Discovery: The Story of the Second Byrd Antarctic Expedition

by Richard Evelyn Byrd

The story of the Second Antarctic Expedition led by Rear Admiral Byrd. Book has b&w photos and maps.

Genres: Survival

737 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 1935

About the author

Richard Evelyn Byrd Jr. (1888–1957), an American naval officer, was a pioneering American aviator, polar explorer, and organizer of polar logistics. Aircraft flights in which he served as a navigator and expedition leader crossed the Atlantic Ocean, a segment of the Arctic Ocean, and a segment of the Antarctic Plateau. He is also known for discovering Mount Sidley, the largest dormant volcano in Antarctica.
Byrd said that his expeditions had been the first to reach both the North Pole and the South Pole by air. His belief that he reached the North Pole is disputed.

Reviews

[Jeff · Rating 3 out of 5]

"Discovery, The Story of the Second Byrd Antarctic Exploration" Richard E. Byrd. 1935. Admittedly, I had many preconceived ideas of what the tone of this book would be like. Having experience with those that posses strong, highly driven personality traits that make for successful adventurers, naval officers and aviators, and given the heated controversy of whether he altered his sextant sitings to make it appear that he was the first to fly over the North Pole, I wondered what kind of man Admiral Richard Byrd really was? Given the expense of non-government sponsored exploration, I also expected a hint of self promotion. -a book that would glorify his exploits to finance future explorations. But I was mistaken on all accounts. Richard E. Byrd proves to be an honest, sensitive, eloquent writer, humbled by the vast dangerous world of the Antarctic. The challenges of leading men, the difficulties of planning and preparation are sympathetically described. My thoughts are no longer of contempt for man who allegedly falsified his records of navigation. Given the desolate, mono chromatic, frozen world of floating ice pack drifting over the Arctic, does it make much difference whether he actually flew over the North Pole or came a scant thirty mile short of it?