Dr. Helliwell flew to Antarctica the first time in 1956, taking down a portable detector to test the capability of Radio Whistler detection equipment in anticipation of setting up a Whistler study program during the upcoming IGY. The equipment was not sensitive enough so he had it modified upon returning home to Stanford and sent new receivers to Byrd Station, Antarctica and also to Greenland and Kotzebue, College, and Unalaska, Alaska. This initial work was the genesis of the development of an enlarged program, which over the next 30 years resulted in the establishment of Long Wire Station, Sky High Station, Eights Station and Siple Station to study the ionosphere and its effect on radio transmission. Helliwell was born in Minnesota, but moved to Palo Alto, California at a very young age. In 1938 entered Stanford University and took a part time job in the Hoover Library. He took an interest in HAM radio at Stanford and through this met Oswald G. Villard who worked in the Electrical Engineering Department of Stanford. Through Dr. Villard, Helliwell became interested in propagation mediums for radio waves and in particular the ionosphere. He was hired in the EE Department by professor Thurman who knew that understanding the propagation of short-wave radio was dependent upon a better understanding of the ionosphere. Helliwell met Lloyd Berkner at the National Bureau of Standards in Washington D.C. where Helliwell briefed him on a sweep frequency transmitter that he had developed. Dr. Helliwell received his PhD from Stanford in and remained there afterward in the Electrical Engineering Department to continue his research. Did historical Research on Whistlers , which he explains. Coordinated work with Dr. Lou Lanzerotti of Bell Labs who could hear Whistlers on their undersea cables. Dr. Alan Shapley, Deputy of the National Committee for the IGY invited Dr. Helliwell to set up a program for the IGY to study Whistlers and the effect of the ionosphere on radio transmission in the Arctic and the Antarctic. Explains Whistlers and the importance of conjugate events and other effects that became the basis for the IGY plans. Lots of groundbreaking research during IGY in both the Arctic and Antarctic. The work led to research at Sky High Station, Eights Station, Long Wire Station (near Byrd) and eventually Siple Station. In addition it led to the first coordination of work on the ground in Antarctica with the OGO (Orbital Geophysical Observatory Satellite) that was designed by Dr Helliwell and his staff. His work was funded by the Office of Naval Research, National Science Foundation and the Office of Scientific research of the USAF.