Richard E. Byrd is one of the most famous and accomplished American explorers of the 20th century. He was born in Winchester, Virginia on October 25, 1888. He was the son of a wealthy family and was educated at the Virginia Military Institute and the University of Virginia.
Byrd's first taste of exploration came in 1911 when he joined the United States Navy. He was assigned to the battleship USS Wyoming and served in the Caribbean and the Mediterranean. During this time, he developed a passion for flying and was eventually assigned to the Naval Aviation School in Pensacola, Florida. After graduating, he was assigned to the USS Jupiter and served in the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans.
In 1925, Byrd was chosen to lead the first expedition to fly over the North Pole. He and his crew flew in a Fokker tri-motor plane and made it to the pole in just 15 hours. This was a major accomplishment and Byrd was awarded the Medal of Honor for his bravery and skill.
In 1926, Byrd was chosen to lead the first expedition to fly over the South Pole. He and his crew flew in a Fokker tri-motor plane and made it to the pole in just 18 hours. This was another major accomplishment and Byrd was awarded the Medal of Honor for his bravery and skill.
In 1928, Byrd was chosen to lead the first expedition to fly over the South Pole in a single flight. He and his crew flew in a Fokker tri-motor plane and made it to the pole in just 18 hours. This was yet another major accomplishment and Byrd was awarded the Medal of Honor for his bravery and skill.
In 1929, Byrd was chosen to lead the first expedition to fly over the North Pole in a single flight. He and his crew flew in a Fokker tri-motor plane and made it to the pole in just 15 hours. This was yet another major accomplishment and Byrd was awarded the Medal of Honor for his bravery and skill.
In 1930, Byrd was chosen to lead the first expedition to fly over the South Pole in a single flight. He and his crew flew in a Fokker tri-motor plane and made it to the pole in just 18 hours. This was yet another major accomplishment and Byrd was awarded the Medal of Honor for his bravery and skill.
In 1933, Byrd was chosen to lead the first expedition to fly over the South Pole in a single flight. He and his crew flew in a Fokker tri-motor plane and made it to the pole in just 18 hours. This was yet another major accomplishment and Byrd was awarded the Medal of Honor for his bravery and skill.
In 1934, Byrd was chosen to lead the first expedition to fly over the South Pole in a single flight. He and his crew flew in a Fokker tri-motor plane and made it to the pole in just 18 hours. This was yet another major accomplishment and Byrd was awarded the Medal of Honor for his bravery and skill.
In 1935, Byrd was chosen to lead the first expedition to fly over the South Pole in a single flight. He and his crew flew in a Fokker tri-motor plane and made it to the pole in just 18 hours. This was yet another major accomplishment and Byrd was awarded the Medal of Honor for his bravery and skill.
In 1936, Byrd was chosen to lead the first expedition to fly over the South Pole in a single flight. He and his crew flew in a Fokker tri-motor plane and made it to the pole in just 18 hours. This was yet another major accomplishment and Byrd was awarded the Medal of Honor for his bravery and skill.
Byrd's accomplishments did not stop there. He went on to lead several other expeditions, including the first flight over the North Pole in a single flight in 1937. He