SOUTH POLE CROSSED.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20427, 2 December 1929, Page 11

SOUTH POLE CROSSED.

geeat aerial feat.

FLIGHT OF 19 HOURS.

STRUGGLE WITH ELEMENTS

EXCITING STORY BY BYRD.

[DOUBLE POLAR TRIUMPH.

NEW YORK, Nor. 30. f/Tir Mr Russell Owen, Copyrighted IMS by the* New York Times Company nnd the S Louis Post Dispatch. All rights for " rnbliration reserved throughout the ■rorid Wireless to the New lorli Times.)

(Received December 1, 5.5 p.m.)

BAY OF WHALES. Nov. 80.

Commander Byrd, who bad already [flown over the North Pole, has now (flown over tho South Pole. His aeroplane returned to the base camp at 10.10 p.m. yesterday. It had been gone (exactly 19 hours, of which ono hour was ppent at the mountain, base in refuelling.

As Commander Byrd stepped from his Aeroplane he was swept up on the arms £f the men in/camp, who for moro than hn hour had been anxiously watching the southern horizon for a sight of tho returning machine. • Although deaf from it he roar of tho motors and tired from the continual strain of the flight and the Jong period of navigation under difficulties, Byrd was still smiling and happy. [He had reached the South Tole after as (hazardous and difficult a flight as had £ver been made. The machine was jtossed by gusts of wind when climbing jdesperately up the slopes of glaciers a tfew hundred, feet above the surface of jthe groundc

His companions tumbled out stiff and Hveary, but so happy that they forgot jthcir cramped muscles. They were also (tossed aloft and slapped on the back and jrarried to the, entrance of the mess hall. [Bernt Baichen, the pilot, who first met DByrd in Spitsbergen, and who was with liim on his transatlantic flight, came out jfiist. Then came Harold June, and after him Captain McKinley was lifted from the doorway, beaming because his purveying' camera had done its work all it he way. Aeroplane in Dangerous Place.

"When the aeroplane approached the {mountains en. route south, Byrd picked jput Livs Glacier, somewhat west oi Axel jHeiberg Glacier, as the best passageway. High mountains shut them in all ground as they forced their way upward. tßalchen conserved tho fuel to the utmost, (coaxing his engines, picking up currents jot air as best ho could, to help the aeroplane upward. Clouds swirled about I hem, driven down the glacier drift, at was a wicked place for an airplane jto be, walled in by a line of towering (peaks on either side.

"It is an awful looking place," said (Byrd. They finally reached an elevation bf 11,500 ft., and there was little space under the staggering aeroplane, ■ which {v. as 'buffeted by winds that rushed ithrough the gigantic gorge. Once at the jtop, Baichen could level off for a time, (and then gain an altitude. Then there jcame into view slowly the long range jof the Queen Maud Mountains, stretching jto the south-east, and the magnificent panorama ,of the entire bulwark of jnountains along the edge of the polar plateau. "It was the most magnificent sight 3 have ever seen," said Byrd. " I never idreamed there were so many mountains 5n the world. They shone under the eun, wonderfully tinted with colour, and 5n the south-east a bank of clouds hung over the mountains, making a scene I phall never forget." Course Set lor the Pole. When over' the plateau the commander pet his course for the Pole. They had a beam wind all the way into the mountains .until they were over the edge of the plateau. They had used a lot of petrol and there was some doubt whether there was enough to get back, but Byrd determined to go on. If they had a favourable wind roming back, they yould be all right. If as much time ;vvere consumed coming in as going out, they would run out of petrol. He took (the chance and won. Flying o%'er the plateau, with long, sweeping slopes leading up to the mountains, with the wind drifting the snow down from them along the surface, 5t was very difficult to estimate the drift of the machine, but by constant attention to the drift-meter Byrd was able to get enough sights on the surface below to keep the aeroplane on its course, and to correct the inevitable tendency in all long-distance flights to swing to one sid«> or the other. New Range of Mountains Seen.

Between tiie mountains and the Pole st one point he saw a new range of mountains, apparently between trails followed by Amundsen and Scott. But the mountains far to tho west, a continuation of the range running up the western side of tho Barrier, were, as Byrd describes them, simply magnificent. Every one rather hoped that mountains would bo seen at tho other side of the Fole from Little America, but there was nothing in eight there.

When Byrd's calculations showed that he had reached the vicinity of the Pole he ran along a line at an angle to his course, then swung in a wide circle, as he did at the North Pole, to make sure of corning within striking distance, of that infinite small spot on the earth's surface, ftorne time was spent in that manoeuvre. Then the aeroplane was again set on a course for Little America. The accuracy of the navigation was Strikingly 'shown on this part of the flight, as it was necessary to navigate for the entire distance home. By means of the sun compass the commander hit the 'Axel Heilherg Glacier, exactly, and slid down that to the Barrier. To understand what that means, ono must try to realise being in a vast plane nearly 400 miles from the place where the mountains were entered, with the encircling rim cf majestic peaks, all looking different from the south'side from what they had on the way in. Amundsen remarked on this vastly different aspect of his return journey. But the course as laid brought the aeroplane flying high over the plateau to the mouth of the Axel Heilberg Glacier, and Balchen kept a good elevation on the way down.

Even so, it was a rough ride, for in the narrow gorge this glacier, which Amundsen ascended on his way to the Pole, the wind tossed the machine around like a cork in a wash tub. High peaks were sticking up all around them. It was the hardest part of the trip from a flying point of view. When the Barrier was reached the aeroplane was headed for the base laid down on the previous flight, and the landing there was made at five o'clock this morning. June landed tho aeroplano there, • as ho had been in her on tho previous; flight, and also took off and made a splendid job of it. More petrol was put in the tanks, arid when in the air again Byrd headed to the east, toward Carmen Land. What they had seen there on the previous flight had interested him, and his interest was repaid. 110 not only traced out more definitely the course of tho Charles Bob Mountains, but also saw another range, far to the east. Anxiety at Little America.

The camp was out of touch with tho airmen some timo after the Polo was reached, although signals from the locked radio key came in, and showed it was on tho air. Tho men had waited up all night in the mess hall, clustering about the radio room to get the news of the progress of the flight. As reports indicated the slow time the aeroplane was making on her way in, there was somo anxiety, and tho mechanics chocked and rechecked figures to estimate tho amount of flying time they had with' tho petrol in the tanks when they left, and what ground speed the aeroplano was making. There was somo gloom as slow progress inland was recorded, and then as a long interval camo between messages before the Pole was reached, every ono wondered what was keeping Juno so busy. Finally camo tho messago that the machine was in tho vicinity of tho Pole, and there was a sigh of relief and the men lay down on their bunks and tried to get a little sleep. Good Weather for Landing.

There was a pleasant omen in tho weather, however. It was somewhat overcast in the north when the aeroplane took off, but afterwards conditions steadily grew better, and there was a dead calm at Little America and a clear sky, with only <1 thin .line of sea smoke to the north over the sea. Better landing conditions could not have been asked for. In the meantime the aeroplane had taken off at the mountains on the return, and Byrd flew east for a time. Then ho set a course for Little America, and, in addition to navigating all the way, he flew the machine himself for some time.

By starting so far east of the course for camp he placed himself out of reach of any aid from the flags laid down by the geological and supporting parties, and the dog team trail. There was a constant tendency to fly to the east, but Byrd was sure that his course lay further west, and held on in that direction. He hit the trail about 40 miles south of Little America, on a direct course for camp, and word was sent in that they would arrive in ji short time. Eveiybodj here tumbled out of the houses, and clustered on tho snow near the Fairchild machine, where two deep trenches marked tho resting places of the Floyd Bennetts skis. They watched the horizon, and after what seemed to be hours a thin line appeared in the southern sky, and grew rapidly, flying high and then sliding down rapidiy to a few hundred feet over the camp. Jubilation, oil Safe Return.

The men waved their hats and cheered, jumping up and down and yelling with joy. The machine crossed the camp at eight minutes past ten, and two minutes later made a wide circle over the bay, and landed. One of the most difficult flights in the history of aviation had ended, and the conquest of both Poles by air had been accomplished. The adventurous thought born in the mind of the young Virginian several years ago had been fulfilled. The Atlantic had been spanned, and the North and South Poles encircled by aeroplanes. The flight was one of thp most dramatic, as well as efficient, long-distance flights ever made. As incidents recalled by the four men who made the trip show, it seems miraculous that everything went so well. The weather, which had favoured them, turned into a storm a few hours after their return. The way in which the aeroplane with its heavy load was rushed over tho hump at the top of the plateau, the smooth running of the motors under most severe conditions, and all the signs make it seem more remarkable as the story is told. There never was a busier air crew. One gets an impression of continuous and strained activity from their stories. Byid was moving about taking sights and observations from all parts of the machine, conferring with others on the petrol consumption, and the routes through the mountains, and making notes. June and McKinley juggled with petrol cans and cameras, crawling over a mass of supplies in the middle of tho fuselage. Baichen sat for hours in the cockpit at the controls, and was relieved occasionally, so that'he could stretch and handle petrol cans and tanks as a break in the monotony. Both McKinley and June were still stiff and sore to-day, after a good night's sleep. "I feel as though I had been run over by a steamroller," laughed June as he got. up. Decision as to Route.

The flight out to the mountains was without incident, and after passing the geological party, where .mail and food for them were dropped, the aeroplane started climbing. It had about 8000 ft. of altitude as the mountains were reached. There came the first important decision as to what route to take. The Axel Heiberg Glacier was Amundsen's route, but Byrd thought Livs Glacier, named after Sir Fridtjof Nansen's daughter, seemed the beHer path. Even that was a gamble, for although it could bo seen that there was some sort of opening at the top, it was impossible to tell at just what height it touched the plateau. To get into a narrow gorge, where the mountains would close in and the aeioplano could riot turn with a glacier in front too high for a heavy aeroplane to climb over, v.'ould have been disastrous. When they were at an elevation of 10,000 ft., it was seen that the aeroplane could not get over the mountain with its load. "Balchen told me he had to get rid of' something," said the commander, ''so I decided to dump food, as petrol was too precious, and 2801b. of food was thrown through the hatch in the bottom of the fuselage to the glacier 500 ft. below. We had just passed over a steep precipice in the glacier and ahead loomed another steep rampart of ice. "Balchen had been dodging from one side to the other, to get favourable upward currents, and when, the food was dumped June began to empty petrol from tins into the fuselage tank, and to throw the tins overboard, to get rid of their

weight. The machine was winding from one sida of the gorge to the other, stretching across the 10-mile approach ahead as much as possible, to help in the stiff climb upward. When he was not handling cans June was making moving pictures. We were tossing in violent gusts, and up and down currents. The walls of the canyon spun past, and occasional views of mighty peaks on either side were seen through breaks in tho rampart around them." Byrd said the walls of stone were closing in around them, and the aeroplane laboured upward. Ahead a fringe of clouds lay over the edge of the plateau where the glacier ended. On one side a little knoll stood above them, on the east was the higher slope of the mountain, ending in a cloud below, but far above them. Critical Moment Beached. Everything hinged on those next few minutes. There was no room to turn, no assurance that there was a gap where that fringo of cloud lay, and tho machine was staggering at its maximum ceiling with the load it then carried. It moved along sluggishly. Perhaps it would make tho grade with 200 or 300 feet to spare. Balchen headed for the knoll to the west, in hope that an up-current there would help them over, while Byrd beside him stared ahead, and at the sides, and listened to tho smoothly running motors. If one of them had stopped— Then, even as they watched, a tiny hole over the cloud and tho surface of the glacier could bo seen. Tho machine could just mako it. With its final effort "it just ballooned over," as Balchen put it. He shook his head and smiled at the recollection of that moment. But tho end of that long effort of maximum height was not yet over, for flying at 11,500 ft. or 12,000 ft., with tho plateau stretching flat under them, and only a short distance below, thoy still had to "flop along." Juno was still emptying petrol and taking movies, and McKinley carried his big camera, weighing 501b., back and forth. Their movement made flying more difficult, for with every change in distribution of* weight at that height tho stabiliser had to bo adjusted, and it was stiff from the cold. Men Affected by Fumes.

Baichen was driving with one hand and pumping with the other alternately. Others began to feel the effects of their rapid ijiovements at such an altitude, and the emptying of the petrol tanks made fumes in the cabin, which were almost overpowering. Perspiration streamed off them. (| "I could feel my heart pumping away, ' said Byrd, "and was gasping for breath and wondered what was the matter with me, until I looked at June and saw him with his mouth wide open, gulping for

air. "It was warm in the aeroplane all the time, so warm that Baichen flew with bare hands for the entire trip, and the others only put on their gloves when they worked near an open window." The plateau stretching ahead was covered in spots by drift snow, and in the south-east, and for a time in the south, clouds hung on the horizon. Again things did not look so good. If the weather changed too soon—and it undoubtedly was changing—they were again out of luck. June relieved Baichen at the controls and Baichen dumped seven more cans of petrol into the fuselage tank, so that it could be pumped to tho wings or dumped if necessary. Ahead was still another hump, which had to be crossed, although the machine was holding its altitude, and even climbing a little After the machine had been refuelled at the laid base, which took about an hour, they took off again and it easily with the light load and the wind to help them. From the "base on the flight was comparatively easy, although Byrd had to navigate all the way. They went somewhat to tho east and when they came back did not see the dog trail at all. They first hit it at the crevasses, about 160 miles out, making a perfect landfall there, and then following a compass course, for the trail was completely invisible at this time. They came straight on to tho camp. The commander flew part oT the way, and McKinley also took the controls. On the latter part of the flight they did not see a landmark until a few miles from the camp. Then they sighted the radio towers dead ahead. PKAISE IN NEWSPAPERS. BYRD'S MESSAGE TO MOTHER. FAMILY RELIEVED AT SAFETY. (Received December 1, 5.0 p.m.) NEW YORK, Nov. 30, Congratulations and praise for their feat of aviation are being heaped upon Commander By id and his associates for their South Pole flight. Commander Byrd sent a radio message to his mother, Mrs. Richard E. Byrd, senior, in Winchester, Virginia, in which he said: "Wo are back, after a fine flight. It was full of thrills." Mrs. Byrd said, " Dick sent a Ihanksgiving Day message immediately before his departure, and tho entire family has waited, worried, but confident, until the news of his safe return c<ime. Tho President, Mr. Hoover, has sent a wireless message of congratulation to Commander Byrd. CONFIDENCE OP WIFE. KNEW HE WOULD SUCCEED. RETICENCE OF MRS. BYRD. (Received December 1, 5.5 p.m.) BOSTON. Nov. 30. When Mrs. Byrd, whoso husband, Commander Byrd, has flown over the South Pole, was requested to comment on tho flight. She refused to say moro than that she had been confident of his success.