Antarctica: ‘Operation Highjump’ 1946-47: USS “Pine Island”, two ‘Penalty for Private Use’ envelope sent officially from medical officers on board, stampless and with U.S. Navy 15763 BR. duplex, the first (Jan. 11, with “1946” year error) to Commander Western Sea Frontier in San Francisco on the day of discovery of the crash site of the aircraft “George I” in which the captain of the ship had been travelling, the second (Jan. 17) with Task Force 68 cachet sent to the Chief of the Bureau of Medicine and Surgery in Washington DC sent five days after the survivors had been recovered. Henry Howard Caldwell (1905-1985) was declared officially missing after the flying boat (in which he was an observer) crashed on the Thurston peninsula. Three of the crew were killed and Caldwell, with other survivors, was marooned for thirteen days before rescue. Photo. (Image1)

Antarctica: Operation Highjump 1946-47: South Pole Flight, 5c. airmail stationery envelope endorsed “CARRIED OVER SOUTH POLE ON 15/16 FEBR 1947” cancelled by ?USS “Mount Olympus” Jan. 6 duplex, signed by Byrd, co-pilot James McCoy, photographer Kenneth Swain and radio operator Joseph Valinski. Photo. (Image1)

Antarctica: ‘Operation Highjump’ 1946-47: Second South Pole Flight 1947 (Feb. 15), airmail envelope with Expedition cachet on both sides and five line typewritten cachet signed by pilot Lt. G. Anderson, bearing Air 5c. cancelled Mount Olympus Feb. 16 (“6” entered in ms. for correct date), also official photograph taken same day of aircraft with tracks in snow. Photo. (Image1)

Antarctica: ‘Operation Highjump’ 1946-47: Collection of covers, photos etc. incl. 1947 (Jan. 16) with scarce USS “Merrick” ‘bear’ cachet with misspelling “ANTARTIC”, (Feb. 2) envelope with mimeographed USS “Merrick”/Little America cancellation (only known on this date), ranges of cancellations and other scarcer cachets incl. “BYRDS OF A FEATHER ...”, ‘zoot suit penguin’, unofficial USS “Currituck”, etc., signed and serviced items incl. “Mount Olympus” datestamps from Jan. 7 with unusual cover to London franked G.B. 1/2d., 2d. with Jan. 10 mark at left, (Jan. 24) two covers endorsed ‘Free’, one stampless to Baltimore, the other to Washington DC with Canal Zone 5c. and purple “Mailed At/Little America” mark, both showing USCGC “Northwind” duplex, scarce incoming cover sent 1946 (Nov. 26) from California, mapping and helicopter flights, submarine USS “Sennet” cover with 1947 (Apr. 7) typically smudged duplex, Byrd’s own ‘certificate of service’ on USS “Philippine Sea”, etc. (Image1)