Antarctic Airlift: Operating on Ice

U.S. Air Force Team McChord Airmen wait in a C-17 Globemaster III, assigned to the 62d Airlift Wing at Phoenix Airfield, Antarctica, Oct. 22, 2024. The 62d AW’s commitment to supporting the Antarctic airlift mission of Operation Deep Freeze spans an impressive 26 years. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Colleen Anthony)

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Antarctic Airlift: Operating on Ice

U.S. Air Force Team McChord flying crew chiefs, and a U.S. National Science Foundation airfield ground equipment personnel attach heaters to the engines of a C-17 Globemaster III assigned to the 62d Airlift Wing at Phoenix Airfield, Antarctica, Oct. 22, 2024. The NSF manages the United States Antarctic Program and supports scientific research by overseeing a massive cooperative effort among researchers, the military and civilian agencies. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Colleen Anthony)

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Antarctic Airlift: Operating on Ice

A U.S. Air Force Team McChord loadmaster, and a U.S. National Science Foundation airfield ground equipment personnel perform pre-flight checks on a C-17 Globemaster III, assigned to the 62d Airlift Wing, at Phoenix Airfield, Antarctica, Oct. 22, 2024. The NSF manages the United States Antarctic Program and supports scientific research by overseeing a massive cooperative effort among researchers, the military and civilian agencies. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Colleen Anthony)

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Antarctic Airlift: Operating on Ice

U.S. Air Force Team McChord flying crew chiefs, and a U.S. National Science Foundation airfield ground equipment personnel attach heaters to the engines of a C-17 Globemaster III, assigned to the 62d Airlift Wing, at Phoenix Airfield, Antarctica, Oct. 22, 2024. The NSF manages the United States Antarctic Program and supports scientific research by overseeing a massive cooperative effort among researchers, the military and civilian agencies. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Colleen Anthony)

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Antarctic Airlift: Operating on Ice

U.S. National Science Foundation airfield ground equipment personnel remove heaters from the engines of a C-17 Globemaster III, assigned to the 62d Airlift Wing, at Phoenix Airfield, Antarctica, Oct. 22, 2024. The NSF manages the United States Antarctic Program and supports scientific research by overseeing a massive cooperative effort among researchers, the military, and civilian agencies. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Colleen Anthony)

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Antarctic Airlift: Operating on Ice

A C-17 Globemaster III, assigned to the 62d Airlift Wing is offloaded at Phoenix Airfield, Antarctica, Oct. 22, 2024. The 62d AW’s commitment to supporting the Antarctic airlift mission of Operation Deep Freeze spans an impressive 26 years. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Colleen Anthony)

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Antarctic Airlift: Operating on Ice

Cargo is offloaded from a C-17 Globemaster III assigned to the 62d Airlift Wing at Phoenix Airfield, Antarctica, Oct. 22, 2024. The 62d AW’s commitment to supporting the Antarctic airlift mission of Operation Deep Freeze spans an impressive 26 years. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Colleen Anthony)

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Antarctic Airlift: Operating on Ice

U.S. Air Force Team McChord flying crew chiefs, and National Science Foundation airfield ground equipment personnel attach heaters to the engines of a C-17 Globemaster III, assigned to the 62d Airlift Wing, at Phoenix Airfield, Antarctica, Oct. 22, 2024. The U.S. National Science Foundation manages the United States Antarctic Program and supports scientific research by overseeing a massive cooperative effort among researchers, the military and civilian agencies. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Colleen Anthony)

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Antarctic Airlift: Operating on Ice

Passengers traveling with the United States Antarctic Program exit a C-17 Globemaster III, assigned to the 62d Airlift Wing, at Phoenix Airfield, Antarctica, Oct. 22, 2024. The U.S. National Science Foundation manages the United States Antarctic Program and supports scientific research by overseeing a massive cooperative effort among researchers, the military and civilian agencies. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Colleen Anthony)

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Antarctic Airlift: Operating on Ice

A C-17 Globemaster III assigned to the 62d Airlift Wing prepares to take off from Phoenix Airfield, Antarctica, Oct. 20, 2024. The 62d AW’s commitment to supporting the Antarctic airlift mission of Operation Deep Freeze spans an impressive 26 years. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Colleen Anthony)

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Antarctic Airlift: Operating on Ice

Aerial footage from the cockpit of a C-17 Globemaster III, assigned to the 62d Airlift Wing, of the Antarctic landscape during a flight from Christchurch, New Zealand, to Phoenix Airfield, Antarctica, Oct. 22, 2024. According to the U.S. National Science Foundation, Antarctica's area of 5.4 million square miles makes it 1.5 times the size of the conterminous United States. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Colleen Anthony)

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Antarctic Airlift: Operating on Ice

Aerial footage from the cockpit of a C-17 Globemaster III, assigned to the 62d Airlift Wing, of the Antarctic landscape during a flight from Christchurch, New Zealand, to Phoenix Airfield, Antarctica, Oct. 22, 2024. According to the U.S. National Science Foundation, Antarctica's area of 5.4 million square miles makes it 1.5 times the size of the conterminous United States. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Colleen Anthony)

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Antarctic Airlift: Operating on Ice

Aerial footage from the cockpit of a C-17 Globemaster III, assigned to the 62d Airlift Wing, of the Antarctic landscape during a flight from Christchurch, New Zealand, to Phoenix Airfield, Antarctica, Oct. 22, 2024. According to the U.S. National Science Foundation, Antarctica's area of 5.4 million square miles makes it 1.5 times the size of the conterminous United States. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Colleen Anthony)

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Antarctic Airlift: Operating on Ice

Published Dec. 27, 2024
By Senior Airman Colleen Anthony
62d Airlift Wing Public Affairs

JOINT BASE LEWIS-MCCHORD, Wash. --

U.S. Air Force Airmen with the 62d Airlift Wing and 446th Airlift Wing perform the important peacetime mission tasks of Operation Deep Freeze at Phoenix Airfield, Antarctica, throughout the year. From flying crew, pilots, and loadmasters, the aircrews that fly down to Christchurch, New Zealand form the 304th Expeditionary Airlift Squadron. These Airmen work day and night to ensure the C-17 Globemaster III is mission-ready and able to execute this important global airlift mission.