Chilean Ice-Strengthened Supply Ship AP 45 ‘Piloto Pardo‘
‘Piloto Pardo’ Visit to Adelaide – Rob Campbell-Lent
(Photo: Rob-Campbell Lent)
Steve Wormald kindly brought my attention to Richard Barrett’s new story “The Falkland Islands and Dependencies Aerial Survey Expedition 1955 – 57 (FIDASE)”, that he had published in MBW (here’s a LINK ), as he thought it might be suitable for my weekend reading. He was right.
The story can greatly expand and support the basic entry in the MBW Aircraft database for CF-IJJ & CF-IGJ, the two Canadian Consolidated PBY5A CANSO flying boats operated by FIDASE. (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Consolidated_PBY_Catalina ).
The story also contains two photographs and some interesting text detailing the use and demise of a Bell 47D helicopter, which was shipped to Deception in, and operated from, the expedition’s ship, the Oluf Sven. Seeing a Bell 47 operating from a ship in the Antarctic reminded me of some long-forgotten photos that I had of two Bell 47 helicopters visiting Base T sometime while I was there. Fortunately I found my photos of the two different Bell 47 models that were based on the visiting Chilean Navy ship ‘Piloto Pardo’ (Naval reg. No. 45) and identified the one taken on Back Bay beach as a Bell 47J Ranger, and the one taken on the ship’s helideck was a Bell 47G-3B with Richy Hesbrook (BC) as a passenger about to lift off for a flight. See Link https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bell_47 for more info on the two Bell 47 models.
I eventually found details and the date of the ship’s visit to Base “T” in the BAS newsletter for January 1971, and from there I found my own diary entries for the two day visit and flying operations.
From my diary Sunday 17 January 1971.
Woke up very late in the morning and heard someone telling Richy (BC) that the boat from the (Chilean Navy ship) ‘Piloto Pardo’ was here, and someone ought to get up and meet them. Got up and found everyone in a flap, shaving, washing and trying on ties. Ron Smith borrowed clothes as all he had was sealy gear. Got washed and dressed and then found I couldn’t get a comb through my hair, so got undressed again and washed it. At 12:00 all the Fids except Alan (Milne) and Bert (Conchie) were ferried across to the Pardo looking immaculate in clean, or nearly clean, shirts and even shoes! Had lunch of chicken and chips, lots of champagne, wine and then coffee and brandy. Had two flights in the (Ship’s Navy) Bell helicopters, and flew back to shore to land in Boat Bay.
(Photo: Rob Campbell-Lent)
There was much merry-making in the (Adelaide) bar, which was full of Fids and Chilean Navy officers. They got quickly drunk and relieved us of three bottles of whisky which they consumed here, and went away with lots of Gin and a stone flagon of Rum and lots of cigarettes. They didn’t want to go, and clambered drunkenly into the (ship’s) launch and chopper that were running a shuttle service, picking them up in ones and twos as they strayed out of the crowd. Lots of addresses exchanged and letters to post. A quiet evening in the bar (later). No flying today (of our aircraft).
From my diary Monday 18 January 1971
Richy woke me up early, about 10’oclock in fact. One of the ‘Piloto Pardo’ pilots had flown across (in the helicopter) with all sorts of goodies for us, and had brought me four bottles of wine. The pilots had presented the Air Party with a ship’s plaque and some label badges. They gave us fresh meat and a big bag of potatoes. (They) were flying round for about two hours getting Richy (Adelaide BC and Postmaster) to stamp letters etc. Dave Rowley (Pilot) gave a very low-level fly-over (a Gully Run?) in the Beaver to impress the Chileans, and did it rather convincingly.
(Photo: Rob Campbell-Lent)
He (Dave) then flew to sledge Sierra and Tango to deliver Scoff (Dick Scoffam) and supply them with food. Very hard two-feet high sastrugi so it was a rough landing. Dave radioed back he’d damaged the tail ski but would fly back anyway. Had a look today. Ski folded up causing cracks and buckling either side of the axle. Pulled rivets and buckled fuselage skin around the tail. Took the tail landing gear right off after scradge. Beaver now resting on its tail on a steel bar supported on two fuel drums. Quite a big skin repair job (required). All the Fids want to get grips. Sawed off my Levis to make shorts. (Must have been a sunny day in Adelaide!). Walked around just in Greenlanders, socks and Levis. Gutted a few seals that had just been shot. An iceberg turned over just next to Allan, Twiggy and Richy. They collected Mick from where he was filming and got back on shore fast. Caught eleven seals today. There were fifteen seals on one floe in Back Bay while they were on it, and the berg toppled. (Later) Twiggy pulled a seal away from under the track of a keg and the hook he was using broke free. Twiggy crashed back against the seal-meat box and smashed his hand complete with hook against the box. Now he’s walking around with left hand in a sling.
Richy Hesbrook kindly offered some more details to the day’s events in his 4 June 2022 email below:
We awoke to find the Piloto Pardo was coming into Adelaide and a party was coming ashore. So, we all got up with a rush and met with one of the Commodores who invited us on board for lunch. After some chat and vino, Twiggy, Dick (Scoffam) and I went up for lunch with Commodoro Borrowman and other officers, chicken and chips followed by quince! All very convivial, they could all speak some English. In the process I cadged a flight over to the Dions as I’d hoped to see some Emperors that had (have?) a small colony there. We called at the base to get cameras and then the two choppers flew over. The other one carried Mick (Mickleburgh) with his camera gear and “the INACH rep responsible for scientific and naval co-operation”. (That’s what the diary says, I’ve no idea who he was). Unfortunately not a single Emperor remained, just a scruffy bunch of Adelies with big fat chicks. On return to base, found a lively booze up in progress, the Chilean pilots had been up to see our aircraft while the rest were shown around base.
They left around 6.00pm, and as they were heading for Stonners offered to take Ron Smith and Malky McRae over to save us a flight. (not sure why). Malky could tell you more about this – that’s if he has any recollection of the voyage! So there’s a little window into our past, over 50 years ago – hard to believe.
Twiggy (Robin) Walker kindly offered some more details to the day’s events in his 4 June 2022 email below:
Interested in your story about the Piloto Pardo. According to my diary we were told on the Goon Show on Saturday 16th that the Piloto Pardo was going to visit. I remember eating chicken & chips with Commodore Barrowman. When it was time to go ashore, he wouldn’t let us leave and when the boat went without us said don’t worry you can go in my helicopter so two of us were flown ashore. I don’t remember who the other person was but it may have been Richy Hesbrook. Yes can confirm I smashed my hand, thought some bones were broken but luckily only very badly bruised.
From the Adelaide Island report in The BAS Newsletter No. 46 for January 1971
Written by Bert Conchie (Pilot):
Fitness was not the most obvious quality around Adelaide on Monday the 18th, following the visit of the Chilean Navy ship ‘Piloto Pardo’. She arrived early Sunday morning and by 10 o’clock an invitation had been issued to all base members to take lunch on board. A very smart bunch of Fids duly embarked at noon, to be greeted with champagne, fresh chicken and after-lunch drinks. All returned safely at about 9 o’clock, accompanied by most of the Pardo’s officers on a return visit. Mick (Mickleburgh) and Richy were flown by helicopter to the Dions to film Emperor penguins, only to be thwarted by the Emperors having decided to migrate, leaving only Adelies. The ship finally departed Marguerite Bay on Monday morning, but not before leaving us fresh potatoes, vino, pisco and other goodies. Our thanks to Commodore Barrowman and his crew for a very enjoyable visit.
Rob Campbell-Lent, AirMech, Adelaide 1970/72