Macquarie Island PBY
On 7th March 1948, the A.N.A.R.E ( Australian National Antarctic Research Expedition ) was set up on Macquarie Island.
On 8th July that same year, a fatal accident happened at the base. Diesel engineer Charles Scoble was drowned while skating across a frozen lake. This lake is now known as Scoble Lake on the plateau south of the main base.
Due to the critical importance of the diesel generators for the provision of electrical power at the base, the A.N.A.R.E. HQ in Melbourne, Australia arranged to send a replacement engineer, Frank Keating.
This was achieved in August 1948 in a hazardous winter flight using a RAAF Catalina ( from 11 SQN I think ), equipped with JATO rockets to assist in it's takeoff from the water near the Macquarie Island base.
Hope this is of value.
With Regards
Tracey
H.A.R.S., Sydney, Australia