On May 9, 1926, Byrd acting as navigator and Floyd Bennett as pilot made what they claimed was the first flight over the North Pole. However, the feat was engulfed in controversy that lasted for decades. In contrast, his flight to the South Pole was a complete triumph.

In the domain of polar exploration, one name—Richard Byrd—towers above all others. Byrd’s major achievement was to use the aircraft, radio, camera, and other modern devices to assist the polar quest. He made full use of ski-planes, ship-based seaplanes, and even helicopters for transport, reconnaissance, mapping and aerial photography missions during his five Antarctic expeditions.

Born into an eminent family in Winchester, Virginia, USA, on October 25, 1888, at age 13, Richard Evelyn Byrd was sent on a trip around the world—alone. This fired in him a lifelong thirst for discovery and adventure. At 20, he joined the US Naval Academy, learnt flying and subsequently became a flying instructor. After World War I, he worked on improving aerial navigation over the sea, when neither land nor horizon is visible. This proved invaluable in tackling ‘white out’ (when sky and snow are of almost the same whiteness, hence distinguishing a horizon becomes near impossible) during his later polar expeditions. Byrd also developed a ‘bubble’ sextant and a drift indicator.

In 1925, Byrd commanded a naval flying unit that assisted an American expedition to the Arctic. This probably inspired him to make a private attempt at flying over the North Pole. On May 9, 1926, Byrd acting as navigator and Floyd Bennett as pilot made what they claimed was the first flight over the North Pole. They took off from Spits Bergen, Norway; in a tri-motor Fokker named Josephine Ford. Several hours later, they circled the North Pole. An engine oil leak threatened their return but they made it safely back, totalling 15 hours and 57 minutes in flight. They were awarded the US Congressional Medal of Honour and acclaimed as national heroes. However, almost immediately, the feat was engulfed in controversy that lasted for decades. Part of it can be ascribed to jealous rivals in the race to the North Pole. However, of more consequence is the argument that the speed of their aircraft made it physically incapable of reaching the North Pole and returning in the time flown. Further, entries in Byrd’s flight diary, discovered only in 1996, seem to indicate that the aircraft had been perhaps 240 km from the North Pole at the closest. Passionate Byrd supporters say strong tail winds could have assisted the flight and insist Byrd may well have reached the North Pole “within the instrument error uncertainty” of his era.

In contrast, Byrd’s flight to the South Pole was a complete triumph. At 1529 hours on November 28, 1929, Byrd and three companions took off from their Antarctica base, Little America, on the historic first-flight. The heavily loaded Floyd Bennett proceeded to climb towards the Pole. By 2115 hours they had climbed to 9,000 ft but were still 2,000 ft too low to attain the Polar Plateau. As the plane struggled to gain the necessary altitude they dumped excess supplies and equipment. Finally, they succeeded. Observations over the plateau showed them just 50 miles from the Pole. Shortly after midnight on November 29, the Floyd Bennett flew over the South Pole. They continued a few miles beyond the Pole and then to the right and left to compensate for any possible navigational errors. Byrd dropped a small American flag, and then commenced the return. They landed at Little America at 1010 hours on November 29—having covered a distance of 1,560 miles, in 18 hours and 41 minutes. When Byrd returned to the US in 1930, he was conferred additional honours and awards, including promotion to the rank of Rear Admiral.