|
|
November 29, 2004 marks the 75th Anniversary of Richard E. Byrd’s
historical flight over the South Pole. This was the first time that flight over
the Pole had been attempted, and up to this point in time, only two parties had
ever reached the South Pole – and only one survived the trip back. But Byrd was
buoyed from his successes of the North Pole Flight in 1926 and his Transatlantic
Flight in 1927. Antarctica was the next logical achievement. Byrd consulted
with Roald Amundsen, his former rival for the North Pole and the first to
achieve the South Pole on foot. Amundsen gave sound advice: “take a good
plane, take plenty of dogs, and only the best men.” Indeed, Byrd took his
advice, and then some. This was to be the largest and the costliest expedition
in the history of the exploration of Antarctica to that time, with costs
ultimately reaching more than 1 million dollars. Richard Byrd proved himself as
the ultimate organizer, publicist and leader.
Byrd outlined three major goals for this expedition, the first of five trips
that he would eventually make to Antarctica. The first goal was to add to the
scientific knowledge of Antarctica, especially in areas of meteorology, as well
as geography, geology and geomagnetism. A second goal was to explore the
interior of Antarctica, especially areas around Amundsen’s route to the South
Pole. The third goal and certainly the most daring, was to fly over the South
Pole. In the thirteen months spent on the Antarctic continent, the Byrd
expedition accomplished all of its objectives, and more.
|
