ADMIRAL RICHARD E. BYRD SIGNED CERTIFICATE ROYAL ORDER OF DEEPFREEZE I

1955. Royal Order of DeepFreeze Task Force 43 Certificate beautifully signed by Admiral Richard E. Byrd at center across Antarctica map image. Large parchment richly decorated and measuring approximately 13" x 17" in fine vintage frame. Also signed by Captain O. C. Rohnke and presented to Harold W. Morris. Interestingly, certificate dated December 24, 1955. Very intriguing and esoteric artwork and decoration from this society of explorers. Operation Deep Freeze (OpDFrz or ODF) was the code name for a series of United States missions to Antarctica, beginning with Deep Freeze I in 1955/56. During this mission out of New Zealand, bases were further established, a million square miles were mapped through the air for the first time, and the 1929 Little America base was honored by Byrd with its seventy-foot transmitter tower now 6' above the snow pack. Symbolically charged certificate features Poseidon or Neptune with trident wooing topless mermaid, sea anchor and coiled rope, a fiery eastern dragon, the naval wings over frozen mountain b.g., seal and penguin, expedition scenes w/skier, cargo line, naval ship and helicopter, and finally, the Task Force 43 emblem. As shown. Richard Evelyn Byrd, Jr., was an American naval officer who specialized in feats of exploration. 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, polar explorer, and organizer of polar logistics. Aircraft flights in which he served as a navigator and expedition leader crossed the Atlantic Ocean, a segment of the Arctic Ocean, and a segment of the Antarctic Plateau. Byrd's expeditions were the first to reach both the North and South Pole by air. Insured post.. Very Good.