Operation Deep Freeze DE(R)s
The Definitive Digital Archive of the US and NZ Navy Personnel Who Supported Operation Deep Freeze, 1956–1968, while Performing Weather Picket Ship Activities.
History
Gene Spinelli at Campbell Island, Dec. 9, 2012
What's a BT Drop? Click on picture and page down.
John Spath USS Calcaterra
www.60South.net and www.aspen-ridge.net are dedicated to United States and New Zealand Navy personnel who sailed on destroyer escort type ships in support of Operation Deep Freeze.
USS Calcaterra and USS Thomas J. Gary were two of those ships, but there were others. Unless otherwise noted, all photographs are copyright www.60South.net and www.aspen-ridge.net
Kevin Burke (USS Calcaterra) hosted a mini reunion in Dunedin, New Zealand, February 10, 2018.
The Long Patrol: Deployment Routes and Duties
The Ships and the Mission
Between the years 1957 and 1968 the US Navy deployed destroyer escort type ships in support of Operation Deep Freeze, a multi nation exploration of Antarctica. From May, 1965 to June, 1967 the webmaster (Gene Spinelli) served on the following destroyer escort (radar) ships:
1. USS Calcaterra, DER 390 from May 1965 – May, 1966 .
2. USS Thomas J Gary, DER 326 from June, 1966 – June, 1967.
The Vision
- Provide weather, and upper air conditions, for aircraft flying between Christchurch, New Zealand and McMurdo Station, Antarctica
- Deliver and collect mail and supplies at Campbell Island, a sub Antarctic New Zealand weather station
- Search and rescue operations in the unlikely event an aircraft experienced problems
- Provide TACAN navigation beacons for these aircraft
Upon completion of their Operation Deep Freeze assignment to Campbell Island and Antarctica, Calcaterra and Thomas J. Gary returned to Newport via the Indian Ocean, Suez Canal, The Med, and Atlantic Ocean, thus completely circling the earth during each of these 10 month deployments. Other ships that supported Operation Deep Freeze during the 11 years were USS: Mills, Vance, Peterson, Forster, Durant, Hissem, Brough, Wilhoite, and HMNZS Endeavour, Pukaki and Rotoiti.
Countries visited during these deployments: Panama, Peru, American Samoa, New Zealand, Australia, Yemen, Ethiopia, Lebanon, Greece, Italy, France, Gibraltar, Spain, England, Holland (The Netherlands), Ireland, plus Campbell Island, Auckland Island, the Balleny Islands and countless icebergs as we sailed on picket station.
“Real” sailors rode on DERs
Operation Deep Freeze was the United States’ contribution to the peaceful study of Antarctica. 1957 – 1958 was designated the International Geophysical Year (IGY). On display at the Eisenhower Presidential Museum and Library in Abilene, Kansas are various documents, including the presidential press release proclaiming the US position on Antarctica. Click here to view the Operation Deep Freeze display at the museum.
The Internet offers a unique opportunity to bring these destroyer escort crews together after over 50 years, and to share some unique photographs of Antarctica and life aboard these small but agile ships.
There are hundreds of photographs on this site. At the left of this page are a series of links that will take you through the site. Clicking on most pictures will give you a larger image.
Number of visits since April, 2000