The Bozeman courier. (Bozeman, Mont.) 1919-1954, 1926-07-16

With him this time Commander Byrd took a noted fuel
expert. who is Flying Commander g. O. Noble, as it
requires great skill and pains to prevent the freezing
of lubricating oil and stiffened action Of the motors, II
forced to work on the plane in the open at great
attitudes with the thermometer at go to 20 below zero.
The points which favored the month Of May were that
the Arctic fog had not begun to rise and heavy SHOWS still
covered the land and afforded many good landing places.
A factor Of safety pointed out by Commander Byrd In
connection with the use of the FOkker machine Is that It
carries a reserve engine. It has three engines. With a
light load one is expected to be sufficient to maintain the
plane in flight. With a normal load, two engines viii do
the work. If two engines break down at one time, when
the plane is not too heavily loaded, It may fly with the
use Of one engine. The FOkker machine has a wing
spread Of slightly more than 81 feet. 1t is said to be
a marvel of airship construction.
The other airplane-the Curtis Oriole-was to have
been used chiefly in finding landing fields so that If
the fiers found their main landing place covered with a
fog they might go elsewhere.
The Chantier was equipped with a powerful radio trans
mitter to send back the news Of the expedition. The
FOkker also is equipped with a receiving and trans
hitting set. Commander Byrd not only kept the world
informed of the progress Of the expedition, but received
through the Chantier weather warnings to guide him In
his flight.
How Expedition Was Equipped.
FOrtyfve hundred pounds of whole beef were included
in the rations Of the Byrd crew Of fOrty-seven fiers,
seamen and technicians. Also four hundred pounds Of
pemmican (meat fats and raisins), huge quantities OF
bacon, dried milk, erbswurst Cpea sOup) and other sup
plies in proportion we're carried along. Cod liver oil was
included for its healthful properties. Herbert Griggs,
who had charge Of provisioning Peary's expedition In his
famous dash to the Pole, worked out the ratlons for the
Byrd explorers. Two pounds per man per day was the
allowance to take care Of all emergencies.
No amount of clothing is really sufficient when flying
1000 or more feet In the air In the Polar regions, but
every possible precautiOn was taken by Commander Byrd
against exposure. The men were equipped with the
warmest and highest Of reindeer suits and with fur
parkas, a garment that reaches to the knees and has a
hood covering the head. Plenty Of goggles were found
to be an absolute necessity to protect them against the
glare Of the snow.
In spite Of all the precautions the undertaking was
full Of unseen danger. None Of this equipment would be
Of the slightest avail against some unexpected and IN
precedented situation which might arise. There is always
the danger Of snOwblindness, exhaustion, freezing, some
mishap to the engine. Lieutenant Byrd and his com
paniOns, however, were particularly fortunate fn ascaDina
with practically no Ill effects except the exhaustion due
to such a perilOus trip.
Piek Up les PnOe.
The ship Chantier's first stop was at TrOmsO. Norway
where an Ice skipper was taken on to pilot the Chantie
and Its crew through the ice1IIed waters around SDfez
bergen to Kings Bay, where preparations for the nrs
flight to the Pole were made. The planes. the instrument
and the various oil mixtures used In connection with Thu
airshiD tests, were carefully examined and tested Lieu
tenant Byrds original plans called for six flights as follows
IA 4OO7mile flight from spitzbergsn to Peary Ian,
to unload OIL. p~rOvlsions and equipment at & place t1
looks promising for q landing.
"a 400mle flight back to spl6bergsn.
"a second 400-m1e flight from BDltbsrgen 60 pear
Land base with further food, fUsl and equipment
EAn 650mle flight to and around 2ho Pole and bae
70 the Pearg Base.
BAn eoo-mlle round trip hight o. TIE northwsat ovs
meUlOred areas in search of new lands.
g. D0-nAe hight from the Peay Land base back 1
Spitzbergen.
Il was his plan IL his second aigRt 8 offennt IS al
cover new land. but when Be received tie rsnors 81 81
flight O9 Amundsen En his dfrlebla. ia whieh AZ was atas
that the NORGE had failed to End any tpaea Sc as
lana Aen5elant Byrd decided TO abandon further 81
ana the trip over land en- alsdg b. he'd planned "a 81
search for nsW land q u~naxDlored aaas Nov SIS 81.
0e14e4 90 ny 90 accomplish bv alhsn Ill kna SON.
Poae WAT IS ad &c NsrA So - len as Spit
Dsaen base ne stated that - Nou1a have SEE
3 an s1upred expedition Soc hs seeemm ef N 81
81 bis recent aasansage 1n ke NorA