Over the years, Deception Island was visited by many tourists to the Antarctic, and photos of the abandoned Otter VP-FAK were circulated around the world on the web, arousing much interest in the aircraft despite its very remote location. The former base at Whalers Bay was designated as an Historic Site and protected under Antarctic Treaties, as were all artefacts located there, including the Otter. To prevent it from being further cannibalised for souvenirs, BAS took action in April 2004 and shipped the remains to England. Less than 2 months after this image was taken. Lucky me!

Otter 294 was delivered to the British Antarctic Survey (BAS) on 5 November 1959 registered VP-FAK. It was packed into a crate at Downsview and shipped to Deception Island in the Antarctic on board the MV Kista Dan, arriving 26 January 1960. First flight in the Antarctic was on 3 February 1960. It made its last flight from Adelaide Island to Deception Island on 7 March 1967. The Deception Island base was closed due to a volcanic eruption in December 1967. VP-FAK remained at Deception Island, lying outside the abandoned hangar. It was still to be seen there in 2004, thirty-seven years later.

Transferred to the Connecticut Army National Guard in July 1966. Returned to the US Navy for disposal in 1974. Photo from: Air Force Museum of New Zealand

Special version of the P-2 for polar use. No armament, a ski undercarriage and provision for rocket assisted take-off. 140436 became part of the Walter Soplata collection, Newbury, Ohio. Photo from: Air Force Museum of New Zealand

Sold in Brazil in 1976 as PT-HFV. Photo from: Air Force Museum of New Zealand

51-5175 withdrawn from use in 1969. 53 Troop Carrier Squadron carried out Antarctic resupply flights in 1957-58. Photo from: Air Force Museum of New Zealand

Photo taken at a refuel station on the Polar Plateau. XL710 was transferred to the US Navy and then later to the RNZAF. Its Antarctic service ended in 1961 and it was sold in Canada as CF-PNV. Photo from: Air Force Museum of New Zealand

131624 with a black fuselage top presumably to achieve the opposite of a cooling white top. By 1963 when it visited Australia it had a white top. Photo from: Air Force Museum of New Zealand

126513 crashed on landing at Williams on October 31, 1960 at the end of a flight from Christchurch, NZ, during Project Magnet. No loss of life. Wreckage left at the accident site. The scientific equipment fitted to the aircraft was removed. Photo from: Air Force Museum of New Zealand

Damaged in an accident at McMurdo. Wings removed and used as a "taxi" until it fell through the ice on the Ross Sea in 1962. Photo from: Air Force Museum of New Zealand

Stored in 2005. Photo from: Air Force Museum of New Zealand

Helicopter of the heavy icebreaker USCG Polar Star. Still an HH-65A at this point as indicated on the fenestron. The 1 January 2000 date is probably true. Photo by: Josh Landis / United States Antarctic Program

Airlifted to Antarctica by an Il-76 on 5 January 2002. Flew to the South Pole - that is, NZSP airfield - on 8 January. Was left behind there due to problems with the turboprop engine. Repairs started on 27 December 2004. Flown to McMurdo and seen being disassembled here to be flown out by the Il-76 just visible top left. This was on 11 January 2005 according to Soviet Transports but the photo source says 4 January. This airframe was the first An-3T produced by PO Polyot in Omsk from an An-2R, 1G175-46. Photo by: Kristan Hutchison / United States Antarctic Program

A US Navy HO4S-3 helicopter at the Little America V base in 1956. It was flown by Cdr Waldron. Photo by: Jim Waldron / United States Antarctic Program

Very short-lived aircraft from the Alfred Wegener Institute (logo on tail). It was delivered to the institute on 16 October 1984 and immediately deployed to Antarctica. On 24 February 1985, while on the way back to Germany, it was shot down and destroyed by Frente Polisario guerrillas over the Western Sahara in Africa.

'A Wasp helicopter from the ice patrol ship HMS Endurance touches down on pack ice during a survey operation in the Antarctic.' Photo taken by the ship's doctor. XS539 was still with this ship during the Falklands War and attacked the Argentinian submarine Santa Fe. Photo by: S J Townsend / Imperial War Museums

Mount Erebus forms the backdrop to the airstrip at McMurdo. Photo from: RNZAF/Air Force Museum of New Zealand

Operation Deep Freeze II. The helicopter operated from the icebreaker USS Glacier but this appears to be a another ship. Date given as February 1957 but 138595 crashed into the Ross Sea when its engine failed on 19 January. The two pilots survived. Photo by: Albert Fenn / Life

On September 15th 1947 the aircraft crashed landing in poor visibility & approaching darkness and overturned. All onboard survived and using a fuel tank as a sledge began walking home. On September 22nd 1947 they were found and rescued by an American operated Noorduyn Norseman aircraft.