The Marshall Archipelago () is an extensive group of large ice-covered islands within the

Sulzberger Ice Shelf Sulzberger (German: habitational name for someone from a place called Sulzberg) is a surname. Notable people with the surname include: * Arthur Hays Sulzberger (1891–1968), publisher of ''The New York Times'' from 1935 to 1961 * Arthur Ochs Sulz ...

, Antarctica.

Discovery and name

Several of the islands in the Marshall Archipelago were discovered and plotted by the

Byrd Antarctic Expedition Richard Evelyn Byrd Jr. (October 25, 1888 – March 11, 1957) was an American naval officer and explorer. He was a recipient of the Medal of Honor, the highest honor for valor given by the United States, and was a pioneering American aviator, p ...

s (ByrdAE; 1928–30 and 1933–35) and by the

United States Antarctic Service The United States Antarctic Program (or USAP; formerly known as the United States Antarctic Research Program or USARP and the United States Antarctic Service or USAS) is an organization of the United States government which has presence in the A ...

(USAS; 1939–41), all led by Admiral

Richard E. Byrd Richard Evelyn Byrd Jr. (October 25, 1888 – March 11, 1957) was an American naval officer and explorer. He was a recipient of the Medal of Honor, the highest honor for valor given by the United States, and was a pioneering American aviator, p ...

. The full extent of the archipelago was mapped by the

United States Geological Survey The United States Geological Survey (USGS), formerly simply known as the Geological Survey, is a scientific agency of the United States government. The scientists of the USGS study the landscape of the United States, its natural resources, ...

(USGS) from surveys and

United States Navy The United States Navy (USN) is the maritime service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the eight uniformed services of the United States. It is the largest and most powerful navy in the world, with the estimated tonnage ...

air photographs between 1959 and 1965. The name was proposed by Admiral Byrd for General of the Army

George C. Marshall George Catlett Marshall Jr. (December 31, 1880 – October 16, 1959) was an American army officer and statesman. He rose through the United States Army to become Chief of Staff of the United States Army, Chief of Staff of the US Army under Pre ...

, who made financial contributions as a private individual and also, on the same basis, provided advisory assistance to the Byrd expedition of 1933–35.

Location

The islands of the Marshall Archipelago are scattered throughout the Sulzberger Ice Shelf. The landward side of the ice shelf extends southeast from Howard Heights to McKinley Peak, then runs northeast to the

Denfeld Mountains The Denfeld Mountains () are a group of scattered mountains between Crevasse Valley Glacier and Arthur Glacier in the Ford Ranges of Marie Byrd Land. The mountains were explored by the Byrd Antarctic Expeditions (1928–30 and 1933–35) and b ...

and then runs northwest along the southern edge of the

Guest Peninsula Guest Peninsula is a snow-covered peninsula about long between the Sulzberger Ice Shelf and Block Bay, on Saunders Coast in the northwest part of Marie Byrd Land, Antarctica. Mitchell Peak, located on the peninsula, was sighted by the first By ...

. The seaward side extends in a generally northeast direction from the tip of the Reeves Peninsula to the tip of the Guest Peninsula. The seaward side forms the shore of Sulzberger Bay. Islands in the southwest include Kizer Island, Cronenwett Island, Orr Island, Grinder Island, Madden Island, Moody Island, Przybyszewski Island and Steventon Island. Islands in the southeast include Thode Island, Benton Island, Gould Island, Spencer Island, Nolan Island and Kramer Island. Islands further the north include Vollmer Island, Hutchinson Island, Hannah Island, Morris Island, Farmer Island and Radford Island.

Southwest islands

Islands in the southwest of the archipelago include, from west to east,

Kizer Island

. An ice-covered island about long, lying southwest of Cronenwett Island at the west end of Sulzberger Ice Shelf. Named for Lieutenant T.L. Kizer, United States Navy, helicopter pilot on the USS Glacier who sighted the island from the air on January 26, 1962.

Cronenwett Island

. A high, ice-covered island about long. It lies between Vollmer Island and Steventon Island. The feature was first observed and roughly delineated from aerial photographs taken by the ByrdAE, 1928-30. Named by US-ACAN for Commander W.R. Cronenwett, United States Navy, Photographic Officer for

Operation Deep Freeze Operation Deep Freeze (OpDFrz or ODF) is codename for a series of United States missions to Antarctica, beginning with "Operation Deep Freeze I" in 1955–56, followed by "Operation Deep Freeze II", "Operation Deep Freeze III", and so on. (There w ...

II, 1956-57, and Public Information Officer for Task Group 43.1 during Deep Freeze 1962.

Orr Island

. An ice-covered island long, lying southwest of Grinder Island. Named by US-ACAN for Lieutenant Commander Thomas E. Orr, Supply Officer and Officer-in-Charge of the Para Rescue Team of United States Navy Squadron VX-6 during Operation Deep Freeze 1968.

Grinder Island

. One of the ice-covered islands in Marshall Archipelago. The island is long and wide and lies southwest of Steventon Island. Mapped by USGS from surveys and United States Navy air photos, 1959-65. Named by US-ACAN for Harry W. Grinder, aviation structural mechanic, United States Navy, of McMurdo Station, 1967.

Madden Island

. An ice-covered island, long. It lies between Moody Island and Grinder Island. Named by US-ACAN for Michael C. Madden, electrician's mate, United States Navy, of the Byrd Station party, 1966.

Moody Island

. An ice-covered island long, between Kizer and Steventon Islands. Named by US-ACAN for E.L. Moody, dog-driver with the ByrdAE (1933-35).

Przybyszewski Island

. An ice-covered island long. It lies east of Cronenwett Island in the western part of Sulzberger Ice Shelf. The island was charted from aircraft of the USS ''Glacier'' under Captain Edwin A. McDonald, United States Navy, in 1962. Named by him for Lieutenant (j-g-) V.A. Przybyszewski, United States Navy Reserve, helicopter pilot on the Glacier who sighted the island from the air on January 26, 1962.

Barela Rock

. A rock outcrop in the south part of Przybyszewski Island. Named by US-ACAN for Ruben E. Barela, aviation structural mechanic, United States Navy, of the McMurdo Station party, 1967.

Steventon Island

. A broad ice-covered island about long, lying west of Court Ridge. Named by US-ACAN for Richard F. Steventon, United States Navy, Petty Officer in charge of Eights Station, 1963.

Southeast islands

Islands in the southeast of the archipelago include, from west to east,

Thode Island

. A small ice-covered island in Sulzherger Ice Shelf, located northwest of Benton Island and east of Przybyszewski Island. Named by US-ACAN for George C. Thode, meteorologist at Byrd Station in 1968.

Benton Island

. An ice-covered island about long, lying northwest of Nolan Island in Marshall Archipelago. Named by US-ACAN for William T. Benton, BM1, United States Navy, Boatswain's Mate aboard USS Glacier along this coast, 1961-62.

Gould Island

. One of the ice-covered islands in Marshall Archipelago, located within Sulzberger Ice Shelf, coastal Marie Byrd Land. The feature is long and lies just north of Spencer Island and northeast of Steventon Island. Named by US-ACAN for Lieutenant Stuart S. Gould, United States Navy Reserve, dental officer at McMurdo Station, 1967.

Spencer Island

. A small ice-covered island, lying off the northeast part of Steventon Island. Named by US-ACAN for Lieutenant Michael P. Spencer, United States Navy Reserve, navigator in LC-130F Hercules aircraft during Operation Deep Freeze 1968.

Nolan Island

. An ice-covered island long, lying north of Court Ridge. Discovered and mapped by the USAS, 1939-41. Named by US-ACAN for William G. Nolan, RD1, United States Navy, Radarman aboard USS ''Glacier'' in Antarctica, 1957-58 and 1961-62.

Kramer Island

. An ice-covered island, long. It lies between Nolan Island and Court Ridge. Named by US-ACAN for Michael S. Kramer, meteorologist at Byrd Station, 1968.

Northern islands

Islands in the north of the archipelago include, from west to east,

Vollmer Island

. An ice-covered island long, lying along the edge of Sulzberger Ice Shelf, northwest of Cronenwett Island. It appears that this feature was first observed and roughly mapped from aerial photographs taken by the ByrdAE, 1928-30. Named by US-ACAN for Lieutenant T.H. Vollmer, United States Navy, engineering officer aboard USS Glacier along this coast, 1961-62.

Hutchinson Island

. An ice-covered island long, lying east of Vollmer Island. Named by US-ACAN for Lieutenant (j.g.) Peter A. Hutchinson, United States Navy, Operations Officer aboard USS Glacier along this coast, 1961-62.

Hannah Island

. An ice-covered island lying between Hutchinson Island and Guest Peninsula. Named by US-ACAN for J.P. Hannah, USARP ionospheric physicist at Byrd Station in 1968.

Morris Island

. An ice-covered island about long, lying west of Farmer Island. Named by US-ACAN for Lieutenant (j.g.) J.E. Morris, United States Navy Reserve, aboard USS Glacier along this coast in 1961-62.

Farmer Island

. An ice-covered island long, lying north of Radford Island. Named by US-ACAN for Floyd L. Farmer, SFCA, United States Navy, senior shipfitter on the USS Glacier along this coast, 1961-62.

Notes

References

Sources

* * * * *{{Include-USGov , agency=United States Geological Survey Islands of Marie Byrd Land