Byrd, Richard Evelyn

Byrd, Richard Evelyn (1888-1957), polar explorer, rear-admiral US Navy.

Byrd, piloted by Floyd Bennett, made the first flight over the North Pole on 9 May, 1926.

Piloted by Bernt Balchen, he made the first flight over the South Pole on 28-29 November, 1929.

He explored the Antarctic in 1933-34 and he was in charge of three later expeditions in 1939-41, 1946-47 and 1955-56.

Byrd planned the American Antarctic programme for the International Geophysical Year of 1957-58.

See Lisle A. Rose Explorer: The Life of Richard E. Byrd