FLIGHT TO THE POLE

Otago Witness, Issue 3773, 6 July 1926, Page 29

FLIGHT TO THE POLE

\ WASHINGTON, June 29. The special committee appointed by tha National Geographic Society to examine the records of Commander Byrd’s flight reported that it found them carefully and accurately kept and in its opinion it substantiated in every particular the claim of Commander Byrd that on May 5 ha reached the North Pole by aeroplane, thua being the first person to accomplish tha feat Dy aerial navigation. Two noted mathematicians of the United States geodetic survey and the chief cartographer of the society gave the committee expert assistance in coming to thil conclusion. All Commander Byrd's compntions were verified. His probabld arrival at the Pole was nine hours throe minutes Greenwich civil time, while his estimated time wae nine lionis two minutes, showing only an error of a minute, involving a distance of about ona mile. The report concludes: ‘‘The feat of fly. ing an aeroplane 600 milea from land and returning directly to the point aimed to* is a remarkable exhibition of skilful navigation, and shows beyond reasonable doubt that Commander Byrd knew where he waa at all times during his flight,”