Evening star., 1925-04-10
BYRD PICKS THREE
MACMILLAN AIDES
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ing the s,000-mle trip of the Rich
mond Bennett rendered much service
to the Army flyers, especially at Lab
rador- All three mechanics are quail
fed naval airplane pilots.
shipped Without Wings.
Comdr. Byrd today said their du-
ties would be primarily to keep the
motors OF the planes in prime con-
dftion and TO rig up the planes for
flight. The airplaneS, now under con-
struction at the Looming aircraft fac
tory in New York City. will be flown
to Wiscasset, Me, where they will be
hoisted aboard the 1So-foot New
foundland ship of MacMillan's for the
journey to the Arctic. 1t is planned
to remove only the wings of the two
amphibians and when Etah is reached
to rig them up for fight
Macmillan in Command.
Preliminary organization of the en-
| tire expedition was effected Wednesday
afternoon at a conference between
Secretary Wilbur and those interested
| in the project. 1t was decided the
naval section will operate as a spe-
| cial unit and be at all times under
| the authority OF the Secretary of the
Savy. II was further agreed that
| when orders are issued they shall
provide that Lieut.. Comdr. Byrd and
his contingent shall report to Mac
MILAN, who will be first in command.
Lieut.. Comdr. Byrd will be third in
command, and a second in command
is yet to be selected. The person to
rank second to Macmillan will IL is
| understood, have duties concerning
| only the surface ship angle Of the
| trip.
Arrangements also were made be-
tween the Navy and the Geographic
| Society for the distribution of news
/ of the expedition after 1t is under
way. 1t was agreed that the Geo
graphic Society should furnish the
press with all details of the scien-
! tific explorations of ships personnel
| which is planned in addition to the
| flying angle, and that Comdr BYRD
was TO report direct to the Navy De-
| partment here of the activities of the
planes, officers and men under his
command. The department then will
| make the matter public.
! Those taking part in the confer
| ence included Admiral Edward w
| Eberle, chief OF naval operations; DR.
| Gilbert II. Grosvenor, president of the
National Geographic Society. which is
supporting the expedition financially:
/ John O. La Gorce, vice president OF
| the National Geographic Society; e
f. Mcdonald, in charge of radio COM
munication for the expedition; Lieut.
Comdr. Byrd; Comdr. John T. G.
| Stapler of the office Of naval intelli-
gence, and Lieut.. T. T. Patterson of
the Bureau of Aeronautics.
Byrd Cited II Times.
Comdr. Byrd was selected to COM
Io
! was about to undertake a private ex-
petition of planes into the Northiand
Macmillan also had planned a sim
| liar trip. but each expedition lacked
necessities the other had. AS their
paths would have crossed more than
| once a more or less fusion of inter
ests was effected. Another contrib
| uting factor to the selection of
Comdr. Byrd was his DISTINGUISHED
| and meritorious service he has rem
dered the Navy.
According to special bill, which was
passed by the House last year giving
him the rank of lieutenant commander
| on the retired list, although he is on ac-
tive duty, he has received IL citations
for service over and above the call OF
duty. -Four of these were for brav-
cry in saving two lives. He has been
| in naval aviation for eight years.
Born in Winchester, Va. So wears
ago, Lieut.. Comdr Byrd was cradu-
ated from the Naval Academy In
1912. He was placed in charge OF
| preparing navisationai instruments
and material for the transatlantic
flight of Navy seaplanes and flew to
Newfoundland aboard the NC-3 At
Newfoundland he was transferred TO
the NC-5, which was so badly dam
aged in a storm there that il was un-
able to make the journey across the
Atlantic.
He was detailed TO return TO Amer
lea on the ZR-2, and was present at
the destruction of the dirigible at
Hull, England, whore he is credited
with rendering excellent service in
I the disaster. He wears the distin-
guished service medal with silver
star.
Recalled Before War.
For physical disability received in
the line of duty, Lieut.. Comdr. Byrd
was retired in March, 1916, but two
and one-half months later was re-
quested by the Navy Department to
return to duty. He received the
temporary appointment of lieutenant
commander in 1918, which was re-
voked in 1921, when all war appoint
ments were abolished. The Navy De-
partment, however, wished him to re-
main on active duty, and a special a ct
of Congress was passed promoting
him to the rank he would have
reached had he not been retired
Lieut.. Comdr. Byrd not only will be
in active command OF the flying end
of the expedition, but will participate te
in the po1ar flights both IS pilot and
naviga tor.