Richard E. Byrd | |
|---|---|
 Byrd in 1928 | |
| Birth name | Richard Evelyn Byrd 4th |
| Born | October 25, 1888 Winchester, Virginia, U.S. |
| Died | March 11, 1957 (aged 68) Boston, Massachusetts, U.S. |
| Place of burial | |
| Allegiance | United States |
| Service | United States Navy |
| Years of service | 1912–1927 1940–1947 |
| Rank | Rear Admiral |
| Battles / wars | World War I World War II |
| Awards | |
| Spouse(s) |
Marie Ames Byrd (m. 1915) |
Richard Evelyn Byrd Jr. (October 25, 1888 – March 11, 1957), an American naval officer,[1] was a pioneering American aviator, polar explorer, and organizer of polar logistics. Aircraft flights in which he served as a navigator and expedition leader crossed the Atlantic Ocean, a segment of the Arctic Ocean, and a segment of the Antarctic Plateau. He is also known for discovering Mount Sidley, the largest dormant volcano in Antarctica.
Byrd claimed to be the first to reach both the North and South Poles by air. However, there is some controversy as to whether or not Byrd was actually the first person to reach the North Pole. It is generally believed that the distance Byrd claimed to fly was longer than the possible fuel range of his airplane.[2][3]
He was a recipient of the Medal of Honor, the United States Armed Forces' highest military decoration, and the Navy Cross, the second highest honor for valor given by the U.S. Navy.
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As for Byrd, the controversy over his flight [over the North Pole] was to come in the following years, when the true distance he claimed to have flown was calculated to have been unrealistically far for that type of airplane and that duration of flight.
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