Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-11-29
OF AIR FORM CREW
FLYING WITH BYRD OVER POLE
Balchen, June and Mckinley All Have
Long and Successful Records In
History of Aviation.

BY Radio to The Star and the New York
Times.
LITTLE AMERICA, Antarctic, No
vember 90. - Richard Evelyn Byrd,
leader of the South Polar fight, en-
barked on the fourth great adventure
Of his comparatively short life when
he set of on the expedition to the
Antarctic. He has flown over the
Arctic wastes on two expeditions, in
Guiding his fight over the North Pole:
he has flown across the Atlantic, and
now he is pointing for the neither tip
of the earth.
Retired from the Navy before the
World War with the rank of lieutenant,
because of an injury to his foot during
Annapolis days. he was recalled for
"desk duty" during the World War
However. he literally talked himself into
the Air Corps, where he became pro-
ficient pilot before being assigned to
an air base at Halifax for the duration
of the war.
World Figure In Aviation.
He was credited with first suggesting
the round the-world flights by the NC
type naval aircraft, but other duties
kept him from going. Meanwhile, he
had perfected instruments for navi-
eating airshipS and in 1924 his work
was recognized by a congressional act
promoting him to the rank OF heuten-
ant commander. 4s
He first few in the Arctic on a tip
OF exploration to Greenland with Don
aid B. Mcmillan in 1925. In the follow
ing year he made his memorable flight
of is hours from SpitZbergen to the
North Pole and return, in company with
Floyd Bennett, who has since died, and
received worldwide acclaim. For this
the Congressional Medal OF Honor was
awarded to him, and he was promoted
to the rank of commander.
Then, after many delays and acct
dents that forced him to follow the
paths of Charles A Lindbergh and
Clarence D. Chamberlin, he few with
Bernt Balchen, Lieut. Neville and Bert
Acosta across the Atlantic. A storm
prevented his landing at Paris, and his
ship was wrecked on the coast of France.
Immediately afterward he set in motion
preparations for the South Pole expedi-
ton, which began about one year ago.
Comdr. Byrd, member of noted Vir-
GINA family, was born october Is, 1888.
He is married and has four children.
BaIehen a North Pole veteran"
Bernt Balchen, pilot for Comdr. Byrd
on the South Polar flight, joined the
latter at SpitZbergen, the base for the
commanders flight to the North Pole,
in 1926. He then was a fight lieu
tenant in the Norwegian Air Service.
He previously had been on a survey
of Lapland for Norway and had done
the same work as Spitzbergen. He was
! a noted athlete, having been middle
weight boxing champion of Norway in
1920 and a ski-racing champion. He
held degree in engineering from the
University of Haermosand, Sweden.
Coming to America with Comdr. Byrd
Balchen few with the latter on his
| tour of the country and then became
relief pilot on the commanders trans
atlantic flight Two of his notable
, Hudson Bay for the Canadian govern
ment in 1927 and the Greenely Island
relief expedition in 1928.
| Balchen was among the flrst one:
/ chosen by Comdr Byrd for his Antarctic
| expedition. He was born at Topdal
Norway, October %. 1899. He is un'
married. His mother lives in Oslo
Norway.
June'S Mechanical Background.
OF the other men going south on thu
plane, Harold I. June was born on Feb
ruary r. 1895, near Stamford, Conn
!
year in high school in Stamford, n
learned the trade of machiniSt and ga
engine specialist and went to Providence
r. l. as agent for a marine motor
Later he worked in the machine shol
of HerreshofTs the famous builders o
yachts, at Bristol. and in the Summe
! was engineer on ferry between Brlsto
and Prudence Island.
When Harold Vanderbilt's zach
Vagrant was built in 1913, June JONES
her as engineer. He made trip iron
Portland, Me, to the Azores and Lisbol
in her. returning TO New York by wa
OF Bermuda. He was on three OF MI
Vanderbilts yachts, and when one q
them was turned over to the Navy, Whel
the United States entered the Worl'
l,War, June remained on board as en-
gineer, with the naval rank OF chic
machinist's mate. After three month
he was sent to Block Island as repal
officer at the repair base, where Harol
Vanderbilt was in command. From
there he went back to HerreShotfs a
inspection officer on repairs to destroy
ers mine sweepers and patrol boats.
When the war ended ne was M
Vanderbilt's engineer again until in-l92
he found he could get aviation trainin
as a mechanic and pilot If he rejoine
the Navy. Aviation had attracted hi
since he was a boy in school. So h
Joined the aviation branch of the Nav
and was sent to the Great Lakes train
ing station, where he went through tn
mechanics school and was instructor o
ignition theory and practice and mote
theory and also fight mechanic.
. From there he was y asferred