REAR ADMIRAL RICHARD E. BYRD - PROGRAM SIGNED CIRCA 1926 - HFSID 286522

ADMIRAL RICHARD BYRD
Signed program of a Carnegie Hall event honoring him for over-flying the North Pole
Program signed: "R E Byrd", 5x6½, 6 pages. New York's Testimonial to Richard E. Byrd, Carnegie Hall, June 25, 1926. Signed on front cover, below a printed photo of him in flight suit. Central event of the evening was Byrd's own address, "The First Flight to the North Pole," followed by motion pictures of the flight. on May 9, 1926, Richard E. Byrd (1888-1957) and Floyd Bennett claimed the first flight over the North Pole. The flight had been funded in part by business leaders that included Vincent Astor, John D. Rockefeller Jr., Rodman. (Byrd's claim to have reached the North Pole has since been challenged.). After the flight, Byrd was promoted to Commander and there was an outpouring of public support for his proposed expeditions to Antarctica. The first, funded by the National Geographic Society as well as private donations, took place from 1928-1930; the second in 1933-1935. In 1929, during his first expedition, Byrd established the "Little America" Antarctic base. On November 28-29, 1929, he and three others crossed the South Pole in a 1,600-mile airplane flight. On Byrd's second Antarctic expedition, he discovered Marie Byrd Land and the Edsel Ford Mountains. The polar explorer made three additional Antarctic expeditions through 1956. His South Pole achievements are undisputed. Byrd was awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor. His brother was powerful Virginia Governor and Senator Harry F. Byrd. One vertical fold crease through center. 2 staples at fold crease, fold crease torn from top and bottom. Unknown soil stain on pages 4-6 at bottom right corner. Indent from unknown object near lower edge on all pages. Otherwise fine condition.