The only surviving participant in those events tells about the rescue epic, while the flight engineer of the Li-2 aircraft, Viktor Mikhailovich Sergeyev, who is now 85 years old. He graduated from the Egoryev Aviation Technical School in 1955, later the Kiev Institute of Civil Engineers. In the Polar Aviation, he flew as a flight mechanic on Li-2, An-2, Il-12, Il-14, An-12 airplanes, and later on as a flight engineer on Il-62, Il-86 aircraft.

At the Soviet Mirny Scientific Station in Antarctica, a distress signal was received on December 11, 1958 from the Belgian King Baudouin Station through the Australian Mawson Station. Information without delay and unnecessary discussion was reviewed by E.K. Tolstikov, head of the Antarctic Expedition, and V.M. Perov, the commander of the flight squad, as a matter of extreme importance. Without formalities, according to the unwritten law of polar explorers, it was decided to provide assistance without delay, since the Belgian plane crashed on December 5, and the message was received only on December 11, i.e., six days people were in the grip of the elements in the harsh conditions of Antarctica. The crew of the Li-2 was formed: commander V.M. Perov, co-pilot V.V. Afonin, BS navigator Brodkin, flight mechanic - V.M. Sergeev, the second flight engineer, E.N. Menshikov, a radio operator N.G. Zorin, translator V.M. Mokushok.

On December 12, Viktor Mikhailovich Perov gave the command to me, a flight engineer of the Li-2 N-495 «ski» plane, to quickly prepare the aircraft for the flight along the Mirny-Mawson-Syova-Baudouin route (3100 km long). We received permission from Moscow already in flight. Poor weather forecast accelerated crew training and decision making in general.

The aircraft was loaded with fuel up to a maximum weight of 11.5 tons. Take-off - at extremely low visibility. The flight took place along the coastal part of the continent in the most severe weather conditions. After 6 h - landing at the station «Mawson». Because of the bad weather at the Belgian station, the crew rested on the Australian, after which it flew to the Japanese canned station «Siowa» (only the dogs remained). We unloaded a barrel of gasoline 300 kg (on the return trip) and after 7 hours of flight landed at the Belgian station «King Baudouin».

The deputy head of the station, Baron de More, could not give a clear answer about the whereabouts of the missing people: the head of the King Baudin station, Baron de Gerlat; pilot - Prince Antoine de Ligne; mechanics - Yulshagen (he's an all-terrain vehicle driver); surveyor - Loodtsa (the first time the Soviet soldiers liberated him from the Auschwitz concentration camp in 1945).

We went to the first flight without delay, but returned due to bad weather in the search area. After resting, we flew to the near mountain Trilingen at a distance of 200 km, where there was a food warehouse for wintering workers and a helicopter on which de Gerlatt could fly.

The height of the glacier above sea level is 2500 m. To the south it was a mountain range. We noticed a bright red dot, right in the center of the array. After re-flight determined that this is a small aircraft lying on the left wing.

Landing on the glacier, for security reasons, they did about 2 km from the aircraft. All the crew members went to him on foot, except for me, Baron de More, and the doctor at Van Thompell Station. The path took about 2 hours, as it was very slippery.

When inspecting the aircraft, they found that the left ski, together with the stand, was torn off, the left wing was broken. A note was left in the cockpit that the pilot and mechanic were on take-off on 5 December, and the other two (the station head and surveyor) do not know anything about what happened and are located more than 60-70 km from the take-off site.

Antoine de Lin makes a decision to go to the place where the two were left, who, in turn, decided to go to the place of the intended take-off. During the day they could overcome 25-30 km. They had food for 5 days. We understood their plan: united, they will head for Mount Trilengen, where there are food and a helicopter.

Taking off and combing this area, they found an abandoned tent and other property. They made a landing, but there were no people, although there were traces of 4 people walking towards Mount Trilengen. But where are they now? We flew to the Baudouin station for refuelling and after a short rest we took off and continued our search.

The flight was on tacks 10 km wide: and so 8 o'clock. On the surface there are shadows from the blow-back, so we missed them. Back at the station, we refilled all the backup fuel. It was already December 15th.

Surely, the products of the missing Belgians ended. The fourth day of the search is underway, everything is at the limit. It was decided to repeat the flight with a tack width of 5 km, at an altitude of no more than 200 m using a radio altimeter above the surface.

Standing behind the chair of the commander, de Moret pushed him into the shoulder, pointing his finger under the wing. Steel in turn, there was a blowing snow, you can lose a point. Landing, taxiing to the tent in which there were people. A man was moving towards him; he was the head of the station de Gerlatt, who was the first to say that his colleagues in the tent were very weak. The meeting was touching with tears of joy. Worn legs and frostbite parts of the body were treated with alcohol. Everyone and everyone is loaded onto the aircraft.

To assess the take-off V.M. Perov departed by about 100 m, and the aircraft disappeared from sight. He returned with the words: «So this is how one can get lost». They have already reported to Moscow that all people have been saved.

An hour and a half later they landed at the King Baudin station. We were met by all wintering men - 13 people. On a beautiful tray lay large chrome knives by the number of crew members - this is a gift to the winners as a token of appreciation according to old traditions.

The meeting was touching, emotional, with tears in the eyes of everyone around the plane. It was obvious that the rescued Belgians had no strength left; on December 15, they were able to walk only 2 km.

Actually, rescued polar explorers from 130 km from Sphinx mountain to Trilingen mountain passed only halfway (65 km). They maintained the route correctly, but the ice and pedestrians did not allow them to move, and the lack of food deprived them of their physical strength. The condition of the people was terrible. The weakest was surveyor Loodts.

On this occasion, the chef of the Belgian station prepared a gala dinner, and we, in turn, decorated the table with a kilogram can of red caviar in the original packaging. The dinner was plentiful and soulful. Delight there was no limit, our performance surprised them.

The next day (December 17) commander V.M. Perov decided to fulfil the request of the head of the Belgian station to take him to the helicopter, but the mechanic Yulshagen refused to fly because of poor health. We decided to fly without a mechanic. During the take-off, the aircraft began to turn sharply to the left. The take-off was stopped, it was obvious that the sole of the left ski was damaged (cut by a stone). We solved this problem within 2-3 hours, having hollowed out ice under the ski, since there were no lifts. The underside of the ski (titanium) was repaired. You can fly to Mirny. Belgian friends liked our ingenuity.

So, on December 17, we said goodbye and started off safely. After 7 hours we were met by Australians at Mawson station. They also organised a banquet, but we refused, because the weather in Mirny was very doubtful. A tractor with a sleigh with various snacks, drinks, and dishes came up to the plane. Quickly, they all loaded the plane and took off heading for Mirny.

In flight, the flight attendant N.G. Zorin delighted us: all crew members were awarded state awards.

In Mirny we were solemnly greeted by all the participants of the Soviet Antarctic Expedition. Many congratulations were received from different cities of the USSR and from abroad, including from the chairman of the USSR Council of Ministers N.S. Khrushchev; chiefs Glavsevmorput A.A. Afanasyev and Polar Aviation M.I. Sheveleva.

Words of gratitude for the rescue of the Belgian polar explorers expressed to the Chairman of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR K.Ye. Voroshilov, King of Belgium Baudouin and Queen Elizabeth, who were asked to convey the deepest gratitude to the entire glorious crew of the Li-2 aircraft. The warmest telegrams came from families of rescued Belgians.

Upon arrival from Antarctica after the end of the expedition on April 27, 1959, we were invited to the Kremlin to receive awards. On the same day, the reception of our crew took place at the Belgian embassy, ​​where we were handed orders from the King of Belgium Baudouin. A big reception was given at the embassy on this occasion.

I would like to especially express my sincere thanks to the members of the Belgian expedition to Antarctica in 1958 for never having forgotten this noble deed of the crew of V.M. Perov. They always organised meetings in Moscow, and our leadership did not hinder this.

December 14, 2008 in honour of the 50th anniversary of the rescue of the Belgian polar explorers, a solemn reception was held at the residence of the Military Attache at the Belgian Embassy in Moscow. It was attended by: widow V.M. Perova - Lyudmila Ivanovna Gorbunova, legendary polar explorer A.N. Chilingarov, the author of these lines, many famous aviators, veterans of the “Crew” club.

The Russian side also organised a reception at the Museum of Technology in Arkhangelsk (Krasnogorsk), which was not chosen by chance: the museum became the place of storage of the history of the OKB A.S. Yakovlev. The author of this article, speaking at the reception, said: «Russia is always ready to assist people in distress. Belgians remembered this for 50 years and organised meetings with members of the saviour crew led by Viktor Mikhailovich Perov».

P. S. According to tradition, in December 2018, a reception is expected at the residence of the Belgian ambassador to Russia on the occasion of the 60th anniversary of the rescue of Belgian researchers. If possible, information about this event will be published in AviaSouz magazine No. 1 of 2019.