another flight (named George 1 ) over the same area. He returned to Washington D.C. briefly, but by 1947 was back in the Antarctic, this time commanding a task force sent to supply existing weather stations and to establish new ones near the pole. In 1954 Dufek joined a special Antarctic planning group preparing for

1044-696: The first landfall was made by a party of the Japanese Antarctic Expedition led by Shirase Nobu in 1912. The region was renamed "Edward VII Peninsula" after the peninsular character of the region was determined by exploration conducted by the Byrd Antarctic Expedition (1933–1935) and the United States Antarctic Service (USAS) Expedition (1939–1941). Most of the peninsula is within the Ross Dependency , claimed by New Zealand (see Territorial claims of Antarctica ). This Ross Dependency location article

1080-460: The icebreaker USS Glacier and was on board the Glacier when she completed a circumnavigation of the Antarctic continent later in the expedition. Among other accomplishments, the task force established bases on Ross Island and in Little America , and on October 31, 1956, Admiral Dufek and a crew of six, having flown on a ski equipped US Navy R4D-5 Skytrain named Que Sera Sera , became

1116-692: The naval installation on Kwajalein in the Pacific and, finally, the Naval Air Station Whidbey Island in Oak Harbor, Washington . Dufek retired from the Navy on 30 June 1955 and was promoted to the rank of rear admiral in recognition of his wartime accomplishments the same day. He continued to serve on active duty so he could participate in Operation Deep Freeze . In the spring of 1939, Dufek, at this time

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1152-691: The ski-equipped R4D carrying Rear Admiral George J. Dufek that was the first aircraft to land at the geographic South Pole, on October 31, 1956. 78°06′S 154°48′W  /  78.100°S 154.800°W  / -78.100; -154.800 . A rock ridge surmounted by three peaks, standing 1.5 nautical miles (2.8 km; 1.7 mi) southeast of Mount Franklin. Discovered on a ByrdAE flight of January 27, 1929. Named by Rear Admiral Richard E. Byrd for his niece, Helen A. Washington. 78°05′S 154°57′W  /  78.083°S 154.950°W  / -78.083; -154.950 . Peak standing between Breckinridge Peak and Washington Ridge. Discovered by

1188-399: The south group of the Rockefeller Mountains. Discovered by the ByrdAE (1928-30) and named by Byrd for George W. Tennant, cook on the expedition. 78°07′S 155°15′W  /  78.117°S 155.250°W  / -78.117; -155.250 . A peak standing 1 nautical mile (1.9 km; 1.2 mi) north of Tennant Peak in the south group of the Rockefeller Mountains. Discovered by

1224-572: The south side of Edward VII Peninsula, at the northeast corner of the Ross Ice Shelf . Named by the United States Antarctic Service expedition (1939-41) in honor of Lieutenant K. Prestrud, leader of Amundsen's Eastern Sledge Party in 1911 who was first to traverse this region. 78°08′S 154°15′W  /  78.133°S 154.250°W  / -78.133; -154.250 . A broad, heavily crevassed glacier descending southwest from Edward VII Peninsula just east of

1260-405: The staff, United States Naval Support Force, Antarctica, 1959-62. Edward VII Peninsula King Edward VII Land or King Edward VII Peninsula is a large, ice -covered peninsula which forms the northwestern extremity of Marie Byrd Land in Antarctica . The peninsula projects into the Ross Sea between Sulzberger Bay and the northeast corner of the Ross Ice Shelf , and forms part of

1296-406: Was on the ground on the south side of nearby Washington Ridge. The plane was visited by Charles Morrison of USGS on December 31, 1966. 78°03′S 154°48′W  /  78.050°S 154.800°W  / -78.050; -154.800 . A peak just southeast of Mount Nilsen. Discovered by the ByrdAE on a flight of January 27, 1929, and named for Commander Isaac Schlossbach, United States Navy,

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