Richard E. Byrd

Rear Admiral Richard Evelyn Byrd, USN (October 25, 1888 – March 11, 1957) was an pioneering American polar explorer and famous aviator.

Byrd's later Antarctic expeditions

Byrd undertook three more expeditions to the South Pole from 1933–35, 1939–41 and 1946–47.

Related Topics:
1933 - 35 - 1939 - 41 - 1946 - 47

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On the first, in 1934, he spent five winter months alone operating a meteorological station, Advance Base, from which he narrowly escaped with his life after suffering carbon monoxide poisoning from a poorly-ventilated stove. Unusual radio transmissions from Byrd finally began to alarm the men at the base camp, who then attempted to go to Advance Base. The first two trips were a failure due to darkness, snow, and mechanical troubles. Finally, Dr. Thomas Poulter, E.J. Demas and Amory Waite arrived at advanced base, where they found Byrd in poor physical health. The men remained at advanced base until October 12 when an airplane from the base camp picked up Dr. Poulter and Byrd. The rest of the men returned to base camp with the tractor.

Related Topics:
1934 - Meteorological - Carbon monoxide - Dr. Thomas Poulter - E.J. Demas - Amory Waite

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The third culminating expedition, Operation Highjump, was the largest Antarctic expedition to date.

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Byrd also commanded Operation Deep Freeze, which established permanent Antarctic bases at McMurdo Sound, the Bay of Whales and the South Pole in 1955, accompanied by Andrew Van Mincey, for whom Mincey Glacier is named.

Related Topics:
Operation Deep Freeze - McMurdo Sound - Bay of Whales - South Pole - 1955 - Andrew Van Mincey - Mincey Glacier

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