Norsemans in the Antarctic

Recently, we received a question regarding the history of Norsemans in the Antarctic. Here is the response my granfather sent to the person inquiring:


"There have been three Norsemans in the Antarctic:

a) The United States Navy took a Navy-owned JA-1 Norseman to the Antarctic in September 1946, primarily to keep an eye on Russioan activity there. The aircraft, together with six Dakotas and a Sikorsky Helicopter, remained there for almost two years and were abandoned on the Ross Ice in 1948. The part of the shelf where the aircraft were left,broke off and floated north until it melted and athe aircraft went to the bottom of the South Pacific Ocean. The Navy Project was Identified as "High Jump."

b) In 1946, the USAF contracted with Finne Ronne to carry out geographic exploration of the Antarctic, including mapping and tests of various items of equipment under severe climatic conditions. The USAF furnished Ronne with a U-64A Norseman, S/N 44-70369, C/N 634, to fly personnel, fuel and other equipment as necessary to support the project. In 1948, the aircraft was returned to the USAF facility at Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio.

c) In 1948, a Mk V Norseman, Falkland Islands Registration VP-FAD, C/N N29-45, was purchased by sombody in Canada and transported by ship to the Islands. I know that the aircraft was assembled and flown there, but I have no other data on the aircraft . If you have any knowledge on the subject, I would very much appreciate it if you would share it with me."

If you have any information in regards to the last paragraph, please contact: julie@noorduynnorseman.com.