The Stanislaus A. Antos Papers are arranged in 2 series: Series 1: Operation Deep Freeze I Series 2: Polar Oral History
Accession No. PA.2000.0006: Stanislaus A. Antos, 2000 October; Accession No. PA.2000.0018: Stanislaus A. Antos, 2000 May; Accession No. PA.2007.0005: James Antos, 2007 February; Accession No. PA.2016.0013: James Antos, 2016 September
[identification of item], Stanislaus A. Antos Papers, SPEC.PA.56.0034, Byrd Polar and Climate Research Center Archival Program, Ohio State University
Contains audiocassettes.
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Processed by: Audrey Wimbiscus, 2025 December; Finding aid written by: Audrey Wimbiscus, 2025 December
Major Stanislaus A. Antos (1920-2006) served in the United States Navy as a pilot during Operation Deep Freeze I in Antarctica. Antos initially joined the United States Navy in July 1942 as a pilot; he served in both the Atlantic and Pacific theaters of war during World War II, and transferred to the United States Marine Corps in May 1943. Antos also served as a pilot during the Korean War.
In 1956, Antos volunteered for duty in the United States Navy's Operation Deep Freeze I. He was stationed in Antarctica from 1956-1958, and was the second pilot ever to land an airplane at the South Pole in 1956, minutes behind Admiral George Dufek's plane. While in Antarctica, Antos and other military pilots transported scientists and supplies to a variety of research stations across the continent. His wife Rhoda had their sixth child while he was stationed in Antarctica; a photograph of Rhoda and their new daughter Karen was faxed to Antarctica for Antos to view in what was called "Operation Babyface."
Following his retirement from the Marines in 1963, Antos taught pilots for Delta Air Lines for 20 years; in retirement, he lectured about World War II at Canisius College.
The Stanislaus A. Antos Papers consist of both original items and photocopies of items Antos created or collected during Operation Deep Freeze I (1956-1958). These items include both photocopies of photographs and original photographs, a piece of seal skin, a photocopy of his diary from that time, telegrams to his wife Rhoda, and copies of newspaper clippings recording "Operation Babyface," a project to fax an image of Antos's new daughter to him in Antarctica; materials date from 1956-1958, and 2000-2007. The papers also contain an audio recording and transcript of an oral history interview of Antos from a series of polar oral histories sponsored by the American Polar Society and Ohio State University's Byrd Polar Research Center Archival Program. In this oral history interview from May 26, 2000, Antos discusses his time in Antarctica as a part of Operation Deep Freeze I, especially flying airplanes and how helpful he found the Catholic priest at McMurdo Station.
Series 1, Operation Deep Freeze I, consists of both original and photocopies items from Antos's time in Antarctica during Operation Deep Freeze I. Items include photographs (and photocopies of photographs) depicting life in Antarctica, images of seal skin purses made in Antarctica by Antos, a sample of seal skin, a photocopy of Antos's diary, telegrams to his wife Rhoda, and photographs and clippings of Operation Babyface. Original items in this series date from 1956-1958; photocopied items date from 2000-2007, and have their original dates in the title with the word photocopy.
The Operation Deep Freeze I series is arranged in chronological order by the date of creation for the original item. Photocopied items have their original date in their title, and are in chronological order by that date, not the date of photocopying. Items with the same date are further arranged in alphabetical order by title.
The Polar Oral History series, dated May 26, 2000, contains audio recordings and a transcript of the interview between Stanislaus A. Antos and Raimund Goerler conducted on May 26, 2000. This interview was a part of a series of polar oral histories sponsored by the American Polar Society and Ohio State University's Byrd Polar Research Center Archival Program, with funding from the National Science Foundation. Major topics discussed include Antos's time in Antarctica during Operation Deep Freeze I, flying airplanes in polar regions, the duties of military pilots in Antarctica, and how the priest at McMurdo (Father Darkowsky) helped him adjust to living in Antarctica.
Materials are arranged in the order created during the interview process.
Audiovisual materials and computer media may need a use copy produced before access is allowed. The remainder of this collection is available for patron research, but may be used only in the University Archives reading room.
Contains audiocassettes.