The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1927-06-29

New York to Paris nonstop contest
which had attracted other birdmcn
of America and France.
Byrd first needed the spirit of
wanderlust when, at The age Of ~.
! he obtained permission from his
mother to make "A journey around
the world by himself. Starting from
Richmond, Va, a city founded by his
torefathcrs. Byrd went overland to
San Francisco where he boarded a
steamer for the Philippines. From
one Asiatic port 10 another he trav
clcd on coasting vessels, then he
crossed Europe and returned on a
liner to New York
First to Fly Plane Over Pole
| Tales of Arctic exploration next
excited his interest and he deter
mined when Is years old to make an
effort to discover the North Pole
Admiral Robert f. Pcary beat him
there but Byrd shares with Peary
the honor of having led an cypcdi-
tion over the top Of the world, and
moreover his is the added honor Of
having flown an airDlane over the
pole for the first time
"The sporting element appeals
strongly to me but ! am also deeply
interested in proving that the air
plane can do the job" Byrd wrote
in a newspaper befole his Polar
| flight.
After going through the navy rou-
| tine following graduation from the
: Naval Academy. Byrd's interest in
aviation caused him to transfer to
the naval air service With the pur-
pose of connecting himself with an
air expedition in which he expected
the navy to engage he began making
technical study of flights and in
Strumcnts for air navigation.
His inventions revolutionized the
navigation of aircraft. One was
the so-called "bubble sextant" which
enables flyers to obtain an artificial
horizon and to calculate positions
while in flight. Another was the
sun compass and the third drift
indicator.
AS result of these and other ac-
complishments. Byrd in 1919 was as
signed to the duty Of developing nav
igational methods and providing
equipment for the successful trans
atlantic flight Of the NC-4. He vol
unteered to fly from England to
this country in the dirigible ZR, 9
and was in England when the air
snip was wrecked.
Served During World War
In 1916 an injury resulted in Byrd
being retired but almost immediate
~ he was called to active duty.
During the World War he rendered
valuable service, and this. with the
added fact that his record showed
II citations, four Of them for BRAY
cry, had much to do with congress
passing specia act giving him the
rank of lieutenant commander, a
temporary appointment he already
had held. He had organized the
navy departments commission on
training camps in 1917. The follow
ing year he went to Canada to take
command of the U. S. naval forces
in that country.
He was credited by the chief Of
the bureau of aeronaut;cs in the
Navy Department with having much
to do with getting passed legislation
creating that bureau.
When Amundsen asked the United
States for the loan of pilot in 1924
for his expedition Byrd was the first
to volunteer but the navy depart
ment turned him down because he
was married man. With the Mac
MILAN Arctic expedition in 1925,
however, Byrd flew more than 5000
miles. Heavy fogs prevented the
search for new land.
Born in 1885
The commander was born in Win
chester, Va, October. Is, 1888. He
was a student at thu naval academy
when Pcary reached the North Pole.
The monoplanc Miss Josephine
Ford" in which Commander Byrd
flew over the North Pole in Is hours
and 30 minutes was three motored
rlane, like the America" his New
York to Paris craft. In the flight
he travelled approximately 1900
miles.
Mrs r. r. Byrd, Sr. mother Of
the aviator, described her SON as
having been born IAN adventurer, an
explorer. absolutely without fear"
PLANE MICH LIKE ONE
BYRD USED OVER POLE !, u
New York, June 29.-tR)-The
Il srs = X + -