Staff Photo
 

Byrd campsite was named after Admiral Richard E. Byrd, noted Aviator and Antarctic explorer.

In 1931 the campsites were renamed from Indian Tribe names to names honoring American heroes.  The 1931 campsites were Lindbergh. Byrd, MacMillan, and Peary.  Eight-man army tents were still in use.

Byrd campsite has occupied two different locations and has served as a provisional site and a troop site.

Signed photo from Adminal Byrd to the
Scouts of Troop Byrd
(Click photo to see it larger)
Byrd Campsite - 1931
This photo taken from "Signal Rock".
Note the rock which is currently behind
Condo #2.
(Click photo to see it larger)
Photo courtesy Merrill Luthe
Backside of Byrd Campsite - 1931
(Click photo to see it larger)
Photo courtesy Merrill Luthe

 
About Richard E. Byrd

Rear Admiral Richard Evelyn Byrd, USN (October 25, 1888 – March 11, 1957) was a pioneering American polar explorer, aviator and a recipient of the Medal of Honor.

Richard E. Byrd (1888-1957)  Polar Explorer, Naval Officer, Pioneer Aviator.  Born October 25, 1888 at Winchester, Virginia, a brother of Harry F. Byrd, governor and senator.  He graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy in 1912 and advanced to Lieutenant Commander at retirement in 1916 and later promoted to Commander after his flight over the North Pole in 1926.  He was given the rank of Rear Admiral in 1930.  During WWI he entered the Aviation Service and commanded U.S. Air Forces until armistice.  In WWII he served with Admiral King in Washington and Nimitz in the Pacific, going overseas four times.  He was highly decorated including the Congressional Medal of Honor in 1926 and special Congressional Medals in 1930, 37 and 46.  He made his famous flight over the North Pole on May 9, 1926 with Floyd Bennett.  In 1927 he made he made a trans-Atlantic flight of 4,200 miles with three companions--New York to France.  His first Antarctic expedition was in 1928-30 and his second in 1933-35.  He discovered the Edsel Ford Mountains and Marie Byrd Land.  He spent five months alone near the South Pole.  In 1939 he was made commander of the U.S. Antarctic Service and again went to the South Polar region, discovering five new mountain ranges, five islands, and more than 100,000 square miles of area.  In 1946 he was named commanding officer of the U.S. Navy Antarctic Expedition and again in 1956 headed the U.S. Expedition in Antarctic exploration.




Page design and layout by:
Dean B. Zaharis
Created: November 7, 2008
Last Update: December 15, 2008
Send comments to:
FriendsOfHinds@gmail.com