Byrd-Pole Traverse 1960-61

This is how 2 orange D-8's made it to Pole (one was destroyed in the October 1964 fire and replaced with the black one). This traverse consisted of two D-8's with sleds, 1 weasel,and a total of 11 men including leader Army Major Antero Havola. The tank on the front of this D-8 is a snow melter, hence this was known as a "bow tanker." Since it didn't have a lot of usefulness without a blade, one was ordered, and eventually this machine was parked next to the garage. In 1963-64 the folks wondered why they received a D-8 blade in the resupply since their only D-8 already had a blade. Then the mechanic noticed that he'd been tripping over something next to the garage, it was the top of this beast. Blade was installed.