Ice, ice baby!

Chief Master Sgt. Bill Nolin conducts pre-flight checks on an LC-130 Hercules Nov. 26 at the annual sea ice runway near McMurdo Station, Antarctica, during Operation Deep Freeze. Ski-equipped LC-130s, crews and support personnel from the New York Air National Guard's 109th Airlift Wing are supporting the 13th Air Force-led Joint Task Force Support Forces Antarctica, Operation Deep Freeze. Operation Deep Freeze is a unique joint and total force mission that has supported the National Science Foundation and U.S. Antarctic Program that began in 1955. (U.S. Air Force photo/Tech. Sgt. Shane A. Cuomo)

Ice, ice baby!

Staff Sgt. David Aymat and Tech. Sgt. Kevin Call refuel an LC-130 Hercules Nov. 26 on the annual sea ice runway near McMurdo Station, Antarctica, during Operation Deep Freeze. Ski-equipped LC-130s, crews and support personnel from the New York Air National Guard's 109th Airlift Wing are supporting the 13th Air Force-led Joint Task Force Support Forces Antarctica, Operation Deep Freeze. Operation Deep Freeze is a unique joint and total force mission that has supported the National Science Foundation and U.S. Antarctic Program that began in 1955. (U.S. Air Force photo/Tech. Sgt. Shane A. Cuomo)

Ice, ice baby!

A C-17 Globemaster III is offloaded on the annual sea ice runway Nov. 26 near McMurdo Station, Antarctica, during Operation Deep Freeze. C-17s fly large cargo loads from Christchurch, New Zealand, to Antarctica while the LC-130 Hercules, stationed at McMurdo, fly smaller cargo loads to research posts throughout the continent. The C-17s from McChord Air Force Base, Wash., and ski-equipped LC-130s from the New York Air National Guard's 109th Airlift Wing are supporting the 13th Air Force-led Joint Task Force Support Forces Antarctica, Operation Deep Freeze. Operation Deep Freeze is a unique joint and total force mission that has supported the National Science Foundation and U.S. Antarctic Program that began in 1955. (U.S. Air Force photo/Tech. Sgt. Shane A. Cuomo)

Delivery to the Ice

Maintenance crews work on LC-130 Hercules on the annual sea ice runway near McMurdo Station, Antarctica Nov. 26, 2007 during Operation Deep Freeze. Ski-equipped LC-130s, crews and support personnel from the New York Air National Guard’s 109th Airlift Wing are supporting the 13th Air Force-led Joint Task Force Support Forces Antarctica, Operation Deep Freeze. Operation Deep Freeze is a unique joint and total force mission that has supported the National Science Foundation and U.S. Antarctic Program that began in 1955. (U.S. Air Force photo/Tech. Sgt. Shane A. Cuomo)

Delivery to the Ice

Aircrew fly an LC-130 Hercules to the South Pole, Antarctica Nov. 26, 2007 during Operation Deep Freeze. Ski-equipped LC-130s, crews and support personnel from the New York Air National Guard’s 109th Airlift Wing are supporting the 13th Air Force-led Joint Task Force Support Forces Antarctica, Operation Deep Freeze. Operation Deep Freeze is a unique joint and total force mission that has supported the National Science Foundation and U.S. Antarctic Program that began in 1955. (U.S. Air Force photo/Tech. Sgt. Shane A. Cuomo)

Deep Freeze Main Season in Full Swing

Tech. Sgt. Kevin Call waits to marshal an LC-130 Hercules from its parking spot on the annual sea ice runway near McMurdo Station, Antarctica Nov. 26, 2007 during Operation Deep Freeze. Sgt. Call is a crew chief with the New York Air National Guard’s 109th Airlift Wing. Ski-equipped LC-130s, crews and support personnel are supporting the 13th Air Force-led Joint Task Force Support Forces Antarctica, Operation Deep Freeze. Operation Deep Freeze is a unique joint and total force mission that has supported the National Science Foundation and U.S. Antarctic Program that began in 1955. (U.S. Air Force photo/Tech. Sgt. Shane A. Cuomo)