ned goldsmith signpost
    Navy Lieutenant Ned Goldsmith poses with the signpost at McMurdo Station in November, 1966 (photo courtesy N. Goldsmith).

    In the austral spring of 1966, Ned Goldsmith was a young US Navy lieutenant assigned to McMurdo Station to fly helicopters. Over the course of a few deployments in the late '60s, Goldsmith was a witness to, and sometimes a participant in, some pioneering exploits of Antarctic aviation. A decade after the International Geophysical Year and the establishment of McMurdo Station, Ned and the scientists he carried aboard his Sikorsky H-34 were still among the first to stand on certain parts of Antarctica, visiting places literally no one had ever been. Now in his seventies, Ned - a neighbor and friend of mine in Washington State - found out that I was headed to Antarctica 50 years after his first deployment, and he and his son, Chris, invited me to dinner to share some photos and stories.

    helos in crater
    Sikorsky H-34 helicopters in a volcanic crater (photo courtesy N. Goldsmith).

    "I wasn't fond of helicopters," Ned confided while I flipped through his photo album. "I thought you said you hated them," Chris, a pilot himself, rebutted. Chuckling, Ned replied, "Well, that's true. And the H-34 was always finding new ways to tear itself apart. Before each flight I used to open up every door and hatch and stick my head in. I didn't know what I was looking for but I could tell when it wasn't right." Amid stories of waterspouts, whiteouts, and flying backwards in severe winds, Ned mentioned that one of his greatest achievements was landing a geology crew in the crater of an extinct volcano at 6100ft/1860m. "Of course, the rim of the thing was at 7100ft (2165m) and getting back out was pretty wild," he offers. Over the course of a two hour meal, our conversation ranges from helicopter flight training, to chaperoning visits of the historic explorer's huts, to the distinguished visitors that flew with Ned, to the food on Station. One common theme runs the length of our discussion: Ned is grinning widely and laughing frequently, remembering his time in Antarctica with fondness.

    Ned Goldsmith shacklton's hut
    Goldsmith poses in front of Shackleton's hut at Cape Royds (photo courtesy N. Goldsmith).

    The Sikorsky H-34s have long since been retired and Navy helicopter support for Antarctic operations ended in 1996, replaced by Petroleum Helicopters, Inc, a private contractor. But Ned Goldsmith and other resourceful pilots and aircrews that followed him have been making remote science possible in Antarctica for 60 years. Tomorrow, weather permitting, I'm excited to fly with the pilots of Helo Ops in their red helicopters out to Granite Harbor for some end-of-season field work with the team. I'm even more excited to have a helicopter story to tell Ned when I return home next month. And to let him know that food science still hasn't perfected powdered milk.

    Ned Goldsmith with H-34
    Goldsmith flew the Sikorsky H-34 which was "always finding new ways to tear itself apart," (photo courtesy N. Goldsmith).

    Author
    Date
    Location
    McMurdo Station
    Weather Summary
    Sunny
    Temperature
    23F/-5C
    Wind Speed
    12 kts
    Wind Chill
    9F/-13C

    Comments

    Mike Penn

    What a great story! Thanks Tim!

    Judy Fahnestock

    I bet Ned was thrilled to share his stories with you and will also be anxious to hear your stories when you return. How fortuitous that he is a neighbor of yours. It looks and sounds like he should write a book! What great photos.

    GERARDO MARTINEZ

    Mr. Dwyer, I must mention the sad departure of who in life was Ned Goldsmith, on May 10, 2018.I'm from Puerto Rico and I met Ned in 1997 when he was flying through the Caribbean, celebrating his 60th birthday.
    As a pilot and mechanic we had a lot to share.
    My wife, son and I are going to miss our great friend.
    Thank you .

    Timothy Dwyer

    You're welcome, Mike! Thanks to you and your class for following! Kate Miller's and Eric Thuma's expeditions launch soon!

    Tim

    On 11/29/16 7:04 AM, PolarTREC wrote:

    Timothy Dwyer

    Thanks, Judy! Ned is definitely one of the venerated "Old Antarctic Explorers" whose stories give even more color to the experience.

    On 11/30/16 8:23 AM, PolarTREC wrote:

    Christopher Go…

    Thanks for the kind words. We miss him but love hearing all his stories. -Chris