Richard E. Byrd | American Polar Explorer & Aviator

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border-left-sm open"> <div class="drawer d-flex flex-column open"> <div class="left-rail-section-content"> <div class="topic-left-rail-header text-truncate bg-gray-50 position-relative text-right d-flex align-items-center"> <div class="tlr-title px-20 py-15 text-left"> <em class="material-icons text-gray-400 d-lg-none" data-icon="toc"></em> <a class="font-serif font-weight-bold text-black link-blue" href="https://www.britannica.com/biography/Richard-E-Byrd">Richard E. Byrd</a> </div> <button aria-label="Close" class="js-sections-close-button btn-link btn-sm btn d-lg-none position-absolute top-0 p-10 right-0" > <em class="material-icons font-26" data-icon="close"></em> </button> </div> <div class="section-content pl-10 pr-20 pl-sm-50 pr-sm-60 pl-lg-5 pr-lg-10 pt-10 pt-lg-0 bg-gray-50 clear-catfish-ad"> <div class="toc mb-20"> <div class="font-serif font-14 font-weight-bold mx-15 mb-15 mt-20"> Table of Contents </div> <ul class="list-unstyled my-0" data-level="h1"><li data-target="#ref1"><div class="pl-25"><a class="link-gray-900 w-100" href="/biography/Richard-E-Byrd">Introduction</a></div><div class="ml-40 toc-drawer sub-toc-drawer"></div></li><li data-target="#ref997"><div class="d-flex align-items-center"><div class="ml-25"></div><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/biography/Richard-E-Byrd#ref997">Life</a></div><div class="ml-40 toc-drawer sub-toc-drawer"></div></li><li data-target="#ref998"><div class="d-flex align-items-center"><div class="ml-25"></div><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/biography/Richard-E-Byrd#ref998">Antarctic expeditions</a></div><div class="ml-40 toc-drawer sub-toc-drawer"></div></li><li data-target="#ref999"><div class="d-flex align-items-center"><div class="ml-25"></div><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/biography/Richard-E-Byrd/Byrds-accomplishments">Byrd’s accomplishments</a></div><div class="ml-40 toc-drawer sub-toc-drawer"></div></li></ul> <a class="toc-extra-link link-gray-900" href="https://www.britannica.com/biography/Richard-E-Byrd/additional-info">References & Edit History</a> <a class="toc-extra-link link-gray-900" href="/facts/Richard-E-Byrd">Quick Facts & Related Topics</a> </div> <div class="tlr-media-slider pb-10 mb-30"> <a class="section-header link-gray-900 font-serif font-14 font-weight-bold mb-10 mx-10" href="https://www.britannica.com/biography/Richard-E-Byrd/images-videos">Images</a> <div class="slider js-slider position-relative d-inline-flex align-items-center mw-100 "> <div class="slider-container js-slider-container overflow-hidden d-flex overflow-hidden text-nowrap ml-15"> <a href="https://cdn.britannica.com/25/18425-050-709AF16A/Richard-E-Byrd.jpg" data-href="/media/1/87026/125947" class="media-overlay-link d-inline-block mr-5"> <img loading="lazy" src="https://cdn.britannica.com/25/18425-004-27120377/Richard-E-Byrd.jpg" alt="Richard E. Byrd." height="50" /> </a> <a href="https://cdn.britannica.com/73/64973-004-20ABCA8F/Airplane-routes-one-North-Pole-Richard-E-1926.jpg" data-href="/media/1/87026/109220" class="media-overlay-link d-inline-block mr-5"> <img loading="lazy" src="https://cdn.britannica.com/73/64973-004-20ABCA8F/Airplane-routes-one-North-Pole-Richard-E-1926.jpg" alt="Airplane routes over the North Pole, including the one flown by Richard E. Byrd in 1926." height="50" /> </a> <a href="https://cdn.britannica.com/10/76610-050-8164F359/Richard-E-Byrd-Antarctica-1947.jpg" data-href="/media/1/87026/112320" class="media-overlay-link d-inline-block mr-5"> <img loading="lazy" src="https://cdn.britannica.com/10/76610-004-D4F9DB15/Richard-E-Byrd-Antarctica-1947.jpg" alt="Richard E. Byrd in Antarctica, 1947." height="50" /> </a> <a href="https://cdn.britannica.com/59/19359-004-01F3A634/Fokker-trimotor-airplane-attempt-Floyd-Bennett-Richard.jpg" data-href="/media/1/87026/18372" class="media-overlay-link d-inline-block mr-5"> <img loading="lazy" src="https://cdn.britannica.com/59/19359-004-01F3A634/Fokker-trimotor-airplane-attempt-Floyd-Bennett-Richard.jpg" alt="Fokker used by Byrd and Bennett in their attempt to fly to the North Pole" height="50" /> </a> </div> <button disabled class="prev-button js-prev-button position-absolute btn btn-circle shadow btn-blue " aria-label="Previous"> <span class="material-icons md-24" data-icon="keyboard_arrow_left"></span> </button> <button disabled class="next-button js-next-button position-absolute btn btn-circle shadow btn-blue " aria-label="Next"> <span class="material-icons md-24" data-icon="keyboard_arrow_right"></span> </button> </div> </div> <div class="mb-30 tlr-student-links"> <div class="text-gray-900 p-5 font-serif font-14 font-weight-bold mx-10 mb-10"> For Students </div> <div class="imagelink-with-image-on-the-side card card-horizontal tlr-img-with-side-link ml-15 link-gray-900 mb-10" > <div class="position-relative card-media" style="flex: 0;"> <a class="ilf-image position-relative" href="/summary/Richard-E-Byrd"> <img loading="lazy" src="https://cdn.britannica.com/mendel-resources/3-133/images/shared/default3.png?v=3.133.48" class="default " height="200" width="200"/> </a> </div> <div class="card-body ilf-content"> <a class="font-weight-semi-bold d-block mb-5 font-16 ilf-title" href="/summary/Richard-E-Byrd" >Richard E. 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Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login). </div> <div class="type-menu"> <label for="feedback-type" class="label mb-10">Feedback Type</label> <select id="feedback-type" class="form-select mb-30" name="feedbackTypeId" required> <option value="" selected="selected">Select a type (Required)</option> <option value="1">Factual Correction</option> <option value="2">Spelling/Grammar Correction</option> <option value="3">Link Correction</option> <option value="4">Additional Information</option> <option value="5">Other</option> </select> </div> <label for="feedback" class="label mb-10">Your Feedback</label> <textarea id="feedback" class="form-control mb-30" name="feedback" maxlength="3000" rows="7" required></textarea> <button class="btn btn-blue" type="submit">Submit Feedback</button> </form> <div class="success-messaging d-none mt-30"> <div class="title">Thank you for your feedback</div> <p>Our editors will review what you’ve submitted and determine whether to revise the article.</p> </div> </div> </div> <div class="md-websites-modal size-lg d-none"> <div class="md-modal-body"> <div class="h2 font-serif pb-15 border-bottom font-weight-bold"> External Websites </div> <div class="pb-20"> <ul class="list-unstyled mt-20 lh-lg"> <li><a class="external" href="https://www.historynet.com/richard-e-byrd-and-floyd-bennett-first-to-fly-over-the-north-pole/" target="_blank" rel="noopener ">HistoryNet - Richard E. Byrd and Floyd Bennett: First to Fly over the North Pole</a></li> <li><a class="external" href="https://www.thearcticinstitute.org/cold-cold-war-rear-admiral-richard-byrd-antarctic-expeditions-evolution-americas-strategic-interest-polar-regions/" target="_blank" rel="noopener ">The Arctic Institute - The Cold, Cold War: Rear Admiral Richard Byrd, Antarctic Expeditions, and the Evolution of America’s Strategic Interest in the Polar Regions</a></li> <li><a class="external" href="https://www.history.navy.mil/our-collections/photography/us-people/b/byrd-richard-e.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener ">Naval History and Heritage Command - Richard E. Byrd</a></li> <li><a class="external" href="https://nzhistory.govt.nz/media/photo/richard-e-byrds-plane-pipitea-wharf" target="_blank" rel="noopener ">New Zealand History - Richard E. Byrd's plane on Pipitea Wharf, Wellington</a></li> <li><a class="external" href="https://www.lva.virginia.gov/public/dvb/bio.asp?b=Byrd_Richard_Evelyn_1888-1957" target="_blank" rel="noopener ">Library of Virginia - Richard Evelyn Byrd</a></li> <li><a class="external" href="https://scholarworks.wm.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1171&context=miscellaneous" target="_blank" rel="noopener ">William And Mary Libraries - Scholar Works - Biography of Admiral Richard Evelyn Byrd</a></li> <li><a class="external" href="https://virginiahistory.org/learn/richard-e-byrd" target="_blank" rel="noopener ">Virginia Museum of History and Culture - Richard E. Byrd</a></li> </ul> </div> <div class="md-websites-ebk-title">Britannica Websites</div> <div class="md-websites-ebk-subtitle">Articles from Britannica Encyclopedias for elementary and high school students.</div> <ul class="list-unstyled bps-topic-web-sites lh-lg"> <li><a class="external" href="https://kids.britannica.com/kids/article/Richard-E-Byrd/598854" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Richard E. Byrd - Children's Encyclopedia (Ages 8-11)</a></li> <li><a class="external" href="https://kids.britannica.com/students/article/Richard-E-Byrd/273425" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Richard E. Byrd - Student Encyclopedia (Ages 11 and up)</a></li> </ul> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="toc-header-marker"></div> <button class="ai-ask-button btn btn-sm border-2 btn-outline-red-400 border-red-400 d-none mr-0 mr-lg-10 ml-5 ml-sm-10 ml-lg-0 p-10 px-sm-5 px-md-10 js-header-ai-ask-button"> Ask the Chatbot a Question </button> <div class="caption alternate-titles">Also known as: Richard Evelyn Byrd</div> <div class="md-byline module-spacing "> <div class="font-serif font-12"> <span class="written-by text-gray-700"> Written by </span> <div class="editor-popover popover p-0"> <a class="d-block p-20 qa-editor-popup gtm-byline font-12 byline-contributor" href="/contributor/Francis-D-Ommanney/2202" > <div class="editor-title font-16 font-weight-bold">Francis D. Ommanney</div> <div class="editor-description font-12 font-serif mt-5 clamp-description text-black">Reader in Marine Biology, University of Hong Kong, 1957–60. Scientific staff member, Discovery Committee, 1929–39. Author of <i>South Latitude and North Cape </i>and others.</div> </a> <div data-popper-arrow></div> </div> <span class="btn btn-link editor-link p-0 qa-byline-link gtm-byline font-12 byline-contributor text-decoration-underline"> Francis D. Ommanney</span></div> <div class="font-serif font-12 text-gray-700"> <span class="qa-fact-checked-by">Fact-checked by</span> <div class="editor-popover popover p-0"> <a class="d-block p-20 qa-editor-popup font-12" href="/editor/The-Editors-of-Encyclopaedia-Britannica/4419" > <div class="editor-title font-16 font-weight-bold">The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica</div> <div class="editor-description font-12 font-serif mt-5 text-black">Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree. They write new content and verify and edit content received from contributors.</div> </a> <div data-popper-arrow></div> </div> <span class="btn btn-link editor-link p-0 qa-byline-link font-12 "> The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica</span></div> <div class="last-updated font-12 font-serif"> <a class="byline-edit-history" href="https://www.britannica.com/biography/Richard-E-Byrd/additional-info#history" rel="nofollow">Article History</a> </div></div> </div> <button class="d-flex d-lg-none btn btn-outline-blue border rounded-sm shadow-sm mobile-toc-button gtm-mobile-toc-inline-button d-none d-sm-block js-sections-inline-button module-spacing btn d-lg-none"> <em class="material-icons mr-5 ml-n10 my-n5 md-icon" data-icon="toc"></em> Table of Contents </button> <div class="d-flex d-sm-none flex-row"> <button class="d-flex d-lg-none btn btn-outline-blue border rounded-sm shadow-sm mobile-toc-button gtm-mobile-toc-inline-button js-sections-inline-button module-spacing"> <em class="material-icons mr-5 ml-n10 my-n5 md-icon" data-icon="toc"></em> Table of Contents </button> <button class="ai-ask-button btn btn-sm border-2 btn-outline-red-400 border-red-400 module-spacing js-inline-ai-ask-button p-10 ml-5"> Ask the Chatbot </button> </div> <div class="js-qf-module qf-module px-40 px-sm-20 py-15 mx-auto module-spacing font-14 bg-gray-50 rounded"> <div class="qf-title font-weight-bold font-14 mb-10 text-center"> Quick Facts</div> <div class="facts-list mt-10"> <div class=""> <div class="js-fact mb-10 line-clamp clamp-3"> <dl> <dt>In full: </dt> <dd> Richard Evelyn Byrd</dd> </dl> <button class="js-more-btn d-none btn btn-unstyled font-12 bg-gray-50" aria-label="Toggle more/less fact data"> <em class="js-content link-blue">(Show more)</em> </button> </div> </div> <div class=""> <div class="js-fact mb-10 line-clamp clamp-3"> <dl> <dt>Born: </dt> <dd>October 25, 1888, <a href="/place/Winchester-Virginia">Winchester</a>, <a href="/place/Virginia-state">Virginia</a>, <a href="/place/United-States">U.S.</a></dd> </dl> <button class="js-more-btn d-none btn btn-unstyled font-12 bg-gray-50" aria-label="Toggle more/less fact data"> <em class="js-content link-blue">(Show more)</em> </button> </div> </div> <div class=""> <div class="js-fact mb-10 line-clamp clamp-3"> <dl> <dt>Died: </dt> <dd>March 11, 1957, <a href="/place/Boston">Boston</a>, <a href="/place/Massachusetts">Massachusetts</a> (aged 68)</dd> </dl> <button class="js-more-btn d-none btn btn-unstyled font-12 bg-gray-50" aria-label="Toggle more/less fact data"> <em class="js-content link-blue">(Show more)</em> </button> </div> </div> <div class=""> <div class="js-fact mb-10 line-clamp clamp-3"> <dl> <dt>Awards And Honors: </dt> <dd><a href="/topic/Medal-of-Honor-United-States-military-decoration">Medal of Honor</a></dd> </dl> <button class="js-more-btn d-none btn btn-unstyled font-12 bg-gray-50" aria-label="Toggle more/less fact data"> <em class="js-content link-blue">(Show more)</em> </button> </div> <div class="text-center"> <a class="btn btn-sm btn-link p-0" href="/facts/Richard-E-Byrd"> See all related content </a> </div> </div> </div> </div><span class="marker before-article"></span><section data-level="1" id="ref1"><span class="marker PREMOD1 mod-inline"></span><p class="topic-paragraph"><strong><span id="ref114989"></span>Richard E. Byrd</strong> (born October 25, 1888, <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Winchester-Virginia" class="md-crosslink autoxref " data-show-preview="true">Winchester</a>, <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Virginia-state" class="md-crosslink autoxref " data-show-preview="true">Virginia</a>, U.S.—died March 11, 1957, <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Boston" class="md-crosslink autoxref " data-show-preview="true">Boston</a>, Massachusetts) was a U.S. naval officer, pioneer aviator, and polar explorer best known for his explorations of <span id="ref114990"></span><a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Antarctica" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Antarctica</a> using airplanes and other modern technical resources.</p><span class="marker MOD1 mod-inline"></span></section> <span class="marker h2"></span><section data-level="1" id="ref997"><h2 class="h1">Life</h2> <span class="marker PREMOD2 mod-inline"></span><p class="topic-paragraph">After graduating from the <a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/United-States-Naval-Academy" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">U.S. Naval Academy</a> in 1912, Byrd was <a class="md-dictionary-link md-dictionary-tt-off eb" data-term="commissioned" href="https://www.britannica.com/dictionary/commissioned" data-type="EB">commissioned</a> an ensign in the U.S. Navy. He learned flying at the U.S. Naval Air Station, <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Pensacola" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Pensacola</a>, Florida, and served in the navy with distinction until the end of <a href="https://www.britannica.com/event/World-War-I" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">World War I</a>. After the war he developed navigational methods and equipment for NC flying boats, one of which made the navy’s first transatlantic airplane flight in 1919. He also assisted with dirigibles built for transatlantic crossings. His polar career began in 1924 when he had command of a small naval <a href="https://www.britannica.com/technology/aviation" class="md-crosslink autoxref " data-show-preview="true">aviation</a> detachment with Commander D.B. MacMillan’s <span id="ref114991"></span><a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Arctic" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Arctic</a> expedition to western <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Greenland" class="md-crosslink autoxref " data-show-preview="true">Greenland</a>, based at Etah.</p><span class="marker MOD2 mod-inline"></span> <span class="marker PREMOD3 mod-inline"></span><div class="assemblies"><div class="w-100"><figure class="md-assembly m-0 mb-md-0 card card-borderless print-false" data-assembly-id="109220" data-asm-type="image"><div class="md-assembly-wrapper card-media" data-type="image"><a href="https://cdn.britannica.com/73/64973-004-20ABCA8F/Airplane-routes-one-North-Pole-Richard-E-1926.jpg" class="gtm-assembly-link position-relative d-flex align-items-center justify-content-center media-overlay-link card-media" data-href="/media/1/87026/109220"><picture><source media="(min-width: 680px)" srcset="https://cdn.britannica.com/73/64973-004-20ABCA8F/Airplane-routes-one-North-Pole-Richard-E-1926.jpg"><img src="https://cdn.britannica.com/73/64973-004-20ABCA8F/Airplane-routes-one-North-Pole-Richard-E-1926.jpg?w=300" alt="Airplane routes over the North Pole, including the one flown by Richard E. Byrd in 1926." data-width="451" data-height="448" loading="eager"></picture><button class="magnifying-glass btn btn-circle position-absolute shadow btn-white top-10 right-10" aria-label="Zoom in"><em class="material-icons link-blue" data-icon="zoom_in"></em></button></a></div><figcaption class="card-body"><div class="md-assembly-caption text-muted font-14 font-serif line-clamp"><span><a class="gtm-assembly-link md-assembly-title font-weight-bold d-inline font-sans-serif mr-5 media-overlay-link" href="https://cdn.britannica.com/73/64973-004-20ABCA8F/Airplane-routes-one-North-Pole-Richard-E-1926.jpg" data-href="/media/1/87026/109220">Airplane routes over the North Pole, including the one flown by Richard E. Byrd in 1926.</a><button class="js-more-btn d-none btn btn-unstyled font-12 bg-white js-content" aria-label="Toggle more/less fact data"><span class="link-blue">(more)</span></button></span></div></figcaption></figure></div></div><p class="topic-paragraph">The experience of flying over <a href="https://www.britannica.com/science/sea-ice" class="md-crosslink autoxref " data-show-preview="true">sea ice</a> and glaciers in western Greenland had fired Byrd with the ambition to fly over the <span id="ref114992"></span><a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/North-Pole" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">North Pole</a>. On May 9, 1926, Byrd, acting as navigator, and <span id="ref114993"></span><a href="https://www.britannica.com/biography/Floyd-Bennett" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Floyd Bennett</a> as pilot made what they claimed to be the first airplane journey over the North Pole, flying from King’s Bay, <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Spitsbergen" class="md-crosslink autoxref " data-show-preview="true">Spitsbergen</a>, Norway, to the Pole and back. The flight lasted 15<span class="md-fraction md-fraction-oblique"><span><span class="md-frac-num">1</span><span class="md-fraction-symbol">/</span><span class="md-frac-den">2</span></span></span> hours, with no <a class="md-dictionary-link md-dictionary-tt-off eb" data-term="mishaps" href="https://www.britannica.com/dictionary/mishaps" data-type="EB">mishaps</a> beyond an oil leak from the starboard engine of their Fokker trimotor airplane. For this feat they were both awarded the U.S. <a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/Medal-of-Honor-United-States-military-decoration" class="md-crosslink autoxref " data-show-preview="true">Congressional Medal of Honor</a> and were acclaimed as national heroes. Some doubt always lingered over whether their plane had actually reached the North Pole, and one of Byrd’s early associates, Bernt Balchen, even claimed after Byrd’s death that the flight to the North Pole had been a hoax. The discovery in 1996 of the diary that Byrd had kept on his famous flight shed new light on this question. Byrd’s diary entries suggest that the airplane was still about 150 miles (240 km) short of the North Pole when Byrd decided to turn back because of his concern over the oil leak. (If this is true, then <a class="md-dictionary-link md-dictionary-tt-off eb" data-term="credit" href="https://www.britannica.com/dictionary/credit" data-type="EB">credit</a> for the first flight over the North Pole actually belongs to <a href="https://www.britannica.com/biography/Roald-Amundsen" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Roald Amundsen</a> of Norway, <a href="https://www.britannica.com/biography/Lincoln-Ellsworth" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Lincoln Ellsworth</a> of the <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/United-States" class="md-crosslink autoxref " data-show-preview="true">United States</a>, and <a href="https://www.britannica.com/biography/Umberto-Nobile" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Umberto Nobile</a> of Italy, who made a well-documented flight over the Pole in a <a href="https://www.britannica.com/technology/airship" class="md-crosslink autoxref " data-show-preview="true">dirigible</a> three days after Byrd’s flight.)</p><span class="marker MOD3 mod-inline"></span> <span class="marker PREMOD4 mod-inline"></span><p class="topic-paragraph">Byrd next aided the American aviator <span id="ref114994"></span><a href="https://www.britannica.com/biography/Charles-Lindbergh" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Charles A. Lindbergh</a> with navigational training and the use of the specially extended runway for Lindbergh’s transatlantic solo flight in May 1927. Byrd then decided to make an attempt to fly the Atlantic from west to east; and in June 1927, with three companions, he made the flight in 42 hours, crash-landing in bad weather at Ver-sur-Mer on the coast of Brittany, France. For this successful flight he was made a Commandant of the French <a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/Legion-of-Honour" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Legion of Honour</a>.</p><span class="marker MOD4 mod-inline"></span> <span class="marker PREMOD5 mod-inline"></span><p class="topic-paragraph">In 1928 he announced his decision to explore the unknown regions of the Antarctic from the air. With large financial backing from such wealthy Americans as Edsel Ford and <a href="https://www.britannica.com/biography/John-D-Rockefeller-Jr" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">John D. Rockefeller, Jr.</a>, his fame was such that he could inspire the American public to contribute liberally to the estimated cost of the <a class="md-dictionary-link md-dictionary-tt-off eb" data-term="venture" href="https://www.britannica.com/dictionary/venture" data-type="EB">venture</a>, which was about $400,000.</p><a class="link-module shadow-sm d-block qa-quiz-module" href="/quiz/exploration-and-discovery" data-link-module-iframe-link=""> <img loading="lazy" src="https://cdn.britannica.com/24/71324-131-CA22C4BA/Edwin-Aldrin-Moon-July-20-1969.jpg" alt="Buzz Aldrin. Apollo 11. Apollo 11 astronaut Edwin Aldrin, photographed July 20, 1969, during the first manned mission to the Moon's surface. Reflected in Aldrin's faceplate is the Lunar Module and astronaut Neil Armstrong, who took the picture." class="rounded-sm mr-15" width="70" /> <div class="line-clamp clamp-5"> <div class="module-title bg-green">Britannica Quiz</div> <div class="font-weight-semi-bold mt-5">Exploration and Discovery</div> </div> </a><span class="marker MOD5 mod-inline"></span></section> <span class="marker h3"></span><section data-level="1" id="ref998"><h2 class="h1">Antarctic expeditions</h2> <span class="marker PREMOD6 mod-inline"></span><p class="topic-paragraph">Byrd’s first Antarctic expedition (1928–30), the largest and best-equipped that had ever set out for that continent, sailed south in October 1928. A substantial and well-supplied base, called <span id="ref114995"></span><a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Little-America-research-station-Antarctica" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Little America</a>, was built on the face of the <span id="ref114996"></span><a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Ross-Ice-Shelf" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Ross Ice Shelf</a>, a wide plain of shelf ice fronting the <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Ross-Sea" class="md-crosslink autoxref " data-show-preview="true">Ross Sea</a> near an indentation in the ice cliff named the <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Bay-of-Whales" class="md-crosslink autoxref " data-show-preview="true">Bay of Whales</a>. Flights were made from this base over the Antarctic continent. A range of high mountains, named the <span id="ref114997"></span>Rockefeller Mountains, was discovered, and a large tract of hitherto unknown territory beyond them was named <span id="ref114998"></span><a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Marie-Byrd-Land" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Marie Byrd Land</a>, after Byrd’s wife. On November 29, 1929, Byrd, as navigator, and three companions made the first flight over the <span id="ref114999"></span><a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/South-Pole" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">South Pole</a>, flying from Little America to the Pole and back in 19 hours with no <a class="md-dictionary-link md-dictionary-tt-off eb" data-term="mishap" href="https://www.britannica.com/dictionary/mishap" data-type="EB">mishap</a>. Byrd was afterward promoted to rear admiral for this achievement.</p><span class="marker MOD6 mod-inline"></span> <span class="marker PREMOD7 mod-inline"></span><p class="topic-paragraph">In 1933–35 a second Byrd expedition visited Little America with the aim of mapping and claiming land around the Pole; he extended the exploration of Marie Byrd Land and continued his scientific observations. During the winter of 1934 (from March to August) Byrd spent five months alone in a hut at a weather station named <span id="ref115000"></span>Bolling Advance Base, buried beneath the <a href="https://www.britannica.com/science/ice-shelf" class="md-crosslink autoxref " data-show-preview="true">ice shelf</a> face 123 miles (196 km) south of Little America, enduring temperatures between −58° and −76° F (−50° and −60° C) and sometimes much lower. He was finally rescued in a desperately sick condition, suffering from <a href="https://www.britannica.com/science/frostbite" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">frostbite</a> and <a href="https://www.britannica.com/science/carbon-monoxide-poisoning" class="md-crosslink autoxref " data-show-preview="true">carbon monoxide poisoning</a>. This was perhaps his most controversial <a class="md-dictionary-link md-dictionary-tt-off eb" data-term="exploit" href="https://www.britannica.com/dictionary/exploit" data-type="EB">exploit</a>.</p><div class="module-spacing"> <DIV class="marketing-INLINE_SUBSCRIPTION marketing-content" data-marketing-id="INLINE_SUBSCRIPTION"><style> .student-promo-banner-wrapper { container-type: inline-size; margin-bottom: 15px; } @container (min-width: 475px) { .student-promo-banner { flex-direction: row; } .student-promo-banner-img-wrapper { margin-bottom: 0; margin-right: 10px; justify-content: flex-start; } .student-promo-banner-text-wrapper { text-align: left; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 10px; } .student-promo-banner-button-wrapper { margin-right: 0; } }</style> <div class="student-promo-banner-wrapper"> <div class="student-promo-banner d-flex flex-column align-items-center bg-blue rounded p-20"> <div class="student-promo-banner-img-wrapper mb-20 mr-0 d-flex justify-content-center"> <img class="rounded" style="max-width: 100px; min-width: 80px" src="https://cdn.britannica.com/marketing/BlueThistle.webp" /> </div> <div class="student-promo-banner-text-wrapper ml-0 mb-10 text-center text-white"> <div class="h2 mb-10">Get Unlimited Access</div> <div class="h4 font-weight-semi-bold">Try Britannica Premium for free and discover more.</div> </div> <div class="student-promo-banner-button-wrapper d-flex justify-content-center align-items-center ml-auto mr-auto"> <a class="btn btn-m btn-orange" href="https://premium.britannica.com/premium-membership/?utm_source=premium&utm_medium=inline-cta&utm_campaign=august-2024">Subscribe</a> </div> </div> </div> </DIV></div><span class="marker MOD7 mod-inline"></span> <span class="marker PREMOD8 mod-inline"></span><p class="topic-paragraph">At the request of President <a href="https://www.britannica.com/biography/Franklin-D-Roosevelt" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Franklin D. Roosevelt</a>, Byrd took command of the U.S. Antarctic service and led a third expedition to Antarctica in 1939–41, this one financed and sponsored by the U.S. government. Bases were located at Little America and <span id="ref115001"></span><a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Stonington-Island" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Stonington Island</a>, off the <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Antarctic-Peninsula" class="md-crosslink autoxref " data-show-preview="true">Antarctic Peninsula</a>. Byrd’s discovery of <span id="ref115002"></span>Thurston Island greatly decreased the length of unexplored coast of the continent.</p><span class="marker MOD8 mod-inline"></span> <span class="marker PREMOD9 mod-inline"></span><p class="topic-paragraph">During <a href="https://www.britannica.com/event/World-War-II" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">World War II</a> Byrd served on the staff of the chief of naval operations and, among other duties, evaluated Pacific islands as operational sites. After World War II Byrd was placed in charge of the U.S. Navy’s <span id="ref524689"></span><a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/Operation-High-Jump" class="md-crosslink ">Operation High Jump</a>. This Antarctic expedition, his fourth, was the largest and most ambitious exploration of that continent <a class="md-dictionary-link md-dictionary-tt-off eb" data-term="yet" href="https://www.britannica.com/dictionary/yet" data-type="EB">yet</a> attempted and involved 4,700 men, 13 ships (including an aircraft carrier), and 25 airplanes. Operation High Jump’s ship- and land-based aircraft mapped and photographed some 537,000 square miles (1,390,000 square km) of the Antarctic coastline and interior, much of it never seen before. Byrd flew into Little America from the deck of the <a href="https://www.britannica.com/technology/aircraft-carrier" class="md-crosslink autoxref " data-show-preview="true">aircraft carrier</a> <em>Philippine Sea</em> north of the <a href="https://www.britannica.com/science/pack-ice" class="md-crosslink autoxref " data-show-preview="true">ice pack</a>, about 700 miles (1,100 km) from the camp. He made a second flight over the South Pole and took part in several other flights.</p><div class="one-good-fact-module"> </div><span class="marker MOD9 mod-inline"></span> <span class="marker PREMOD10 mod-inline"></span><p class="topic-paragraph">In 1955 Byrd was made officer in charge of the United States’ Antarctic programs and became the senior authority for government Antarctic matters. In this capacity he helped supervise <span id="ref115004"></span><a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/Operation-Deep-Freeze" class="md-crosslink ">Operation Deep Freeze</a>, a major scientific and exploratory expedition sent to the Antarctic under navy <a class="md-dictionary-link md-dictionary-tt-off mw" data-term="auspices" href="https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/auspices" data-type="MW">auspices</a> as part of the program of the <a href="https://www.britannica.com/event/International-Geophysical-Year" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">International Geophysical Year</a> (1957–58). Byrd accompanied the expedition aboard the icebreaker <em>Glacier</em> and took his last exploratory flight over the South Pole on January 8, 1956.</p><span class="marker MOD10 mod-inline"></span></section> <span class="marker end-of-content"></span><span class="marker after-article"></span></div> <div id="chatbot-simplify-root"></div> <div id="chatbot-root"></div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="ai-dialog-placeholder"></div> </div> </div> <aside class="col-md-da-320"></aside> </div> </div> </div> </div> </article> </div> </div> </div> </div> </main> <div id="md-footer"></div> <noscript><iframe src="//www.googletagmanager.com/ns.html?id=GTM-5W6NC8" height="0" width="0" style="display:none;visibility:hidden"></iframe></noscript>  <script> window.ap3c = window.ap3c || {}; var ap3c = window.ap3c; ap3c.cmd = ap3c.cmd || []; ap3c.cmd.push(function() { ap3c.init('ZO4siT4cLwnykPnzZWJtd3Byb2Q', 'https://engage.email.britannica.com/'); ap3c.track({v: 0}); }); ap3c.activity = function(act) { ap3c.act = (ap3c.act || []); ap3c.act.push(act); }; var s, t; s = document.createElement('script'); s.type = 'text/javascript'; s.src = "https://engage.email.britannica.com/app.js"; t = document.getElementsByTagName('script')[0]; t.parentNode.insertBefore(s, t); </script> <script class="marketing-page-info" type="application/json"> {"pageType":"Topic","templateName":"DESKTOP","pageNumber":1,"pagesTotal":2,"pageId":87026,"pageLength":1104,"initialLoad":true,"lastPageOfScroll":false} </script> <script class="marketing-content-info" type="application/json"> [] </script> <script src="https://cdn.britannica.com/mendel-resources/3-133/js/libs/jquery-3.5.0.min.js?v=3.133.48"></script> <script type="text/javascript" data-type="Init Mendel Code Splitting"> (function() { $.ajax({ dataType: 'script', cache: true, url: 'https://cdn.britannica.com/mendel-resources/3-133/dist/topic-page.js?v=3.133.48' }); })(); </script> <script class="analytics-metadata" type="application/json"> {"leg":"C","adLeg":"C","userType":"ANONYMOUS","pageType":"Topic","pageSubtype":null,"articleTemplateType":"BIO_PAGINATED","gisted":false,"pageNumber":1,"hasSummarizeButton":false,"hasAskButton":true,"hasAiTopQuestions":false,"hasSimplifyButton":false} </script> <script type="text/javascript"> EBStat={accountId:-1,hostnameOverride:'webstats.eb.com',domain:'www.britannica.com', json:''}; </script> <script type="text/javascript"> ( function() { $.ajax( { dataType: 'script', cache: true, url: '//www.britannica.com/webstats/mendelstats.js?v=1' } ) .done( function() { try {writeStat(null,EBStat);} catch(err){} } ); })(); </script> <div id="bc-fixed-dialogue"></div> </body> </html>

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Richard E. Byrd | American Polar Explorer & Aviator | Britannica