Evening star., 1926-01-30
BYRD PLANS POLAR
FLIGHT FINANCED
BY WEALTHY GROUP
Rockefeller, Jr., and EdseI
Ford Back Enterprise to
Start This Summer. J.
UNKNOWN ARCTIC AREA
OBJECT OF EXPLORERS
Spitzbergen or Etah to Be Used
as Base for Aerial Expedition
of Navy Man.
By the Associated Press.

By the Associated Press.
An Independent expedition to ex-
plore the Arctic from the air is being
organized by Lieut.. Comdr. Richard
f. Byrd of Winchester. Va! who
commanded the Navy section Of the
Macmillan expedition last Summer.
The enterprise will be financed by
American citizens. among those who
have already. pledged support being
John d. Rockefeller, jr.. and Edsel
Ford, each of whom has offered
$4,000.
Comdr. Byrd is negotiating now
craft for the expedition, either of the
dirigible or airplane type. Each, in
his belief. has good points for such
an undertaking.
VIII Seek Unknown Land.
While 1t is not the plan to com
pete with the expedition of the De
troit Aviation Society. which intends
TO hop off from Point Barrow, Alaska.
for the North Pole this year, the
aims Of the two are In certain re
spectS similar. Each will look for
land In the unknown region between
Alaska and the North Pole, and Byrd
may also attempt to reach the pole.
The Navy officers primary object.
however, is to explore the unknown
regions north of Greenland. Canada
and Alaska, using either Spitzbegen
or Etah, Greenland, as a base. Sbitz.
bergen Is the point from which
Amundsen hoped off last year iri his
attempt to reach the pole by, air.
plane and Etah was the main base
of the Macmillan expedition Pres.
ent prospects favor Spitzbersen as
base. with Byrd flying from there to
Cape Morris Jessup in Peary Land at
the northern tip of Greenland and
then striking off toward the pole!
Macmillan Party Failed.
The Macmillan expedition turned
back from Etah in the face of ad.
verse weather without achieving its
object of flying over the unknown
region northwest of AxeI Heiburs
Island. Donald 3. Macmillan. the
leader. subsequently expressed the
opinion that lighter-than-air era ii
were more suitable for exploring the
Arctic than airpfanes, but Comdr.
Byrd has expressed his confidence In
both types of craft for Arctic work.
He did not favor turning back when
the expedition discontinued operations
from Etah.
II lighter-than-air craft is used by
Comdr. Byrd. the $4,000 cubic foot
ship, MC-5. the property of the. Good
year Tire and Rubber Co., at Akron.
Ohio, may be employed If heavier.
than-air craft are used. it Is expected
one or two airplanes designed espe-
cially for Arctic work. possibly with
three motors each, will be employed.
May Leave in August.
1t is Comdr. Byrd's intention, if
plans can be formulated in time. 10
leave for Spitzenbergen or Etah
Otherwise he would not leave until
August. in which case he would prob
ably go TO Etah. spend the Winter
there and hop off in the Spring of
1927
Although the Navy is not TO be of
ficially connected with the expedition.
it may furnish some motors for the
aircraft. 1t will also he required to
give Comdr. BYRD leave, as he is at
present on active duty in Washington.
1t is anticipated that the leav will be
granted without objection. Details as
to the personnel of the expedition have
not been made known.