It was not an easy task to retrace the history of Little Jeana Station but thanks to our friend Bill Ashley KF5BRB who did provide a QSL ofthis rare one, WAP is now in condition to issue to LITTLE JEANA STATION (aka Little Jeana Summer Weather Station) a brand new WAP reference as USA-47.
The KC4USZ card , prove that an activity on Jan. 10th 1966 from this epic rare one by a QSO made with W8OAR!
US Station Little Jeana.
The Bulletin of the Antarctic US Projects officer (Vol.6 number 2-1964), signed by Rear Admiral James R. Reedy, USN United States Antarctic Projects Officer, show a presentation of activities of the Government of the United States of America pertaining to the logistic support, scientific programs, and current events of interest in Antarctica, published monthly during the austral summer season and distributed to organizations, groups, and individuals interested in United States Antarctic activities.
The data in the over mentioned issues suggest that Little Jeana was active from 3 oct.64 to 23 feb.65, from 2 oct.65 to 31 oct.65 and again from 1 dec.65 to 22 jan.66.
SUMMER WEATHER STATIONS REESTABLISHED
Prior to the first aircraft landing at the South Pole, on 31 October 1956, a summer weather and emergency-landing station (Beardmore I Station WAP USA-NEW) was established at the foot of Liv Glacier . This station was later moved to the foot of the Glacier, from which it derived its name, and has been moved or rebuilt several times since.
When aircraft began to resupply Byrd Station (WAP USA-19), another summer weather station, Little Rockford (WAP USA-NEW), was set up on the flight path from McMurdo Sound to Byrd Station. It has also been relocated, at 79°14′ South, 147°29′ West, on the Rockefeller Plateau.
Plans for the current season called for remodeling the 2 stations, using van-type buildings similar to those that have proved successful at Eights Station (WAP USA-Ø7).
Advantage was taken of the opportunity to shift the location of Beardmore Station (WAP USA-NEW) to 81°23′ South, 170°15′ East, about 125 miles north of the previous site.
At the same time the station has been renamed “Little Jeana Summer Weather Station” and officially opened on 5 October 1964. The installation consists of 4 portable units, 3 of which are arranged in a “U”. In one are the sleeping and eating quarters for the 3-mandetach-ment; in another are a diesel generator and a workshop; while the third contains another generator and a wash room.
Picture aside (20 February 1964), shows an exterior view of berthing wanigan with messing wanigan in background at Little Rockford Summer Weather Station.
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Wintering-over party shovelling out the James-way but at Beardmore Summer Weather Station for activating the station. (29 September 1961.)
The center of the “U” has been turned into a permawalk, and here the pibal dome is located. The fourth unit has communications equipment and is separated from the others sothat it may, if needed, serve as an emergency shelter.
Little Rockford was reestablished the same day Little Jeana was opened. This installation has consisted of wanigans that were put in position in 1958 by tractors from Little America and later moved to the present site by the same means. It is intended to remodel Little Rockford, along the lines of Little Jeana, later in the season.
Source: Bulletin of the Antarctic US Projects officer (Vol.6 number 2-1964) – Ricerca Google
More details are available at: https://amrc.ssec.wisc.edu/usap/brockton/NCDC-WBAN.TXT
Dates: 1964 October 01, through 1966 January 31Location: 81° 23’ 00” South, 170° 45’ 00” West on Ross Ice ShelfElevation: 178 feet POBvVIIndex and Errata (1).pdf
Little Jeana was a “summer weather station”.
Bulletin 1, December 1964, reports:
Beardmore station will be relocated at 81° 23’ 00” South, 170° 45’ 00” West and renamed Little Jeana Station .
Two of such stations, one on the flight path between McMurdo and Byrd was named Little Rockford, while on the flight path from McMurdo to Amundsen-Scott the other one was Little Jeana.
Bulletin 2, January 1965 says: Little Jeana Station officially opened 5 October 1964.
4 wanigans (Wanigan is by definition, a shelter used for sleeping, eating, or storage, often mounted in Antarctica on a sledge), typical formation 3 in U-shape, and the 4th one separated for communications and in case of emergency. These four pieces were the setup for the use of 3 people. 2 for 1800-gallon fuel tanks to be installed (bladder technology used instead).
Bulletin 4 says: “…. manned by 3 Navy aerographers who broadcast weather conditions hourly”. Summer support season = 1 October through 1 March.
Bulletin 5, 8 February 1965 says: Communications van returned to McMurdo, digging out of station commenced. On 24 February 1965 Little Jeana closed for the season, personnel and equipment moved to McMurdo, but as reported above, other documents clearly states the activities from Little Jeana were: 3 oct.64 to 23 feb.65, from 2 oct.65 to 31 oct.65 and again from dec. 1st 1965 to jan. 22nd 1966.
TNX Bill Ashley KF5BRB for his invaluable help