The early 20th century marked a significant era in the history of aviation, with pioneers like Richard E. Byrd and Roald Amundsen expanding the boundaries of exploration through flight. This period witnessed the development of more reliable and longer-range aircraft, paving the way for groundbreaking achievements in aviation.
One of the most notable figures was American naval officer and explorer Richard Byrd. On May 9, 1926, he and fellow pilot Floyd Bennett claimed to have flown over the North Pole, taking off from Svalbard and making critical sextant measurements around the pole before their return. This feat, however, is subject to historical debate regarding whether Byrd or Amundsen, who flew over the pole in a dirigible just days later, was the first to precisely reach the North Pole.
Byrd’s contributions to aviation exploration didn’t stop there. Although he lost the race to Charles Lindbergh for the first solo transatlantic flight in 1927, he led numerous U.S. Navy expeditions for Antarctic exploration and mapping between 1928 and 1956. These included the first flight over the South Pole in 1929 and extensive surveys of Antarctica, revealing previously undiscovered mountain ranges. Byrd’s efforts culminated in the establishment of permanent Antarctic bases, signaling the start of a sustained scientific presence in Antarctica.
