Operation Windmill 1947-48

     After the return of Operation Highjump to the United States it was determined that the 70,000 photographs were impossible to reconstruct in a useful manner since there had been no accurate ground control points. Thus, 30 landmarks were selected as reference points and at the end of 1947, Operation Windmill was born. The icebreakers Edisto and Burton Island arrived at the pack ice on Christmas Day, 1947 and immediately headed for the Davis Sea, sight of their first target. In 23 days, nine points along a 600 mile stretch of coast were surveyed. After their success on the Wilkes Land Coast, the ships sailed for Little America and the Ross Sea to continue operations. However, it was already too late in the year and as a result they were unable to survey any more of their targets so they headed for home.

Click here for an enlarged image of the "Mother-Of-All" Windmill covers! Here is the reverse side. This beauty is the rarest cover in my collection and possibly unique. The story behind it is fascinating. Since 1939, the only privately organized expedition from the United States has been the Ronne Antarctic Research Expedition. Ronne's expedition was quite small when compared to scientific expeditions of today. However, significant accomplishments were made during the expedition. A number of governmental agencies, including the Army, Navy and Air Force helped in making the expedition possible, particularly by providing equipment. Individuals from other government agencies provided advice and assistance as well. The expedition's Main Base was set up on Stonington Island, Marguerite Bay, in the buildings used as East Base during Byrd's 3rd Antarctic expedition, the United States Antarctic Service Expedition 1939-41. This vicinity was also home to the Falkland Islands Dependencies "Base E" campsite, under the command of Major K. S. Pierce-Butler. A very good relationship was established between the men and as a consequence, some scientific work was shared between the groups. In January 1948, preliminary preparations were made to bring the expedition to an end. Departure had originally been planned for mid-March, as Ronne assumed the bay ice would be clear enough for their ship, Port of Beaumont, to get out. Cold weather returned in February, indicating an early Antarctic autumn, risking the probability of another ice-locked winter season. At the same time, the U.S. Navy Task Force 39, consisting of the icebreakers Burton Island and Edisto were approaching the vicinity of Marguerite Bay on their way home from the conclusion of Operation Windmill. As a result of conversations between Ronne and Commander Gerald Ketchum, USN, of the Task Force, it was agreed that the icebreakers would come to Stonington Island to break a passage for the Port of Beaumont to open water. The operation was a success, having been accomplished on February 20, 1948. This cover, officially a "Windmill" cover, was run ashore, and posted at the Falkland Islands Dependencies "Base E" on the day Burton Island broke through. To make things even more interesting, the year date is incorrectly applied (1947 rather than 1948).