INTERNATIONAL ICE PATROL, 1948 



The Commander, International Ice Patrol, during the 1948 season 

 was Captain D. G. Jacobs. The planes used in aerial reconnaissance 

 operated as a part of the Coast Guard Air Detachment, Argentia, which 

 was under the command of Comdr. J. R. Henthorn. The patrol cutters 

 Mendota and Mocoma were commanded by Comdr. G. H. Bowerman and 

 Comdr. R. M. Ross respectiveh\ The USCGC Evergreen was under 

 the command of Comdr. E. A. Cascini. Captain V. E. Day commanded 

 the Ingham. The Ice Patrol Officer was Lt. E. R. Challender. Lt. L. A. 

 Cheney and Lt. (jg) D. S. Williams were Ice Observation Officers. 

 Oceanographer Floyd IVI. Soule was in charge of the oceanographic work 

 with Lt. (jg) H. H. Carter as assistant oceanographer during the season. 

 Lieutenant Cheney relieved Lt. (jg) Carter as assistant oceanographer 

 for the post-season cruise. 



The mission of the International Ice Patrol has remained substantially 

 unchanged through the years since its establishment. Briefly, its mis- 

 sion is to guard the southeastern, southern and southwestern limits of the 

 regions of icebergs in the vicinity of the Grand Banks of Newfoundland 

 for the purpose of informing trans- Atlantic and other passing vessels of 

 the extent of this dangerous region ; to observe and study ice conditions 

 in general; to destroy or remove dereficts; and to afford assistance to 

 vessels and crews requiring aid within the limits of operation of the patrol 

 vessels. Although, as stated previously, the mission has remained sub- 

 stantially unchanged through the years, the method of accomphshing 

 this mission has been in a constant state of improvement. The three 

 most important advances in method were: (1) The introduction of 

 dynamic topographic charts, i.e., current charts, in 1931, (2) the intro- 

 duction of aircraft to supplement the activity of the surface patrol vessels 

 in 1946, and (3) the use of radar in ice patrol planes and ships to supple- 

 ment visual scouting. Actually, aircraft were used all during the war 

 years to observe ice conditions but the year of introduction is placed in 

 1946 because of the suspension of the International Service of Ice Ob- 

 servation and Ice Patrol in December of 1941 until early in 1946. This 

 suspension of services necessitated a temporary interruption of the 

 oceanographic program. The season of 1948 was unhke the two previous 

 post-war seasons in that it was possible to renew the oceanographic pro- 

 gram which had been interrupted in December, 1941. The 180-foot 

 tender class cutter Evergreen was fitted out for oceanographic work 

 and assigned as the oceanographic vessel of the Ice Patrol. Materiel 

 difficulties with the oceanographic equipment, principally the winches, 

 impeded work on the oceanographic program seriously at the beginning 

 and to a decreasing extent throughout the season. 



With the exception of the resumption of the oceanographic program, 

 the season of 1948 was conducted in the same manner as in 1946 and 

 1947. That is, the surface vessels on patrol, using call sign NIDK, 



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