Feature Name (see definition): Dufek Coast

Feature Class (see definition): Beach

Country Code (see definition): AQ (Antarctica)

Feature ID (see definition): 4139

Primary Latitude in degrees, minutes, and seconds (see definition): 84° 30' 00" S

Primary Longitude in degrees, minutes, and seconds (see definition): 179° 00' 00" W

Primary Latitude in decimal degrees (see definition): -84.5

Primary Longitude in decimal degrees (see definition): -179

Elevation (see definition): No data

Decision Year (see definition): 01/01/1964

Description (see definition): That portion of the coast along the SW margin of the Ross Ice Shelf between Airdrop Peak on the E side of the Beardmore Glacier and Morris Peak on the E side of Liv Glacier. Named by New Zealand Antarctic Place-Names Committee (NZ-APC) in 1961 after R. Admiral George J. Dufek (1903-77), USN, who served under R. Admiral Richard E. Byrd during U.S. Antarctic Service (USAS), 1939-41, and as commander of the Eastern Task Force of U.S. Navy (USN) Operation Highjump, 1946-47. He was Commander, U.S. Naval Support Force Antarctica, 1954-59, a period in which the following American science stations were established: McMurdo, Little America V, Byrd, South Pole, Wilkes, Hallett and Ellsworth. U.S. Navy ships, aircraft, and personnel under his command provided broad logistical support to research and survey operations, including aerial photographic missions to virtually all sectors of Antarctica. On Oct. 31, 1956, Dufek in the ski-equipped R4D Skytrain aircraft Que Sera Sera (pilot Lieutenant Commander Conrad Shinn), flew from McMurdo Sound via Beardmore Glacier to make the first plane landing at the South Pole.

Date Created (see definition): No data

Date Edited (see definition): No data