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unusual facts about Byrd Antarctic Expedition



Alexandra Mountains

Discovered by the Byrd Antarctic Expedition in 1929 and named for John McEntee Bowman, president of the Bowman-Biltmore Hotels Corporation, who donated headquarters for the preparation of the expedition.

Bartlett Glacier

It was discovered in December 1934 by the Byrd Antarctic Expedition geological party under Quin Blackburn, and named by Richard E. Byrd for Captain Robert A. Bartlett of Brigus, Newfoundland, a noted Arctic navigator and explorer who recommended that the expedition acquire the Bear, an ice-ship which was purchased and rechristened by Byrd as the Bear of Oakland.

Fokker Rocks

The name, applied by the Advisory Committee on Antarctic Names, recalls the fact that a Fokker airplane of the Byrd Antarctic Expedition, 1928–30, was damaged beyond repair by strong winds while it was on the ground on the south side of nearby Washington Ridge.

Mount Bumstead

It was discovered by R. Admiral Byrd on the Byrd Antarctic Expedition flight to the South Pole in November 1929 and named by him for Albert H. Bumstead, chief cartographer of the National Geographic Society at that time, and inventor of the sun compass, a device utilizing shadows of the sun to determine directions in areas where magnetic compasses are unreliable.

Mount Ferguson

It was discovered and photographed by the Byrd Antarctic Expedition (1928–30), and named for Homer L. Ferguson, president of the Newport News Shipbuilding and Dry Dock Co., Newport News, VA, which made repairs and alterations on Byrd Expedition ships.

Mount Pulitzer

Discovered in December 1934 by the Byrd Antarctic Expedition geological party under Quin Blackburn, and named by Byrd for Joseph Pulitzer, publisher of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, a patron of the Byrd Antarctic Expedition of 1928-30 and 1933-35.

Scudder Mountain

The name appears in Paul Siple's 1938 botany report on the Byrd Antarctic Expedition, 1933–35, based on exploration of this vicinity by the expedition's geological party led by Quin Blackburn.

Thompson Ridge

The naming was proposed by Admiral Byrd for Gershom J. Thompson, eminent doctor and professor at the Mayo Clinic, who advised on medical questions relating to the Byrd Antarctic Expeditions, 1928–30 and 1933–35, and made financial contributions to them.

Tinglof Peninsula

Named by Advisory Committee on Antarctic Names (US-ACAN) for Ivor Tinglof, tractor mechanic of the Byrd Antarctic Expedition in 1933-35, who built at Little America the first heavy cargo sleds for use in the Antarctic.

Walgreen Coast

The Walgreen Coast was named by Byrd after Charles R. Walgreen, president of Walgreens at the time, who was a supporter of the Byrd Antarctic Expedition, 1933-35, and assisted in equipping the Bear for the USAS, 1939-41.


see also

Alexandra Mountains

Discovered by Rear Admiral Byrd while on the Byrd Antarctic Expedition Eastern Flight of December 5, 1929, and named by him during the Byrd Antarctic Expedition (1933-35) for Josephine Clay Ford, daughter of Edsel Ford, contributor to both expeditions.

Ford Ranges

Discovered in 1929 by the Byrd Antarctic Expedition, and named by Byrd for Iphigene Ochs Sulzberger, daughter of Adolph Ochs and wife of Arthur Sulzberger, patrons of the expedition.

Sarnoff Mountains

Named for David Sarnoff, president of RCA (Radio Corporation of America), who provided radio equipment for receiving and transmitting that was used in the field and at Little America by the Byrd Antarctic Expedition (1933–35).

Swope Glacier

The glacier is named for Gerard Swope, president of General Electric Co., who contributed various types of electrical equipment to the Byrd Antarctic Expedition (1933–35).

Watson Escarpment

The escarpment was more closely observed in December 1934 by the Byrd Antarctic Expedition geological party under Quin Blackburn, and was named by Byrd for Thomas J. Watson, American business executive, a patron of this expedition.