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.
Accession No. PA.2002.0016: Irving J. Morrison, 2002 October
[identification of item], Irving J. Morrison Oral History, SPEC.PA.56.0118, Byrd Polar and Climate Research Center Archival Program, Ohio State University
Contains audiocassettes.
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Processed by: Audrey Wimbiscus, 2023 November; Finding aid written by: Tricia McEldowney, 2023 December
Lieutenant Commander Irving James “Jim” Morrison (1924-2019) was interested in aviation from a young age and earned his pilot’s license before graduating high school. He enlisted in the United States Navy in 1941 and volunteered for assignment in a PBY Catalina (Consolidated Aircraft patrol bomber) squadron. The squadron was tasked with performing aerial coastal watches from Maine to Greenland as well as escorting ships carrying troops and supplies from North America to England. Following the attack at Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941, and the United States' formal entry into World War II, Morrison was assigned to the Pacific Theater. He participated in the Battle of Midway, the Battle of the Santa Cruz Islands, and the Campaigns of Guadalcanal and Solomon Islands. Morrison became ill in 1943 and was transported back to the United States, eventually arriving at the Great Lakes Naval Hospital and being diagnosed with malaria. Once he had recovered, Morrison was stationed in Pensacola, Florida, as a flight instructor. After World War II, he was assigned to Naval Air Transport Service, Asiatic Wing to evacuate Americans out of China; Morrison transitioned to the Naval Air Transport Service, Pacific Wing in 1947 to be closer to his family. In 1948, he joined the Department of Naval Science at Ohio State University as an instructor of naval aviation.
In 1957, Morrison informed U.S. Navy Commander Edward Ward that he was interested in joining one of the U.S. Naval Antarctic expeditions. Ward arranged for Morrison to be deployed as a member of Operation Deep Freeze III (1957-1958). Shortly after arriving in Antarctica, Morrison’s orders to winter-over were cancelled. He was appointed as the project officer for the acquisition of the new Lockheed C-130 Hercules aircraft. Morrison returned to the United States in 1958 to coordinate the acquisition and testing of the Hercules aircraft. He was aboard the first Hercules to land in Antarctica in 1960. During this time Morrison was also responsible for supervising the maintenance of all other aircraft in Antarctica used by the Air Development Squadron Six (VX-6) for Operation Deep Freeze expeditions.
Morrison retired from the U.S. Navy in 1969.
The Irving J. Morrison Oral History, dated 2002-after 2002, contains audio recordings, notes, and transcripts of the interview between Morrison and Brian Shoemaker conducted on October 27, 2002. 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 discussed include Morrison’s service as a pilot in the United States Navy during World War II, life at McMurdo Station during Operation Deep Freeze III, and the U.S. Navy’s acquisition and testing of C-130 Hercules aircraft for use in Antarctica.