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UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN, LAWRENCE, KANSAS
TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 21, 1950
Santa Claus Doesn't Live At Pole, Fliers Find
Fairbanks, Alaska—(U.P.)The North Pole, "Land of Santa Claus," is just another spot on the weather map for men of the 375th strategic reconnaissance squadron.
The 375th has been flying to the north pole almost every other day for the last three years charting atmospheric conditions in the "Arctic weather factory" so U. S. weather observers could more accurately predict continental conditions.
The hardy airmen call the flight to the pole "ptarmigan" after an Arctic bird that does the same thing they do—make long flights over the icefields.
The air trek starts at Eielson air force base here where each B-29 crewman is briefed on the purpose of each mission and required to explain in detail his part in the flight, no matter how many times he has done it before.
The first part of the journey is over the snow-capped Brooks mountains; then over Pt. Barrow, America's northernmost outpost, and its last contact with land. Then it's 1,120 miles to the pole, first over a short stretch of open water, finally over the crunching ice pack.
The 13-man crews don't see much of this as they wing along at 18,000 feet. Only radar pips let them know they are over the vast wastelands.
"It gets doggone cold," said T/Sgt. Justin D. Davidson, Waucapa, Wis., who has made 19 trips. "I'm glad to get down. These woolens itch."
An average of 20 weather messages are transmitted during the 4,000-mile flight.
Navigating is the toughest assignment on a Ptarmigan flight, 11 hours of which is over ice-covered ocean. Two officers direct the course, a far cry from when Adm. Richard E. Byrd first flew to the pole May 9, 1926.
The polar weather flights were started by the 72nd photo reconnaissance squadron in 1946. The 375th took over when it became necessary to improve weather data. A dozen flights had been made to the top of the globe when the 375th entered the picture.
The past weekend, the squadron made its "birthday" flight, the 375th, over the pole. It took 15 hours and 55 minutes, burning 7800 gallons of gasoline in 30-below-zero temperatures.
The B-29 "Lonesome Polecat" took off in a blinding snowstorm and had to have radar assistance to land. But it was just "a routine hop" by air force standards.
"That was a good one," he said. "It had to be."
"How about that—16 hours in the air and where are we? Right back where we started from," said weather observer Lt. William R. Larue, Meversda, Pa.
The crew said they didn't see Santa Claus, however.
Faculty Members Attend Meeting
Nine faculty members of the School of Business attended the annual meeting of the Kansas society for certified public accountants in Topeka Nov. 16 and 17.
Those attending were Dean Leonard H. Axe, John G. Blocker, professor of accounting; Howard Stetler, assistant professor of business; Joseph Biery, associate professor of economics; Wiley Mitchell, and W. Keith Weltmer, assistant professors of economics; Norman Fuller, Lloyd M. Jones, and Leo Poland, instructors in economics.
William F. Cody won his title "Buffalo Bill" in a buffalo drive which crossed the present U. S. Highway 40 about nine miles west of Oakley, Kansas.
University Dally Kansan
Mail subscription: $3 a semester, $4.50 year, (in Lawrence add $1 a semester ostage). Published in Lawrence, Kans. very afternoon during the University sar except Saturdays and Sundays in second classination periods entered as second class matter Sept. 17, 1910, at the Post Office at Lawrence, kans., under act of March 3, 1879.
Official Bulletin
Tuesday
K. U. Dames bridge, 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, 2145 Ohio street.
Reservations for Stateswomen club installation dinner Thursday, Nov. 30, should be mailed to Nancy Neighbor before leaving for vacation.
Traffic and parking regulations on Jayhawk drive and Zones H, U-G, and L-G, will remain in effect during Thanksgiving recess.
Lutheran Student association, 6 p.m. Sunday. Two study groups; Rev. Albert, "When You Marry," and Eunice Burke, "The Bible."
Washington—(U.P.)The air defense command now being established as a major division of the air force to handle the nation's sky defenses will set up permanent headquarters at Ent Air base, Colorado Springs, early next year.
Colorado To Have Defense Command
Until then, the air force said today, the command will maintain temporary headquarters at Mitchell Air base on Long Island, N.Y.
The command is headed by Lt. Gen. Ennis C. Whitehead. The air force announced recently that it will be organized into a major command by merging the present Eastern and Western air defense forces.
About 800 military and civilian personnel will be assigned to the new permanent headquarters at Colorado Springs.
Whitehead has been commander of the continental air command which is being divided into three separate commands—continental air, defense, and tactical. The continental commands' main responsibilities now will have to do with air reserve matters.
Under the air defense command, the present Eastern and Western air defense setups will be continued as
sub-commands. Eastern air defense is headquartered at Stewart Air base, Newburgh, N.Y., and is responsible for air defense east of the Rocky mountains.
Western air defense has its headquarters at Hamilton Air base, San Rafael, Calif., and is responsible for the air defenses of the remainder of the nation.
Whitehead was deputy commander and later commander of the fifth air force in the Southwest Pacific during World War II. After the war, he commanded the Far East air forces for a year before becoming continental air commander.
Ent air base was headquarters of the Second air force during World War II with the official title of Colorado Springs Tent camp. In June, 1949, it was renamed Ent air base in honor of Maj. Gen. Uzal G. Ent. second air force commander who was killed in a bomber crash in October, 1944.
The largest grain elevator in the country is in Kansas City, Kan., and the world's largest broom corn market is in Wichita.
CARTOON BOOKS
for Holiday Fun Cobean's NAKED EYE
Chas. Addams' MONSTER RALLY
Helen Hokinson - THE LADIES, GOD BLESS 'EM
Steinberg - ART OF LIVING
THE BOOK NOOK
1021 Mass.
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