These behemoths fly by my house all the time. Gets my dog very excited.

MCCHORD AIR FORCE BASE -- In addition to their constant missions to Iraq and Afghanistan, the huge Globemaster III cargo jets flying in and out of McChord Air Force Base also head to another part of the world: Antarctica.

From August to March every year, the Air Force reserve and active duty crews regularly head into the frozen flight zone with supplies for research scientists at McMurdo Station.

Despite the wind and rain in Puget Sound today, where the crews are heading it's spring time.

"It's beautiful down there," said Chief Master Sgt. Jim Masura.

For six months they get to enjoy the beautiful spring and summer weather and the hospitality of the people of Christchurch, New Zealand, which is where the McChord aviators stage when making flights to the antarctic.

And because of that hospitality, the Air Force crews want to give back. They've raised $10,000 over the past few years to donate to children's charities.

"We spend so much time down there, and the people there support us," Masura said. "We like to give back to them as much as they're giving to us."

The airmen raised the money through sales of T-shirts, sweatshirts, mugs and caps, all with the name of 'Operation Deep Freeze.'

"It's fun," said Masura. "It's not the normal thing you get to do in the military."

http://www.komotv.com/news/local/11212976.html