Artifact of the Month
“Adelie the Penguin” is a cement figurine and was one item of Antarctica equipment brought back by the Antarctic detachment from "Operation Deep Freeze" in 1969 from the Ellsworth Land Survey. The Antarctic detachment, part of Army Arctic Command, was based out of Fort Eustis, VA. Operation Deep Freeze was an annual mission supported by the US Army Aviation detachment from 1956 to 1969. Each year, from October to January, the detachment provided helicopter transportation and limited logistical support to geophysical scientists and topographic personnel of the National Science Foundation in remote areas of the South Pole. The detachment operated under the most unfavorable environmental conditions. At times, temperatures would fall below -40 degrees F, and strong winds and snowstorms were constant.