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/
