At Tern Island (French Frigate Shoals) we unloaded 13 boat loads of equipment and supplies to the scientists stationed there. Among the items delivered were barrels of gasoline to keep the small boats used by the scientists operating, solar panels (upper right) to provide electricity and boxes of food and 5 gallon jugs of water. From the ship's anchorage, 2 miles South of Tern, the island (below) appears as a long, low line of white sand surrounded by blue water and sky. The buildings on the left side of the island are used by the scientists today, but were originally built by the U.S. Coast Guard when they maintained a station on Tern. In WW II, the island was used as a stationary aircraft carrier by the U.S. Navy.