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2019.47 Harry Spohn Photo Collection
2019.47 Harry Spohn Photo Collection

Topic
  • Exploration, Expeditions and Voyages
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  • Finding Aids Glossaries Guides
  • Photograph
Wars & Conflicts
Navy Communities
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  • Image (gif, jpg, tiff)
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  • NHHC
Author Name
Place of Event
Recipient Name
Title: Harry Spohn Photo Collection
Description: Collection of approximately 600 photographs (slides and albums) related to Harry Spohn, meteorologist during Operation Deep Freeze, 1962-1963. Spohn was an Aerographer’s Mate in the Navy where he got his training in meteorology. He served at the end of WWII and during the Korean War. He joined the National Weather Services (later NOAA), which is how the opportunity to be assigned to the South Pole originated. He applied, and was selected to be part of the wintering over party at the pole station, Deep Freeze, 1962-1963. The collection includes images related to his meteorological work (equipment and routine operations), daily activities at the station, buildings, various crew and staff members, exterior scenic views of the landscape, Seabee conduction surveys, etc. Please see below for a specific description of each album or folder.
Accession#: 2019
Catalog#: 2019.47
Donor: Dan Spohn
Copyright Owner: Naval History and Heritage Command
Circa: 1962-1963
Format: Color photographs, color slides, black & white photographs

Collection Guide: 

Album #1
This album includes imagery related to Spohn in his work spaces conducting various tasks as station meteorologist in the weather office; unloading of cargo from aircraft; heavy equipment tractors boring passageways and clearing snow; views of the fuel storage farm’s “wonder arch”; social activities at Club 90 – the “World’s Most Southern Nightclub” (constructed by Navy carpenter, Tom Osborne); deploying weather balloons; station equipment; tunnels between buildings; and individual photographs of station personnel.

Album #2 (disassembled for preservation purposes)
This album contains images related to Spohn in his work spaces conducting various tasks as station meteorologist in the weather office; station equipment; fuel drums; the Aurora “tower” (with the domes”; weather balloons; tractors plowing snow; individual photos of Spohn, as well as with his family.

Album #3 (disassembled for preservation purposes)
The album contains images related to social events at Club 90; stacked barrels of fuel and hydrogen gas for weather balloon inflation; views of personnel outside the station; generator building; Seabees building an approach ramp to the fuel farm; Spohn working related to various meteorological tasks; personnel dressed as Santa Claus; VIP visitors; south pole wildlife – penguins and sea lions; and unloading cargo from aircraft

The collection also contains 481 color slides, all related to similar subjects as above. Notable topics include: C-130 aircraft; exterior station views; D-8 tractor inside the fuel farm; science building; flags at the station; communications building; weather antennae; groupings of personnel; and the 1962 football game (outdoors).

Also included are 10 poster-size prints of South Pole images (original prints found in the albums/slides) which were used on a December 4, 1963 taping Spohn’s appearance on the “Today Show”.

Spohn's personal papers collection are also held by the Naval History and Heritage Command. Please contact the archives for more information. 

For information about the rest of the collection: nhhcphotoarchives@navy.mil