Richard E. ByrdRichard E. ByrdBy:By:

Michael MaurtuaMichael Maurtua

What did he do?What did he do?

• Byrd was one of the Byrd was one of the Navy’s famous polar Navy’s famous polar explorers, aviators and explorers, aviators and Medal of Honor Medal of Honor recipients in the history recipients in the history of the USN.of the USN.

• Byrd was a very brave Byrd was a very brave man who still inspires man who still inspires many today.many today.

Richard E. Byrd (1888-1957)Richard E. Byrd (1888-1957)

• Born: October 25, 1888Born: October 25, 1888

• Died: March 11, 1957Died: March 11, 1957

• USN Rank: Rear AdmiralUSN Rank: Rear Admiral

• Awards:Awards: - -Medal of HonorMedal of Honor-Navy Cross-Navy Cross-Navy Distinguished -Navy Distinguished Service MedalService Medal-Distinguished Flying -Distinguished Flying CrossCross-Legion of Merit-Legion of Merit Drawing of Byrd’s birthplace,

Winchester, Virginia

Some AwardsSome Awards

Medal of Honor Navy Cross

Navy Distinguished ServiceMedal

Distinguished Flying Cross

Legion of Merit

Medal of Honor Medal of Honor

• Most prestigious Most prestigious award in the award in the military.military.

• accomplished the accomplished the act of testing a act of testing a plane engine able plane engine able to survive Antarctic to survive Antarctic conditions.conditions.

The MilitaryThe Military

• After all his After all his schooling, Byrd schooling, Byrd served in WWI as a served in WWI as a air commander in air commander in Nova Scotia.Nova Scotia.

• He was promoted He was promoted to Lieutenant to Lieutenant Commander a little Commander a little after the war. after the war.

Expeditions!Expeditions!

•Richard Byrd made Richard Byrd made expeditions to Greenland, expeditions to Greenland,

the North Pole, and the the North Pole, and the South Pole.South Pole.

The South Pole Greenland The North Pole

Trans-Atlantic FlightTrans-Atlantic Flight

• Byrd planed to be Byrd planed to be first, but he was first, but he was beat by Lindbergh beat by Lindbergh while his ship was while his ship was being repaired.being repaired.

• He still did it. He still did it. Taking off from NY Taking off from NY to France although to France although he crashlanded he crashlanded with no casualties. with no casualties.

First Antarctic ExpeditionFirst Antarctic Expedition

• Byrd was sent to Byrd was sent to explore Antarctica .explore Antarctica .

• Byrd had to sail Byrd had to sail back home.back home.

• He became the He became the first to fly into the first to fly into the Arctic .Arctic .

The Polar ExpeditionThe Polar Expedition

• Byrd’s claim to fame. Byrd’s claim to fame.

• Flew there with Flew there with Mechanic, Floyd Mechanic, Floyd Bennet.Bennet.

• Started major Started major controversies over controversies over who was first to who was first to reach the north pole.reach the north pole.

Second Antarctic Exploration - Second Antarctic Exploration - 19341934

• His second His second exploration was exploration was not pleasant. Byrd not pleasant. Byrd spent five months spent five months with carbon with carbon monoxide monoxide poisoning from a poisoning from a old stove. He old stove. He narrowly escaped.narrowly escaped.

Byrd’s Autobiography

World War IIWorld War II

• Byrd performed Byrd performed national defense national defense during World War II during World War II as a consultant to as a consultant to high commanders. high commanders.

Operation: HighjumpOperation: Highjump

• Byrd's most important Byrd's most important mission. Much of the mission. Much of the armed forces was armed forces was used to explore the used to explore the area where they found area where they found new mountain ranges.new mountain ranges.

• However, the However, the operation was brought operation was brought to a close very fastto a close very fast

One of the Navy’s ship forThe operation.

DeathDeath

• After commanding After commanding operation deep operation deep freeze, Byrd died freeze, Byrd died on March 11, 1957 on March 11, 1957 in his sleep in in his sleep in Boston.Boston.

• He became known He became known as a national hero.as a national hero.

Bird Memorial

The End

Hope you enjoyed the show!