(UNTITLED)

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP60-00346R000200030030-4
• Release Decision: RIFPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 3
• Document Creation Date: November 16, 2016
• Document Release Date: September 16, 1998
• Sequence Number: 30
• Publication Date: June 7, 1956
• Content Type: REPORT

Glrb-119
Approved For Release 29 00/05 60-00346RW2000309 1956
C. Major Develo merats Dur' the Period
a ping activities of Foreign Countries During the195%46 Season
Foreign Mapping -? The principal ' countries. to .engagge in m me
form of mapping activity in Antarctica during the 1955-56 season were
Great Britain, the Soviet Union, Australia, and Argentina, Chile and
France may also have carried on activities related to mapping,,
Because of unfavorable weather conditions, the air survey mission
being undertaken on behalf of the British Falkland Islands Dependencies
Survey photographed only 1,000 square miles of the projected coverage
of 50,000 to 60,000 square miles in the South Shetland Islands and
Palmer Peninsula. Ground control was established in the same area
by parties transported from ship to inland positions by helicopter.
The Canso amphibious aircraft used for the photographic missions were
equipped with airborne magnetometers, and presumably some geological
survey work was undertaken. The air survey will be resumed again
next season. An eastern anchor for the project British Commonwealth
Weddell Sea Ross Seas transcontinental expedition was established at
Shackleton Base, Vahsel Bay, on Weddell Sea; and an 8-man party is
wintering there. As planned, the expedition starting from this base
next season will establish astro-positions and make surveys along the
routes
The presence of an Aerial Surveying Section -- one of four in the
Continental Group of the Soviet Antarctic Expedition -- emphasizes the
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importance of surveying and mapping in Soviet activities. In the
middle of April, it was reported that 15,000 sq. kms0 (5,790 sq.
mi.) had been photographed "to compile a geographic map of the
area where the Soviet Expedition operates00.0" It is not clear
whether this figure includes those parts of the Bunger Hills area,
the Wilhelm II Coast, or Drygalski Island where surveying or ground
control work of some type were reported previously. In addition,
hydrographic surveying or charting was performed by the Ob in the
course of its oceanographic activities after departing from Mirrr
at the end of February. Various references suggest that some form of
surveying has been done for the Davis Seat the approaches to Mirn g
the Shackleton Ice Shelf, the off-shore islands of the Knox Coast, and
the Budd Coast.
The Australians penetrated the hinterland to the west and south of
their base at Mawson to distances of about 300 miles, carrying out
surveys and geological reconnaissance. In addition' a ship-based air-
craft photographed approximately 1,000 miles off the coastline of
Wilkes Land westward from Mawson Base. The personnel of the Argentine
Antarctic expedition for the current season included topographers,
geodetic and gravimetric observers, and geologists. The generalarea
of activity embraced the Palmer Peninsula and adjacent island groups and
the Belgrano base on the southern coast of the Weddell Seam It is stated
that important topographical and geological work was accomplished. The
Argentine flotilla included the hydrographic ship Chiriguano0
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Chile has had a program of aerial photography under way in the
Palmer Peninsula area in previous years,, and it is possible that
futther work was accomplished this year.
The French established a base in their claimed area of Adelie
Coast in preparation for the IGY. The personnel of the base was to
include a geodesist and a grav3metrist, but no information regarding
any mapping that may have been undertaken is available.
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