Two flights were attempted on this day. with excellent visibility north 

 of 46° N., between the 47th meridian and Flemish Cap. The area be- 

 tween 44° N., and 45°30' N., was obscured by fog. South of 44° N., 

 coverage was complete to the Tail of the Banks. The total number of 

 flights for the period was 9, involving 79 hours time in flight. 



Second Cruise, Mocoma, 14 May to 22 May 1948 



The Mocoma departed from Argentia, Newfoundland, at 2108 G.c.t., 

 13 May 1948, for ice patrol. The Mendota was met and relieved at 1200 

 G.c.t., 14 May, in the vicinity of 45° N., 53° W. This marked the inau- 

 guration of the continuous surface vessel patrol for 1948. During the 

 first part of the cruise the area from the Tail of the Banks to the 45th 

 parallel along the southeastern edge of the Grand Banks was scouted out. 

 A berg was encountered at 45°00' N., 46° 18' W. This berg, with con- 

 tinued southeasterly drift, could have become a menace to vessels travel- 

 ing on scheduled United States-European track B. The Mocoma drifted 

 with this berg from the 17th to the 20th of May. Initially its drift was 

 to the southeast, but by the 20th it was being set to the north and had 

 deteriorated considerably. It was evident that this berg could not long 

 survive the relatively high sea-water temperatures (58° F.) in its vicinity. 

 The Mocoma then proceeded to the eastern edge of the Grand Banks and 

 scouted out the area between the 44th parallel and 44°25' N. Results 

 were negative. Figure 13 shows all ice sighted with its subsequent drift, 

 if determined, together with the complete track plot and surface isotherms 

 for the period of the cruise. 



At 1020 G.c.t., 22 May, the Mendota reheved the Mocoma and the 

 Mocoma set course for Argentia, Newfoundland, arriving there on 23 

 May 1948. 



Following is a summary of water-temperatures, ice and obstruction 

 reports received during this cruise : 



Number of ice reports received 91 



Number of vessels furnishing ice reports 43 



Number of water-temperature reports received 200 



Number of vessels furnishing water-temperature reports 90 



Number of obstruction reports received 4 



Number of vessels furnished special information 28 



During this period of this cruise the surface patrol vessel activity was 

 supplemented by the following aerial ice observation flights: On 17 May 

 two flights were made, one attempting coverage along the southeastern 

 edge of the Grand Banks between 43°30' N., and 47° N., and the other 

 to the north along the northeastern slope of the Grank Banks as far to 

 the east as Flemish Cap. No other aerial observation flights were pos- 

 sible during the period of the second cruise because of adverse weather 

 conditions. To summarize, the total number of flights was 2, involv- 

 ing 19.5 hours in flight. 



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