Charles F. Passel

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Charles Fay Passel (April 9, 1915 – December 27, 2002) was a polar scientist responsible along with Paul Siple for the development of the wind chill factor parameter.

Biography[edit]

Passel was born in Indianapolis, Indiana on April 9, 1915 and graduated from Shortridge High School.[1] He had a bachelor's degree in geology from Miami University (Ohio), and a master's degree from Indiana University Bloomington.[2][3]

Passel was in the United States Antarctic Service. He was a major participant in the third Antarctic Expedition of Admiral Richard E. Byrd (1939–1941). Passel had several diverse duties on the expedition (as all the expedition members did) including as a dog team driver.[4] His work with Siple was published in the American Philosophical Society [5]

Following the expedition, he joined the United States Marine Corps in April 1942 during World War II and served until June 1943.[6][7] He was wounded in action after serving in the Guadalcanal campaign and New Hebrides, and became a sergeant.[7]

He died December 27, 2002, in Abilene, Texas and is buried at Buffalo Gap Cemetery, Buffalo Gap, Texas.

Legacy[edit]

Passel's diary is published as the book Ice.[8]

See also[edit]

Notes[edit]

  1. ^ University of Texas. "Passel, Charles F. Antarctic Exploration Collection". Retrieved 2013-01-15.
  2. ^ "Obituary". Reporter-News. Abilene. December 28, 2002.
  3. ^ "Bloomington Winter Will Be Tropical To New I.U. Assistant and His Dog", The Indianapolis Star, Indianapolis, Indiana, volume 39, number 112, page 12. (subscription required)
  4. ^ Goerler, Raimund E. (February 13–14, 2000). "Interview of Charles F. Passel" (Interview). Retrieved 2014-04-18.
  5. ^ Proceedings, American Philosophical Society (Volume 89, 1945). ISBN 9781422372159.
  6. ^ "Back From Pacific", The Indianapolis Star, Indianapolis, Indiana, volume 41, number 13, June 18, 1943, page 10. (subscription required)
  7. ^ a b "Wounded Marine Is Discharged", The Indianapolis News, Indianapolis, Indiana, volume LXXIV, number 167, whole number 22,982, June 19, 1943, page 2. (subscription required)
  8. ^ Passel, Charles F. (1995). Ice: The Antarctic Diary of Charles F. Passel. Lubbock: Texas Tech University Press. ISBN 978-0896723474.