Dr. Thomas C. Poulter served as second in command of Admiral Byrd's Antarctic Expedition II (1933-35). During this expedition, Byrd nearly lost his life when he was isolated by the weather at a forward base. While the Admiral was only 123 miles away, inhospitable conditions foiled several rescue attempts until one finally succeeded. Following this incident, Dr. Poulter began to envision a vehicle that was specially adapted to the Antarctic environment -- a "Snow Cruiser".
After returning from Antarctica, Dr. Poulter took the position of scientific director of the Research Foundation of the Armour Institute of Technology in Chicago, Illinois. He convinced the Research Foundation to embark on design work for his Snow Cruiser. Under his direction, the staff of the Research Foundation worked on the design for approximately two years (1937-39).
Learning that the government was planning another Antarctic expedition to be headed by Admiral Byrd, Pouter presented the completed plans for the Snow Cruiser to expedition officials. Getting a favorable response and $150,000 in upfront financing, construction work commenced on the Cruiser at the Pullman Company in Chicago in August 1939. The vehicle was completed in October.
more later....
