FLIGHT OVER SOUTH POLE.

Manawatu Herald, Volume L, Issue 40034, 3 December 1929, Page 3

FLIGHT OVER SOUTH POLE.

BYRD’S WONDERFUL FEAT

On Saturday last Commander Byrd wirelessed as follows from the South Pole:

By my calculations we have reached the vicinity of the South Pole. Flying high for a survey. Aeroplane in good shape. Crew all well. Am now turning north again. Can see almost limitless Polar plateau. We departed from South Pole at 1.25 o’clock.

Byrd successfully visited the South Pole. He made complete tonlr and survey of surroundings, and turned north again, landed at ■Queen Maud Mountains, picked up extra petrol, and flew homeward to land at Little America. “All well —feeling fine” were the uniform signals from the great Ford ’plane, named Floyd (Bennett in honour of Byrd’s old friend, who accompanied him to the Nolrth Pole. Three hours following Byrd’s mess'age, dated from the South Pole, he sent a radio through to Little America : “Flying well Motor fine. AVe are over mountains now on return trip, and starting down to land.” The next bulletin stated: “Departure from mountains (i o’clock for Little America. Flying well. Motors fine.” The next bulletin was an hour later: “About 'a hundred miles north of mountains.” Another hour later “About 20 miles south of the crevasse area. Flying well. Motors lino.’ The final bulletin was: “Wo are only ten miles out. Almost ready for making a landing home again.”

Amundsen with four men and many dogs took 56 days to reach the South Pole and 39 days to rc--1 nrn. iScott was 79 days getting tj the- Pole and was 139 out and hack to the point, where be died. Byrd and bis four men went to tbe Pole and back in less than 24 hours ■in the sheltered comfort of their last aeroplane, and by radio were able to .report progress to ■, the world as they flew.