Interview of Ronald K. McGregor by Brian Shoemaker

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Ronald_McGregor_2.mp3 (152.01 MB)
Ronald_McGregor_3.mp3 (189.61 MB)
Ronald_McGregor_4.mp3 (26.27 MB)

Date

2006-11-14T14:05:52Z

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Byrd Polar Research Center Archival Program

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Abstract

Commander McGregor had dual citizenship (Canadian and USA) until he finished high school. After completing college, he enlisted in the Navy’s aviation program and finished in 1941. After World War II, he was stationed in Cuba. He studied meteorology at Monterey Naval Air Station. Upon completing a tour in the Pacific area, he returned to Cuba. Commander McGregor became interested in the Antarctic after he flew skis to a supply ship for Operation High Jump. While assigned to the Early Warning Squadron, he patrolled the area from Midway Island to Adak. He continued reading about Antarctica while working as the aviation safety officer at the Bureau of Aeronautics. He accepted a position of aviation officer for the Construction Battalions Atlantic (CBA). CBA was directed to prepare buildings for under snow at Byrd Station and at Pole Station. Cdr. McGregor described the preparation of the buildings and of the personnel before going to Antarctica, and difficulties after arriving. He describes interactions with private contractors, Russian visitors, and scientists, when he returned to Davisville, Rhode Island. One project included trying to fold VX-6 and CASA together. The successes and failures of the group wintering in Antarctica are discussed. Commander McGregor summarized the various changes of command when he was made Polar Operations officer on the CNO staff in 1963. Many of his new responsibilities are listed. After retiring from the Navy in 1968, he was involved with the Navy Arctic Program for 13 years. Some of the Arctic projects are described; including defense projects for the Navy and Russian activities in the Arctic. The role of the Cold Regions Research and Engineering Laboratory in sponsoring basic unclassified research is described. Many other projects in the Arctic and the personnel with each are summarized. He describes the problems of closing up the Naval Arctic Research Laboratory.

Leading Themes

  1. Early and post secondary education
  2. pilot training
  3. HAM radio training
  4. construction of a nuclear power plant
  5. His return to Davisville, R.I. to be Task Group Commander under Task Force 43
  6. Drinking water supply
  7. Description of a long garden hose (fuel line) and its destruction.
  8. His appointment as Polar Operations Officer.
  9. The Antarctic Treaty
  10. Starting working on the Navy Arctic Programs in 1967
  11. CRREL (Cold Regions Research Engineering Laboratory)
  12. Canadian Continental Shelf Program
  13. Development of NARL buildings

Description

  1. Dr. Thomas Jones – p.2
  2. Reverend Roy Harrisville – p.3
  3. Forrest Leathers – p.4
  4. Gus Morrison – p.5, 6
  5. Leonard Schramm – p.5
  6. Cecil Schilberg – p.8, 10
  7. V.A. Dorrel – p.8
  8. Lois McGregor (wife) – p. 11, 61, 68
  9. Admiral “Blackjack” Reed – p.11
  10. Captain Dan Gallery – p. 14, 21
  11. Commodore Battle – p.15
  12. President F. Roosevelt – p. 16
  13. Prime Minister W. Churchill – p.16
  14. Admiral P.D. Stroop – p.16, 24, 25
  15. Arnie Havoo – p.17
  16. Captain E.M. Morgan – p.18
  17. Captain Hawkins – p.18
  18. Admiral Kivette – p.19
  19. ___ Scott – p.22
  20. Admiral Byrd – p.22
  21. Graham Rowley – p.22
  22. Hap Asman – p.24
  23. Ed McKeller – p.25
  24. Mrs. Ruth Siple – p.25
  25. Capt. Allemand – p.26
  26. Capt. Roy Schultz – p.26, 44
  27. Lt. Commander Lou Timberlake – p.28, 77
  28. Ed Todd – p.31
  29. Admiral Tyree – p.34, 43, 48, 56, 64, 77, 86, 97
  30. Tom Jones – p.34, 35, 56
  31. Phil Smith – p.34, 56
  32. Ken Moulton – p.35
  33. Bill Everett – p.38, 42, 44, 56
  34. Paul Siple – p.40, 56, 64
  35. Ron McGregor – p.44, 56, 59, 98
  36. Lt. Dave D’Vekka – p.45, 46
  37. Igor Zotikov – p. 48
  38. Gordon DeQ Robin – p.56, 64
  39. Baron de Gerlache – p.56, 64
  40. Bert Crary – p.56
  41. Paul Astapenko – p.62, 63
  42. Captain Schultz – p.63, 80, 85, 89
  43. Finn Ronne – p.65
  44. Dusty Blades – p.67
  45. Arped – p.70
  46. CDR Soyat – p.71
  47. Ron Koss – p.72
  48. Captain James Elliott – p. 85
  49. Capt. Don Bursik – p. 85
  50. Admiral Reedy – p. 85, 89, 90, 93, 97
  51. Admiral Strain – p. 87, 89
  52. Rear Admiral Foley – p.88
  53. Dick Kickerson – p. 90
  54. President Kennedy – p. 92, 93
  55. Jerry Brown – p. 94
  56. Ed Zeller – p. 94
  57. Tom Jones – p. 95
  58. Max Britton – p. 98, 100, 112, 116, 118, 124
  59. Max Brewer – p. 98, 123
  60. Beau Buck – p. 102, 104, 109, 112, 124, 126
  61. Waldo Lyon – p. 102, 118
  62. Dr. Igor Zotikov – p. 104
  63. Willy Weeks – p. 105, 106, 112, 124
  64. Norbert Untersteiner – p. 106, 112
  65. Joe Pletcher, p. 106, 109, 110
  66. Fred Roots – p. 108
  67. Dr. Russ Banks – p. 108
  68. Jack Hunt – p. 109
  69. Chester McCarty – p. 110
  70. Kurt Aagard – p. 112
  71. Carl Erb – p. 112, 113
  72. Dr. Jess Walker – p. 113
  73. Admiral Owen – p. 118
  74. Admiral Griger – p. 120
  75. Anna Mae Weston – p. 122, 123
  76. Dr. Ken Hunkins – p. 124
  77. Hank Kutchel – p. 124
  78. ___ Holmes – p. 124
  79. ___ Narver – p. 124
  80. Kelly – p. 125
  81. Denner – p. 125
  82. Andy Heiberg – p. 125

The media can be accessed at the links below.


Audio Part 1: http://streaming.osu.edu/knowledgebank/byrd/oral_history/Ronald_McGregor_1.mp3


Audio Part 2: http://streaming.osu.edu/knowledgebank/byrd/oral_history/Ronald_McGregor_2.mp3


Audio Part 3: http://streaming.osu.edu/knowledgebank/byrd/oral_history/Ronald_McGregor_3.mp3


Audio Part 4: http://streaming.osu.edu/knowledgebank/byrd/oral_history/Ronald_McGregor_4.mp3

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URI

http://hdl.handle.net/1811/24180

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Polar Oral History Program