Posted by Captain Glenn Brewer, USN(RET) I was a young LT on that voyage and knew Walt quite well. Appreciate your concern on the security classification on that trip. Actually we had 3 missions: One: operate safely submerged and at periscope depth in and around icebergs. We found these off Newfoundland. Two: attempt to transit under the icepack through the classical Nortwest Passage and map the whole area for future operations of nuclear submarines for passages under the ice from the Atlantic to the Pacific. Three: proceed to the North Pole and test (then new) single side band voice communications. So to answer your concerns... no, that part of the voyage was not classified and we did send out letters to family and friends with a SEADRAGON logo on the envelope as your father described most mailed from Nome Alaska, our first liberty port after more than 40 days at sea. Might add that I had the pleasure of having lunch recently with the then Commanding Officer of SEADRAGON, Cdr George Steele (now Vice Admiral (Retired) Thanks for the pleasant memories. Glenn Brewer Captain, USN (RET)
on 12/22/2006, 6:02 pm, in reply to "1960 voyage"
66.156.19.45
Dear Mike,
Our voyage was initially classified and we remained undetected until we cleared the NW Passage and as we entered the Artic Ocean headed to the Pole, it was unclassifed because of tactical operations randomly surfacing through the ice and communicating and after several of these procedures surfacing at the North Pole, staying three days. We even played a baseball game at the Pole (Officers/Chief Petty Officers losing to the Crew 13-10). Unique that in running around the bases, one ran around the world. Might add we had our own Navy Anti-Submarine aircraft fly overhead regularly and the Russian long range search planes (Bears) passing over frequently. Might also add that as a Navy Deep Sea Diver and Photographer that I was privileged to take the first pictures of the underside of the ice pack at the North Pole. The highlight of my Navy career.
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