2019-11-06 Guide to the Jehu L. "Dusty" Blades III Oral History, 2000-2001 SPEC.PA.56.0037 Finding aid prepared by Devon Boerman Ohio State University Libraries Special Collections
1858 Neil Avenue Columbus, OH, 43210
2019 October This finding aid was produced using the Archivists' Toolkit 2020-08-03T16:18-0400 English Describing Archives: A Content Standard Jehu L. "Dusty" Blades III Oral History SPEC.PA.56.0037 Ohio State University Libraries Special Collections 0.06 Cubic feet 2000-2001 Jehu L. "Dusty" Blades III was a Navy commander, officer and helicopter pilot who served in the Arctic and Antarctica in the 1950s and 1960s. This service included doing ice reconnaissance aboard the United State Ship (USS) Burton Island in the Arctic and serving with Air Development Squadron Six (VX-6) during and after Operation Deep Freeze I in 1955. The Jehu L. "Dusty" Blades III Oral History, dated 2000-2001, contains audio recordings, administrative information and a transcript of the the interview between Blades and Brian Shoemaker of the American Polar Society that took place on March 12, 2000, regarding his experiences in polar regions. (4) audiocassettes; (2) letter file folders English Blades, Jehu L., III Arrangement of Materials

Materials are arranged in the order created during the interview process with the first file containing administrative materials created before, during and after the interview.

 Acquisitions Information

Accession No. PA.2000.0017: Jehu L. "Dusty" Blades III, 2000 March

 Preferred Citation

[identification of item], Jehu L. "Dusty" Blades III Oral History, SPEC.PA.56.0037, Byrd Polar and Climate Research Center Archival Program, Ohio State University

 Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements

Contains audiocassettes.

 Access to Materials

Materials in this collection are available for use, but may be used in the University Archives reading room only. Audio materials may need a use copy produced before access is allowed. Contact the Byrd Polar and Climate Research Center Archival Program at polararchives@osu.edu for more information.

 Use of Materials

Materials in this collection may be protected by copyright, and are made available for research and educational purposes. In general, the OSU Libraries do not own the copyright for materials from our collections and cannot grant copyright permissions for these materials. The user is responsible for making a final determination of copyright status. If copyright protection applies, permission must be obtained from the copyright holder to reuse, publish, or reproduce the work beyond the bounds of fair use or other exceptions to the law. Works in the public domain are not protected by copyright and do not require permission to use.

 Processing Information

Processed by: Devon Boerman, 2019 October; Finding aid written by: Devon Boerman, 2019 October

 Biographical Note

Jehu L. "Dusty" Blades III was a Navy commander and helicopter pilot. In 1943, Blades joined the Naval Aviation Cadet program where he received training as a pilot. After subsequent helicopter training, Blades served as a helicopter pilot during the Korean War. In 1952, he became the Officer in Charge of two helicopters on the icebreaker United States Ship (USS) Burton Island and did ice reconnaissance in the Arctic region. In 1955, he was the Commanding Officer of the fuel ship, YOG-34 that was towed to Antarctica and moored as a gas station in McMurdo during Operation Deep Freeze I. Afterward, Blades was a pilot with Air Development Squadron Six (VX-6) flying some of the initial flights of exploration out of McMurdo Sound. He returned in 1961 after the International Geophysical Year (IGY) with VX-6 and wintered-over at McMurdo during Operation Deep Freeze 65 from 1964-1965.

 Scope and Contents

The Jehu L. "Dusty" Blades III Oral History, dated 2000-2001, contains audio recordings, administrative information and a transcript of the the interview between Blades and Brian Shoemaker of the American Polar Society that took place on March 12, 2000, regarding Blades' experiences as a helicopter pilot and commanding officer in the Arctic and Antarctica. This interview was a part of a series of polar oral histories sponsored by American Polar Society and Ohio State University's Byrd Polar Research Center Archival Program, with funding from the National Science Foundation. Major topics found in the oral history include the opportunities in Blades' life that allowed him to pursue flight in the Arctic and Antarctic regions, the shipment of helicopters to the polar regions in 1952, the development of helicopter rescue techniques, and his experiences during Operation Deep Freeze I. The collection also contains Blades' recollections of travel from Norfolk, Virginia to McMurdo Station, Antarctica; his time as commanding officer during Operation Deep Freeze 65; the 1964-1965 construction of the Palmer Station; and the relations between international Antarctic scientists and military personnel.

 Related Materials Keeping the Memory Alive: The Burton Island Story 1946-1978 by E. Leonard Lambert Digital Book and Order Form Existence and Location of Copies

Also available online.

 Blades, Jehu L., III -- Interviews Burton Island (Icebreaker). Operation Deep Freeze--Personal narratives. United States. Navy--Aviation. United States. Navy--Officers. Antarctica--Discovery and exploration--American--20th century Arctic regions--Discovery and exploration--American--20th century Audiocassettes Helicopter pilots--Antarctica--20th century Helicopter pilots--Arctic regions--20th century Helicopters--Cold weather operation--Polar regions Oral histories (literary works) Notes and correspondence Polar Oral History 1 1 2000-2001 Interview recording Polar Oral History 6 1-2 2000 March 12 Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements Audiocassette; Approximate run time: 123:30 minutes Audiocassette; Approximate run time: 64:00 minutes Existence and Location of Copies

Also available online. Part 1 Part 2

 Interview recording copy Polar Oral History 9 1-2 2000 March 12 Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements Audiocassette; Approximate run time: 123:30 minutes Audiocassette; Approximate run time: 64:00 minutes Transcript Polar Oral History 1 2 circa 2000 Existence and Location of Copies

Also available online.