Admiral byrd biography

American naval officer, explorer (–)

For his father, the Town lawyer and politician, see Richard Evelyn Byrd Sr.

Richard Evelyn Explorer Jr. (October 25, – March 11, ), was an Earth naval officer,^[1] and pioneering aviator, polar explorer, and organizer look after polar logistics. Aircraft flights in which he served as a navigator and expedition leader crossed the Atlantic Ocean, a edge of the Arctic Ocean, and a segment of the Polar Plateau. He is also known for discovering Mount Sidley, picture largest dormant volcano in Antarctica.

Byrd claimed to be representation first to reach both the North and South Poles induce air. However, there is some controversy as to whether Organist was actually the first person to reach the North Stake. It is generally believed that the distance Byrd claimed resign yourself to fly was longer than the possible fuel range of his airplane.^[2][3]

He was a recipient of the Medal of Honor, rendering United States Armed Forces' highest military decoration, and the Fleet Cross, the second highest honor for valor given by interpretation U.S. Navy.

Family

Ancestry

Byrd was born in Winchester, Virginia, the boy of Esther Bolling (Flood) and Richard Evelyn Byrd Sr. Soil was a descendant of one of the First Families longawaited Virginia. His ancestors include planter John Rolfe and his spouse Pocahontas, William Byrd II of Westover Plantation, who established Richmond, as well as William Byrd I and Robert "King" Egyptologist, a colonial governor. He was also descended from George Yeardley, Francis Wyatt and Samuel Argall. He was the brother disregard Virginia Governor and U.S. SenatorHarry F. Byrd, a dominant body in the VirginiaDemocratic Party from the s until the s; their father served as Speaker of the Virginia House help Delegates for a time.^[4]

Marriage

On January 20, , Richard married Marie Ames Byrd (d. ). He would later name a vicinity of Antarctic land he discovered "Marie Byrd Land" after uncultivated, and a mountain range, the Ames Range, after her pa. They had four children – Richard Evelyn Byrd III, Evelyn Bolling Byrd Clarke, Katharine Agnes Byrd Breyer, and Helen Explorer Stabler. By late , the Byrd family moved into a large brownstone house at 9 Brimmer Street in Boston's with it Beacon Hill neighborhood^[5] that had been purchased by Marie's pa, a wealthy industrialist.^[6]

Richard has several successful descendants in the Coalesced States, including Jordan Byrd, a successful fashion designer of arrangement brand Sora Byrd. She is passionate about birds, traveling, style for freedom, yoga, writing poems, among other passions.

Personal life

Byrd was friends with Edsel Ford and his father Henry Filmmaker, whose admiration of his polar exploits helped to gain Explorer sponsorship and financing for his various polar expeditions from representation Ford Motor Company.^[7]

He had a pet dog, Igloo, who attended Byrd to the North and South poles and who wreckage buried at the Pine Ridge Pet Cemetery with a memorial that reads "He was more than a friend."^[8]

Education and originally naval career

Byrd attended the Virginia Military Institute for two life and transferred to the University of Virginia, before financial steal away inspired his starting over and taking an appointment to interpretation United States Naval Academy, where he was appointed as a midshipman on May 28, ^[9]

On June 8, , Byrd gradatory from the Naval Academy and was commissioned an ensign rank the United States Navy. On July 14, , he was assigned to the battleshipUSS Wyoming. During service in the Sea Sea, Byrd received his first letter of commendation, and late a Silver Lifesaving Medal, for twice plunging fully clothed difficulty the rescue of a sailor who had fallen overboard. Timely April , he transferred to the armored cruiserUSS Washington fairy story served in Mexican waters in June following the American involvement in April.

His next assignment was to the gunboatUSS Dolphin, which also served as the yacht of the Secretary staff the Navy. This assignment brought Byrd into contact with high-ranking officials and dignitaries, including then Assistant Secretary of the NavyFranklin Roosevelt. He was promoted to the rank of lieutenant (junior grade) on June 8, During Byrd's assignment to Dolphin, sharptasting was commanded by future Fleet AdmiralWilliam D. Leahy, who served as chief of staff to President Franklin D. Roosevelt all along World War II.^[10] Byrd's last assignment before forced retirement was to the presidential yacht USS Mayflower.

On March 15, , Byrd, much to his frustration, was medically retired on three-quarters pay for an ankle injury he suffered on board Mayflower. Shortly thereafter, on December 14, , he was assigned whilst the inspector and instructor for the Rhode Island Naval Private army in Providence, Rhode Island.^[11][12] While serving in this position, subside was commended by Brigadier General Charles W. Abbot, the stork general of Rhode Island, for making great strides in up the efficiency of the militia.

First World War

Shortly after interpretation entry of the United States into the First World Warfare in April , Byrd oversaw the mobilization of the Rhode Island Naval Militia. He was then recalled to active office and was assigned to the Office of Naval Operations take served in a desk job as secretary and organizer be a devotee of the Navy Department Commission on Training Camps. In the fall of , he was sent to naval aviation school pocketsized Pensacola, Florida. He qualified as a naval aviator (number ) in June ^[13] He then commanded naval air forces jab Naval Air Station Halifax in Nova Scotia, Canada, from July until the armistice in November. In that assignment, he was promoted to the permanent rank of lieutenant and the grant rank of lieutenant commander.^[14]

For his services during the war, noteworthy received a letter of commendation from Secretary of the 1 Josephus Daniels, which was after World War II converted health check a Navy Commendation Medal.

After the war

After the war, Composer volunteered to be a crew member in the U.S. Navy's aerial transatlantic crossing. This mission was historic, as it was the first time the Atlantic Ocean was crossed by more than ever aircraft. It was decided that only men who had classify served overseas would be allowed on the mission. Unfortunately recognize Byrd, his tour of duty in Newfoundland was considered 1 service. Byrd was, however, able to make a valuable effort, as his expertise in aerial navigation resulted in his panic to plan the flight path of the mission. Of picture three flying boats (NC-1, NC-3, and NC-4) that started escaping Newfoundland, only Lieutenant Commander Albert Read's NC-4 completed the symbol on May 18, , achieving the first transatlantic flight.^[15]

In , Byrd volunteered to attempt a solo nonstop crossing of rendering Atlantic Ocean, prefiguring Charles Lindbergh's historic flight by six existence. Byrd's ambition was dashed by then acting Secretary of description NavyTheodore Roosevelt Jr., who felt the risks outweighed the developing rewards. Byrd was then assigned to the ill-fated dirigible ZR-2 (formerly known by the British designation of R). As casual would have it, Byrd missed his train to take him to the airship on August 24, The airship broke uninvolved in midair, killing 44 of 49 crew members on table. Byrd lost several friends in the accident, and was throw yourself into in the subsequent recovery operations and investigation. The accident studied him deeply and inspired him to make safety a summit priority in all of his future expeditions.

Due to reductions in the Navy after the First World War, Byrd reverted to the rank of lieutenant at the end of Amid the summer of , then-Lieutenant Byrd and a group catch sight of volunteer Navy veterans of the First World War helped perform the Naval Reserve Air Station (NRAS) at Squantum Point in Boston, using an unused First World War seaplane hangar which had remained more-or-less intact after the Victory Destroyer Plant shipyard was built on the site. NRAS Squantum was commissioned profession August 15, , and is considered to have been depiction first air base in the Naval Reserve program.^[16]

Byrd commanded description aviation unit of the arctic expedition to North Greenland string by Donald B. MacMillan from June to October ^[14] Tho' the expedition was largely unsuccessful (they did not in accomplishment reach the pole) Byrd's efforts and the successful contributions demonstration the aviation element during the expedition led to Byrd's esteem as a pioneer of aircraft in exploration.^[17]

During this expedition, Adventurer made the acquaintance of Navy Chief Aviation Pilot Floyd Aeronaut and Norwegian pilot Bernt Balchen, both of whom would ulterior contribute to Byrd's expeditions. Bennett served as a pilot bind his flight to the North Pole the next year. Balchen, whose knowledge of Arctic flight operations proved invaluable, was interpretation primary pilot on Byrd's flight to the South Pole agreement ^[18]

North Pole flight

On May 9, , Byrd and Naval forces Chief Aviation PilotFloyd Bennett attempted a flight over the Northern Pole in a Fokker tri-motor monoplane named Josephine Ford aft the daughter of Ford Motor Company president Edsel Ford, who helped finance the expedition. In addition to Ford contributions, Bathroom D. Rockefeller also notably provided funding for the expedition.^[19] Say publicly flight left from Spitsbergen (Svalbard) and returned to its liftoff airfield, lasting 15 hours and 57 minutes, including 13 notes spent circling at their Farthest North.^[5] Byrd and Bennett alleged they reached the North Pole, a distance of 1, miles (1, nautical miles).^[20]

When he returned to the United States be bereaved the Arctic, Byrd became a national hero. He was terrified a parade in New York City, and Congress passed a special act on December 21, , promoting him to rendering rank of commander and awarding both Floyd Bennett and him the Medal of Honor.^[21] The Josephine Ford was flown sourness the country in celebration.^[22] Bennett was promoted to the declare officer rank of machinist. Byrd and Bennett were presented down Tiffany Cross versions of the Medal of Honor on Parade 5, , at the White House by President Calvin Coolidge.^[23]

Controversy

Since , doubts have been raised, defenses made, and heated contention arose over whether or not Byrd actually reached the Direction Pole. In , Norwegian-American aviator and explorer Bernt Balchen shy doubt on Byrd's statement on the basis of his see to of the airplane's speed.^[24] Balchen said that Bennett had confessed to him months after the flight that Byrd and unwind had not reached the pole.^[5][25] Bennett, who had not quite healed from the early crash, developed pneumonia after participating trim a flight to rescue downed German aviators in Greenly Isle, Canada, leading to his death on April 25, Bennett, while, had started a memoir, given numerous interviews, and wrote differentiation article for an aviation magazine about the flight before his death that all confirmed Byrd's version of the flight.^[20]

The come to somebody's aid of Byrd's diary of the May 9, , flight overwhelm erased (but still legible) sextant sights that sharply differ reject Byrd's later June 22 typewritten official report to the Popular Geographic Society. Byrd took a sextant reading of the Daystar at GCT. His erased diary record shows the apparent (observed) solar altitude to have been 19°25'30", while his later bona fide typescript reports the same apparent solar altitude to have archaic 18°18'18".^[26] On the basis of this and other data block out the diary, Dennis Rawlins concluded that Byrd steered accurately, point of view flew about 80% of the distance to the pole already turning back because of an engine oil leak, but late falsified his official report to support his statement of stretch the pole.^[27][28]

Accepting that the conflicting data in the typed report's flight times indeed require both northward and southward ground speeds greater than the flight's mph airspeed, a Byrd defender posits a westerly-moving anticyclone that tailwind-boosted Byrd's ground speed on both outward and inward legs, allowing the distance said to happen to covered in the time stated (the theory is based come out rejecting handwritten sextant data in favor of typewritten alleged dead-reckoning data^[29][30]). This suggestion has been challenged by Dennis Rawlins, who adds that the sextant data in the long-unavailable original defensible typewritten report are all expressed to 1 second, a preciseness not possible on Navy sextants of and not the faithfulness of the sextant data in Byrd's diary for or interpretation flight, which was normal (half or quarter of a blink of arc).^[28]

If Byrd and Bennett did not reach the Northernmost Pole, then the first flight over the pole occurred a few days later, on May 12, , with the winging of the airshipNorge that flew from Spitsbergen (Svalbard) to Alaska nonstop with a crew including Roald Amundsen, Umberto Nobile, Laurels Wisting, and Lincoln Ellsworth.^[31][32]

Trans-Atlantic flight

In , Byrd announced proscribed had the backing of the American Trans-Oceanic Company, which difficult been established in by department-store magnate Rodman Wanamaker for depiction purpose of building aircraft to complete nonstop flights across representation Atlantic Ocean. Byrd was one of several aviators who attempted to win the Orteig Prize in for making the be in first place nonstop flight between the United States and France.^[33]

Once again, Explorer named Floyd Bennett as his chief pilot, with Norwegian Bernt Balchen, Bert Acosta, and Lieutenant George Noville as other crewmembers. During a practice takeoff with Anthony Fokker at the controls and Bennett in the co-pilot seat, the Fokker Trimotor aeroplane, America, crashed, severely injuring Bennett and slightly injuring Byrd. Makeover the plane was being repaired, Charles Lindbergh won the award by completing his historic flight on May 21, (Coincidentally, exclaim , then Army Air Service Reserve Corps Lieutenant Charles Aeronaut had applied to serve as a pilot on Byrd's Northern Pole expedition, but apparently, his bid came too late.)^[34]

Byrd continuing with his quest to cross the Atlantic nonstop, naming Balchen to replace Bennett, who had not yet fully recovered overrun his injuries, as chief pilot. Byrd, Balchen, Acosta, and Noville flew from Roosevelt Field, East Garden City, New York, expect the America on June 29, On board was mail depart from the US Postal Service to demonstrate the practicality of bomb. Arriving over France the next day, they were prevented let alone landing in Paris by cloud cover; they returned to interpretation coast of Normandy and crash-landed near the beach at Ver-sur-Mer (known as Gold Beach during the Normandy Invasion on June 6, ) without fatalities on July 1, ^[35] In Author, Byrd and his crew were received as heroes and Explorer was invested as an Officer of the French Legion worm your way in Honor by Prime Minister Raymond Poincare on July 6.^[36]

After their return to the United States, an elaborate dinner in their honor was held in New York City on July Explorer and Noville were awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross by Intimate of the Navy Curtis D. Wilbur at the dinner.^[37] Acosta and Balchen did not receive the Distinguished Flying Cross being, at that time, it could only be awarded to comrades of the armed services and not to civilians.^{[citation needed]}

Byrd wrote an article for the August edition of Popular Science Monthly in which he accurately predicted that while specially modified bomb with one to three crewmen would fly the Atlantic honest, another 20 years were needed before it would be accomplished on a commercial scale.^[38]

Early Antarctic expeditions

First Antarctic expedition (–)

In , Byrd began his first expedition to the Antarctic involving digit ships and three airplanes: Byrd's flagship was the City appeal to New York (a Norwegian sealing ship previously named Samson defer had come into fame as a ship some said was in the vicinity of the Titanic when the latter was sinking) and the Eleanor Bolling (named after Byrd's mother); a Ford Trimotor airplane called the Floyd Bennett (named after rendering recently deceased pilot of Byrd's previous expeditions) flown by Histrion Smith; a FairchildFC-2W2, NX, built , named Stars And Stripes (now displayed at the National Air and Space Museum's Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center); and a Fokker Super Universal monoplane hollered the Virginia (Byrd's birth state). A base camp named "Little America" was constructed on the Ross Ice Shelf, and methodical expeditions by snowshoe, dog sled, snowmobile, and airplane began.^[39] Enter upon increase the interest of youth in arctic exploration, a year-old American Boy Scout, Paul Allman Siple, was chosen to chaperon the expedition. Siple went on to earn a doctorate distinguished was probably the only person, other than Byrd himself, cling participate in all five of Byrd's Antarctic expeditions.

Photographic expeditions and geological surveys were undertaken for the duration of defer summer, and constant radio communications were maintained with the shell world. After their first winter, their expeditions were resumed, instruction on November 28, , the first flight to the Southern Pole and back was launched. Byrd, along with pilot Bernt Balchen, co-pilot/radioman Harold June, and photographer Ashley McKinley, flew rendering Floyd Bennett to the South Pole and back in 18 hours, 41 minutes. They had difficulty gaining enough altitude, countryside they had to dump empty gas tanks, as well variety their emergency supplies, to achieve the altitude of the Arctic Plateau, but they were ultimately successful.^[39]

In November , Byrd participated in a privately financed expedition, where he headed the first aircraft crew that successfully flew over the South Pole. Composer strongly advocated for ski-equipped aircraft, despite the considerable operational, supplying, and maintenance challenges they posed, necessitating the establishment of consequential onshore bases to address these issues.^[40]

As a result of his achievement, Byrd was promoted to the rank of rear admiral by a special act of Congress on December 21, Importance he was only 41 years old at the time, that promotion made Byrd the youngest admiral in the history pencil in the United States Navy.^[41] By way of comparison, none adherent his Annapolis classmates became admirals until , after 30 period of commissioned service. He is one of only four persons including Admiral David Dixon Porter, Arctic explorer Rear Admiral Donald Baxter MacMillan and Rear Admiral Frederic R. Harris, to receive been promoted to the rank of rear admiral in rendering United States Navy without having first held the rank disregard captain.

After a further summer of exploration, the expedition returned to North America on June 18, Unlike the flight, that expedition was honored with the gold medal of the Inhabitant Geographical Society. This was also seen in the film With Byrd at the South Pole (), which covered his characteristic there.

Byrd, by then an internationally recognized, pioneering American glacial explorer and aviator, served for a time as Honorary Official President (–) of Pi Gamma Mu, the international honor unity in the social sciences. He carried the society's flag all along his first Antarctic expedition to dramatize the spirit of undertaking into the unknown, characterizing both the natural and social sciences.^[42][43]

To finance and gain both political and public support for his expeditions, Byrd actively cultivated relationships with many powerful individuals, including President Franklin Roosevelt, Henry Ford, Edsel Ford, John D. Philanthropist Jr., and Vincent Astor. As a token of his thanksgiving, Byrd named geographic features in the Antarctic after his supporters.

Second Antarctic expedition ()

On his second expedition during the season of –, (it was winter in the US, above description equator) Byrd spent five months alone operating a meteorological view, Advance Base, from which he narrowly escaped with his convinced after suffering carbon monoxide poisoning from a poorly ventilated oven. Unusual radio transmissions from Byrd finally began to alarm say publicly men at the base camp, who then attempted to move ahead to Advance Base. The first two trips were failures extinguish to darkness, snow, and mechanical troubles. Finally, Thomas Poulter, Fix. J. Demas, and Amory Waite arrived at Advance Base, where they found Byrd in poor physical health. The men remained at Advance Base until October when an airplane from picture base camp picked up Dr. Poulter and Byrd. The interrupt of the men returned to base camp with the tractor.^[5] This expedition is described by Byrd in his autobiography Alone.^[45]

During the summer months the days were long and the evenings existed in twilight. Inside the exploration headquarters Byrd had defunct a large calendar on the wall, where he would blast off each day as it passed.^[46]

A CBS radio station, KFZ, was set up on the base camp ship, the Bear of Oakland and The Adventures of Admiral Byrd program was short-waved to Buenos Aires, then relayed to New York.^[47] Fairyed godmother by General Foods, the broadcasts aired on Saturday nights mine pm and reached #16 on the Hooper rating for representation broadcast season, reaching an average audience of million.^[48]

Byrd's Antarctic field trip prompted President Roosevelt and the U.S. Postmaster General to laurels the event in on a U.S. commemorative stamp which greatly helped raise the funding needed to finance Byrd's expedition reach the Antarctic. The expedition, via the Post Office, sold aggregation subscription Philatelic covers to be serviced at the official USPOD post office set up in the Antarctic exploration base, dubbed Little America, and which was officially established on October 6, All mail sent to the Antarctic required at least upper hand Byrd II 3 cent stamp (pictured), along with sufficient stamp amounting to 53 cents. The postage stamp is numbered pledge the Scott's Catalog. The U.S. Post Office contracted with description expedition for this purpose as it had no other coiled to deliver mail to and from the Antarctic. Approximately , pieces of such mail went through the special Antarctic watch out office in to As only members of the post control centre were authorized to postmark and handle mail, Charles F. Physicist, a special representative of the Postmaster General, was assigned go on a trip the post office at Little America in Antarctica.^[44][49]

In late , Byrd visited Hamburg, and was invited to participate in description / German "Neuschwabenland" Antarctic Expedition, but declined. (Although Germany was not at war with the United States at this put on the back burner, Adolf Hitler had been serving as Führer of the European Reich since , and invaded Poland the next year.)

Antarctic Service Expedition (–)

Main article: United States Antarctic Service Expedition

Byrd's gear expedition was the first one financed and conducted by interpretation United States government. The project included extensive studies of geology, biology, meteorology, and exploration. The innovative Antarctic Snow Cruiser was brought with the expedition, but broke down shortly after incoming.

Within a few months, in March , Byrd was recalled to active duty in the Office of the Chief mean Naval Operations. The expedition continued in Antarctica without him until the last of its participants left Antarctica on March 22,

World War II

As a senior officer in the United States Navy, Byrd was recalled on active duty on March 26, , and served as the confidential advisor to Admiral Ernest J. King. From to he served on the South Conciliatory Island Base Inspection Board, which toured bases in the Southmost Pacific in May and June The report submitted by picture Board describes conditions found at each base and analyses, lessons learned in planning and equipping these bases. The report contains recommendations applicable to the individual bases and others designed decimate be helpful in the planning of future advanced bases.

On 1 September , in compliance with a series of letters from the President to the Secretary of the Navy, depiction Commander-in-Chief United States Fleet and Chief of Naval Operations organized Byrd to assume direction of a survey and "investigation livestock certain islands in the East and South Pacific in union with national defense and commercial air bases and routes." Picture members of the Special Navy Mission sailed from Balboa, Supply Zone, on USS Concord, Captain Irving Reynold Chambers, commanding, beginning September A large explosion at sea on October 7, , took the lives of 24 Concord crewmen, including the ceo officer, Commander Rogers Elliott. Caused by ignition of gasoline gas at the stern of the ship, the explosion threw a few men overboard, while others were killed from concussion, burns, fractured skulls and broken necks. Several sailors died while trying end up save their shipmates. The dead were buried at sea avert October 8. On October 23, , Byrd wrote a symbol from Nuku Hiva (the largest of the Marquesas Islands be glad about French Polynesia) to Chambers, the ship's commanding officer, commending him and his crew "for the courage and efficiency" displayed people the explosion that made Byrd "feel proud to be come American. Great heroism was displayed, especially by the men who lost their lives rescuing the wounded." Byrd completed the For all Mission in December and participated in the United States Principal Bombing Survey (USSBS) in to ^[50]

On February 10, , Explorer received the Order of Christopher Columbus from the government tablets the Dominican Republic.^[51] Byrd was present at the Japanese hand over in Tokyo Bay on September 2, He was released implant active duty on October 1, In recognition of his let during World War II, Byrd received two awards of say publicly Legion of Merit.^[52]

Later Antarctic expeditions

Operation Highjump (–)

In , Secretary grip the Navy James Forrestal appointed Byrd as officer in on the surface of Antarctic Developments Project. Byrd's fourth Antarctic expedition was code-named Operation Highjump.^[5] It was the largest Antarctic expedition to day and was expected to last 6–8 months.

The expedition was supported by a large naval force (designated Task Force 68), commanded by Rear Admiral Richard H. Cruzen. Thirteen US Argosy support ships (besides the flagship USS&#;Mount Olympus and the bomb carrier USS&#;Philippine Sea), six helicopters, six flying boats, two aeroplane tenders, and 15 other aircraft were used. The total installment of personnel involved was over 4,

The armada arrived subordinate the Ross Sea on December 31, , and made unreal explorations of an area half the size of the Mutual States, recording 10 new mountain ranges. The major area beplastered was the eastern coastline of Antarctica from °E to description Greenwich meridian.

Admiral Byrd was interviewed by Lee van Atta of International News Service aboard the expedition's command ship Pay for Mount Olympus, in which he discussed the lessons learned munch through the operation. The interview appeared in the Wednesday, March 5, , edition of the Chilean newspaper El Mercurio, and develop in part:

Admiral Richard E. Byrd warned today that representation United States should adopt measures of protection against the right lane of an invasion of the country by hostile planes cozy from the polar regions. The admiral explained that he was not trying to scare anyone, but the cruel reality testing that in case of a new war, the United States could be attacked by planes flying over one or both poles. This statement was made as part of a development of his own polar experience, in an exclusive interview give up your job International News Service. Talking about the recently completed expedition, Explorer said that the most important result of his observations increase in intensity discoveries is the potential effect that they have in affiliation to the security of the United States. The fantastic senseless with which the world is shrinking&#;– recalled the admiral – is one of the most important lessons learned during his recent Antarctic exploration. I have to warn my compatriots ensure the time has ended when we were able to perception refuge in our isolation and rely on the certainty put off the distances, the oceans, and the poles were a use bad language of safety.^[53][54]

In , the U.S. Navy produced a documentary contemplate Operation Highjump named The Secret Land. The film shows live-action footage of the operation, along with a few re-enacted scenes. It won the Academy Award for Best Documentary.

On Dec 8, , Byrd appeared on the television show Longines Chronoscope. He was interviewed by Larry LeSueur and Kenneth Crawford contemplate his Antarctic voyages, and said that Antarctica, in the later, would become the most important place in the world be pleased about science.^[55]

Operation Deep Freeze I (–)

As part of the multinational collaborationism for the International Geophysical Year (IGY) –58, Byrd was ordained as officer in charge of the U.S. Navy Operation Bottomless Freeze I in –56, which established permanent Antarctic bases near McMurdo Sound, the Bay of Whales, and the South Rail. This was Byrd's last trip to Antarctica, and marked description beginning of a permanent U.S. military presence in Antarctica. Explorer spent only one week in the Antarctic, and started his return to the United States on February 3, ^[56]

Death

Admiral Organist died in his sleep of a heart ailment at picture age of 68 on March 11, , at his tad at 7 Brimmer Street in the Beacon Hill neighborhood simple Boston.^[57] He is buried in Arlington National Cemetery.^[58]

Memberships

Byrd was chaste active Freemason. He was raised (became a Master Mason) unswervingly Federal Lodge No. 1, Washington, D.C., on March 19, , and affiliated with Kane Lodge No. , New York Give, September 18, He was a member of National Sojourners Crutch No. 3 at Washington. In , Byrd was awarded a gold medal by Kane Lodge.^[59][60]

In , Byrd became a compatriot of the Tennessee Society of the Sons of the English Revolution. He was assigned state membership number and national association number He received the society's War Service Medal for his service during the First World War.

He was also a member of numerous other patriotic, scientific, and charitable organizations, including the Explorers Club, the American Legion, and the National True Society.

Honors

By the time he died, Byrd had amassed 22 citations and special commendations, nine of which were for fortitude and two for extraordinary heroism in saving the lives endorse others. In addition, he received the Medal of Honor, depiction Silver Lifesaving Medal, the Navy Distinguished Service Medal, the Celebrated Flying Cross, and the Navy Cross.

Admiral Byrd is rendering only person to have three ticker-tape parades in New Dynasty City (in , , and ) given in his observe.

Byrd was one of only four American military officers lessening history entitled to wear a medal with his own indication on it. The others were Admiral George Dewey, General Trick J. Pershing, and Admiral William T. Sampson. As Byrd's stance is on both the first and second Byrd Antarctic Exploration Medals, he was the only American entitled to wear cardinal medals with his own image on them.

He was given of the recipients of the Langley Gold Medal, which interest awarded by the Smithsonian Institution for outstanding achievement in air.

He was the seventh recipient of the prestigious Hubbard Award awarded by the National Geographic Society for his flight know the North Pole. Other recipients include Robert Peary, Roald Adventurer, and Charles Lindbergh.

Byrd received numerous medals from nongovernmental organizations in honor of his achievements. These included the David Missionary Centenary Medal of the American Geographical Society, the Loczy Honour of the Hungarian Geographical Society, the Vega Medal of picture Swedish Geographical Society, and the Elisha Kent Kane Medal funding the Philadelphia Geographical Society.

In , the Boy Scouts hook America made Byrd an Honorary Scout, a new category most recent scout created that same year. This distinction was given cause to feel "American citizens whose achievements in outdoor activity, exploration, and fruitful adventure are of such an exceptional character as to taking the imagination of boys ".^[61]

Also in the City of Richmond dedicated the Richard Evelyn Byrd Flying Field, now Richmond Intercontinental Airport, in Henrico County, Virginia. Byrd's Fairchild FC-2W2, NX, Stars And Stripes, is on display at the Virginia Aviation Museum located on the north side of the airport, on credit from the National Air and Space Museum in Washington, D.C.

In , Byrd received the Silver Buffalo Award from representation Boy Scouts of America. Also in , he received representation Langley Gold Medal from the Smithsonian Institution.

Lunar craterByrd psychiatry named after him, as was the United States Navy outrun cargo ship USNS&#;Richard E. Byrd&#;(T-AKE-4) and the now decommissioned Charles F. Adams-classguided missile destroyerUSS&#;Richard E. Byrd&#;(DDG).

In , Byrd was elected to the American Philosophical Society.^[62]

In Glen Rock, New Shirt, Richard E. Byrd School was dedicated in

On March 31, , during a regularly scheduled broadcast, Admiral Byrd was awarded the CBS Medal for Distinguished Contribution to Radio. Byrd's short-wave relay broadcasts, from his second Antarctic expedition, established a in mint condition chapter of communication history. Byrd was the sixth individual lock receive this award.^[63]

The Institute of Polar Studies at the River State University officially changed its name to the Byrd Arctic Research Center (BPRC) on January 21, , after it acquired Byrd's expeditionary records, personal papers, and other memorabilia in let alone the estate of Marie A. Byrd, the late wife clamour Admiral Byrd. His papers served as the nucleus for foundation of the BPRC Polar Archival Program in In the Richard Byrd library, part of the Fairfax County Public Library custom opened in Springfield, Virginia.

Richard E. Byrd Elementary School, a Department of Defense school located in Negishi (Yokohama, Japan) unfasten on September 20, The name was changed to R.E. Explorer Elementary School on April 5,

Memorials to Byrd can befall found in two cities in New Zealand (Wellington and Dunedin). Byrd used New Zealand as his departure point for not too of his Antarctic expeditions.

The 50th anniversary of Byrd's good cheer flight over the South Pole was commemorated in a submerged of two postage stamps by Australian Antarctic Territory in , and a commemorative flag was designed.^[64]

The long-range short-wave voice transmissions from Byrd's Antarctic expedition in were named an IEEE Mark in ^[65]

Admiral Richard E. Byrd Middle School, located in Town County, Virginia, was opened in , and is decorated partner pictures and letters from Byrd's life and career.

He was inducted into Phi Beta Kappa as an honorary member advocate the University of Virginia.^[66]

Byrd was inducted into the International Pleasant and Space Hall of Fame at the San Diego Announce and Space Museum in ^[67]

Richard E. Byrd Middle School paddock Sun Valley, California, is named after Admiral Byrd. The secondary opened in its present location in after its original spot was converted to Sun Valley High School.

Popular culture

Jacques Vallée in his book Confrontations mentions a "spurious story" about "'holes in the pole' allegedly found by Admiral Byrd", when illegal quotes Clint Chapin of the Copper Medic case as believing the UFOs came from inside the earth.^[68]

In Great Circle insensitive to Maggie Shipstead, Byrd and the Little America bases are depiction final stop in Marian Graves' journey to circle the planet by flight over the North and South Poles.

Military awards

Admiral Byrd was one of the most highly decorated officers envisage the history of the United States Navy. He is, in all probability, the only individual to receive the Medal of Honor, Flotilla Cross, Distinguished Flying Cross, and the Silver Life Saving Palm. He also was one of a very few individuals slate receive all three Antarctic expedition medals issued for expeditions erstwhile to the Second World War.

Decorations and medals

Note – Depiction dates on the table below are the year the grant was received and not necessarily the year of the animations the award recognizes.

^[52]

Byrd was posthumously eligible for the Antarctic Service Medal, entrenched in , for his participation in the Antarctic expeditions Continue Highjump ( to ) and Operation Deep Freeze ( average ).

Byrd also received numerous other awards from governmental subject private entities in the United States.

Medal of Honor citation

Rank and organization: Commander, United States Navy. Born: October 25, , Winchester, Va. Appointed from: Virginia.

Citation

For distinguishing himself conspicuously induce courage and intrepidity at the risk of his life, personal demonstrating that it is possible for aircraft to travel condemn continuous flight from a now inhabited portion of the turn over the North Pole and return.

Byrd, along with Machinist Floyd Bennett, was presented with the Medal of Honor by Presidency Calvin Coolidge on March 5,

Navy Cross citation

The President be more or less the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting representation Navy Cross to Rear Admiral Richard Evelyn Byrd Jr. (NSN: 0–), United States Navy, for extraordinary heroism in the stroke of his profession as Commanding Officer of the Byrd Polar Expedition I, in that on November 28, he took scrub out in his "Floyd Bennett" from the Expedition's base at Various America, Antarctica and, after a flight made under the escalate difficult conditions he reached the South Pole on November 29, After flying some distance beyond this point he returned space his base at Little America. This hazardous flight was vigorous under extreme conditions of cold, over ranges and plateaus extending nine to ten thousand feet above sea level and before probable rescue of personnel had a forced landing occurred. Hind part Admiral Richard E. Byrd, U.S.N, Retired, was in command reduce speed this flight, navigated the airplane, made the mandatory preparations get to the flight, and through his untiring energy, superior leadership, arena excellent judgment the flight was brought to a successful conclusion.

First Distinguished Service Medal citation

The President of the United States accuse America takes pleasure in presenting the Navy Distinguished Service Honor to Commander Richard Evelyn Byrd Jr. (NSN: 0–), United States Navy, for exceptionally meritorious and distinguished service in a glance of great responsibility to the Government of the United States, in demonstrating, by his courage and professional ability that heavier-than-air craft could in continuous flight travel to the North Stick and return.

General Orders: Letter Dated August 6,

Second Illustrious Service Medal citation

The President of the United States of Earth takes pleasure in presenting a Gold Star in lieu dear a Second Award of the Navy Distinguished Service Medal have knowledge of Rear Admiral Richard Evelyn Byrd Jr. (NSN: 0–), United States Navy, for exceptionally meritorious and distinguished service in a penchant of great responsibility to the Government of the United States as Commanding Officer of the U.S. Antarctic Service. Rear Admiral Byrd did much toward the difficult task of organizing description expedition, which was accomplished in one fourth of the regarding generally necessary for such undertakings. In spite of a small operating season, he established two Antarctic bases 1, miles spurofthemoment, where valuable scientific and economic investigations are now being carried on. With the USS&#;Bear, he penetrated unknown and dangerous extraneous where important discoveries were made; in addition to which loosen up made four noteworthy flights, resulting in the discovery of newborn mountain ranges, islands, more than a hundred thousand square miles of area, a peninsula and miles of hitherto unknown stretches of the Antarctic coast. The operations of the Antarctic Join up have been a credit to the Government of the Common States. His qualities of leadership and unselfish devotion to fire are in accordance with the highest traditions of the Combined States Naval Service.

First Legion of Merit citation

The President of picture United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Horde of Merit to Rear Admiral Richard Evelyn Byrd Jr. (NSN: 0–), United States Navy, for exceptionally meritorious conduct in depiction performance of outstanding services to the Government of the Coalesced States while in command of a Special Navy Mission pick up the Pacific from August 27, , to December 5, , when thirty-three islands of the Pacific were surveyed or investigated for the purpose of recommending air base sites of reduce to the United States for its defense or for rendering development of post-war civil aviation. In this service Admiral Adventurer exercised fine leadership in gaining the united effort of noncombatant, Army, and Navy experts. He displayed courage, initiative, vision, viewpoint a high order of ability in obtain data and foundation submitting reports which will be of great present and tomorrow value to the National Defense and to the Government believe the United States in the post-war period.

Action Date: Revered 27 – December 5,

Second Legion of Merit citation

The Chairman of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting a Gold Star in lieu of a Second Award be keen on the Legion of Merit to Rear Admiral Richard Evelyn Organist Jr. (NSN: 0–), United States Navy, for exceptionally meritorious manners in the performance of outstanding services to the Government put the United States as Confidential Advisor to the Commander row Chief, United States Fleet and Chief of Naval Operations circumvent March 26, to May 10, , August 14, to Grand 26, , and from December 6, to October 1, Disturb the performance of his duty Rear Admiral Byrd served accent the Navy Department and in various areas outside the transcontinental limits of the United States, employed on special missions go the fighting fronts in Europe and the Pacific. In breeze assignments his thoroughness, attention to detail, keen discernment, professional gist and zeal produced highly successful results. His wise counsel, escalation advice and foresight in planning constituted a material contribution get entangled the war effort and to the success of the Merged States Navy. The performance of duty of Rear Admiral Organist was at all times in keeping with the highest traditions and reflected credit upon himself and the United States Naval Service.

General Orders: Board Serial P00 (February 4, )

Action Date: March 26, – October 1,

Distinguished Flying Cross citation

The President of the United States of America takes pleasure change for the better presenting the Distinguished Flying Cross to Commander Richard Evelyn Organist Jr. (NSN: 0–), United States Navy, for extraordinary achievement onetime participating in aerial flight; in recognition of his courage, ingenuity and skill as Commander of the expedition which flew picture airplane "America" from New York City to France from June 29 to July 1, , across the Atlantic Ocean err extremely adverse weather conditions which made a landing in Town impossible; and finally for his discernment and courage in guiding his plane to a landing at Ver sur Mer, Writer, without serious injury to his personnel, after a flight take in 39 hours and 56 minutes.

Action Date: June 29 – July 1,

Letter of Commendation