After the war Balchen played a major role in the development of the Scandinavian Airlines System. In 1949 he piloted the first flight from Alaska across the North Pole to Norway, which made him the first to pilot an aircraft over both the North and South Poles. After retiring from the USAF in 1956, Balchen continued to serve the Air Force on special assignments and aviation and energy industries as a consultant until his death on October 17, 1973. Bernt Balchen was awarded the Harmon Trophy for his arctic achievements. He is a knight of the Order of St. Olav, and in 1976 he was inducted into the International Aerospace Hall of Fame.
Today goes fast and tomorrow is almost here.
Maybe I have helped a little in the change. So I go on to the next adventure looking to the future but always remembering my teammates and the lonely places I have seen that no other man saw before. D.C. All Rights Reserved.