"A GREAT DAY FOR U.S. IN THE ARCTIC"

RICHARD BYRD FLIES TO NORTH POLE & IS BACK SAFELY

King's Bay, Spitzbergen, Norway (JFK+50) On May 10, 1926, The Evening Star reports that "this is a great day for the United States in the Arctic" as it marks "the successful ending of (Richard E.) Byrd*'s dangerous flight to the North Pole and return."

Commander Byrd was welcomed back by Raold Amundsen who exclaimed, "That's magnificent! Wonderful."

JFK+50 NOTE

There is a controversy as to whether or not Richard E. Byrd was the first to reach the North Pole.  His diary seems to indicate he & his pilot, Floyd Bennett came up short of the North Pole by 150 miles having to turn around due to an oil leak.

Smithsonian Magazine states that "Byrd and Bennett made a good-faith effort and they thought they did it."

Ironically, Raold Amundsen was aboard the airship Norge which made the "first verified flight over the North Pole" on May 12, 1926.

*Richard Evelyn Byrd, Jr. (1888-1957) was born in Winchester, Virginia & served in the U.S. Navy in both world wars.  REB received the Congressional Medal of Honor & The Navy Cross.

SOURCES

"A Century Ago, an Explorer and His Pilot claimed to Be the First People to Fly Over the North Pole.  Here's why Experts Doubt That Achievement," by Alice George, Smithsonian Magazine, May 8, 2026, www.smithsonianmag.com/

"Byrd Flies To Pole:  Reports No Land Or Life Over 1,500 Miles," by William Bird, The Evening Star, Washington, D.C., May 10, 1926, Chronicling America, www.loc.gov/

Richard E. Byrd, Jr.

Underwood & Underwood Photo

Library of Congress

"CITES SUN WAS ONLY 5 DEGREES ABOVE HORIZON"

CANADIAN EXPLORER CLAIMS PEARY DID NOT 'ACTUALLY' DISCOVER THE NORTH POLE

Montreal, Quebec (JFK+50) Captain J. Bernier*, Canadian Arctic explorer, has asserted that Rear Admiral Robert Peary "did not actually discover the North Pole."

Capt. Bernier claims that in April 1909, Adm. Peary "could not accurately have ascertained his position (because) the maximum height of the sun was only 5 degrees above the horizon."

As further proof, the Captain says Peary received a medal from the Royal Geographical Society of London for "his work in the Arctic," not for the discovery of the North Pole.

Capt. Bernier's assertion was quoted on April 25, 1925 in a Montreal newspaper and reported by the Associated Press on April 26, 1925.

JFK+50 NOTE

My research for an answer to the question 'Who discovered the North Pole?' shows that while Adm. Peary has long been credited with that achievement, "it is now (2025) considered unlikely that he actually reached the pole."

*Capt. Joseph Elzear Bernier (1852-1934) was born in L'Islet, Canada & became a mariner who led expeditions into the Canadian Arctic.  JEB won the RGS Back Award in 1925.

SOURCE

"Denies Peary Found North Pole In 1909," The Evening Star, Washington, D.C., April 26, 1925, Chronicling America, Library of Congress, www.loc.gov/ 

Joseph Elzear Bernier

George Grantham Bain Collection

Library of Congress