Famous Flyers Part 15

But they did not want to turn back. They would take their chance.

Balchen and Acosta piloted with great skill, and Byrd took his turn at the wheel while they slept. The wind was with them, and they made excellent speed. Radio messages came to them clearly. They judged their position, and their gas supply, and found that they had underestimated their remaining gas. They could get to Rome.

"On the afternoon of the second day they came out of the thick fog, and saw the welcome water beneath them. They were bound for France, and they hit the coastline at Finisterre. They headed for Paris. Then they radioed ahead for the weather report. Fog! Fog and storm, with its center at Paris. This was the worst thing that could possibly have happened to them, this arriving at their destination in a fog. But they went on. It would be a triumph, and an addition to aviation knowledge if they could land in a storm, after coming all the way from America.

"They figured finally that they must be almost over Paris. But suddenly the fog below them was pierced by a queer light. It was the revolving signal of a lighthouse! Their compa.s.s had gone back on them, and they had made a circle, coming out not at Paris, but back to the coast of France.

"They turned around, after adjusting their compa.s.ses, and made once more for Paris by dead reckoning. They were above Le Bourget. But what could they do? They could see nothing below them, only an inky blackness that nothing could penetrate. Landing would have meant not only death to themselves, but perhaps to many people who had gathered to watch their triumphal landing. Their gas was getting low. Byrd saw only one solution. They turned and flew once more back to the coast. They were heading for the lighthouse that they had come upon accidentally before.

They flew very low, over the sleeping towns and villages that they knew were below them, but which were shrouded in pitch blackness. A revolving light pierced the blackness, and they were at the seacoast. But over the water it was just as inky black as over the land.

"Balchen was at the wheel. Byrd gave the signal to land. They threw over a line of flares that gave them some idea as to where to land, then descended. The force of their impact with the water sheared off the landing gear. The plane sank to the wings in the water, and the fuselage filled rapidly.

"Byrd was thrown into the water. He swam to the plane. Noville was climbing out. The other two were nowhere to be seen. Byrd called to them. He swam over to the plane, which was almost submerged. Balchen was caught in the wreckage, but managed to extricate himself. Then Acosta swam up from nowhere. His collar bone was broken. But a hasty survey a.s.sured Byrd that the others were all right. Almost exhausted, they got out the collapsible boat, blew it up, and paddled to sh.o.r.e. It was a mile to the village, and they trudged wearily on.

"They certainly did not look like a triumphal parade when they got to the village, four tired, wet, dirty men, who looked more like tramps than aviators. They tried to arouse the villagers, but they could not. A small boy riding by became frightened when they spoke to him, and scooted away. Finally they approached the lighthouse, aroused the lighthouse keeper and his wife, and made them understand what had happened.

"From then on, all was beer and skittles. There wasn't enough that the villagers could do for the Americans who had landed so unceremoniously in their midst-or practically in their midst. They rescued the plane, and the mail that was in it.

"Paris was next, and the real triumphal parade started then. The flyers were almost overwhelmed with the wonderful greeting that the Parisians gave them. It was worth all of the hours of agony that they had gone through. They had accomplished what they had set out to accomplish, after all.

"Then America. Once more the American people welcomed d.i.c.k Byrd back as the hero of the moment. He had excited interest in aviation; he had proved many valuable scientific facts; he had proved a hero under trying circ.u.mstances; he had added to the friendly feeling felt by the French for the American people; in fact, he had done all things except one. He had not extinguished his spirit of adventure.

"No sooner was Admiral Byrd back from his trip across the Atlantic when he was planning another voyage, this time reflecting again the boyish dreams of his early youth. He planned to go to the South Pole to make certain scientific studies, and to fly across the Pole when he was there.

"Very carefully he began to plan. He first obtained his ships. The _La.r.s.en_ and the _Sir James Clark Ross_ were to be used as supply ships.

_The City of New York_, once an ice breaker, was to be his chief ship, and the _Eleanor Bolling_, named in honor of his mother, was to be the chief supply ship. He took, too, four planes, three for observation flights, and the huge three-motored Fokker, the _Floyd Bennett_. Every division of the expedition was equipped with radio sets. Every division of the expedition was further so equipped that in case of accident, or in case it should be separated from any other unit, it could rescue itself.

"Among the preparations was the purchase of about a hundred eskimo dogs, which were to be used in the arctic. Ships, planes, cameras, radios, footgear, and a thousand other details Byrd had to plan carefully.

Almost a million dollars had been spent before the ships even left New York.

"In the midst of the preparations Admiral Byrd received a terrible blow.

This was the death of Floyd Bennett, that someone has already told about. Bennett flew to the aid of Major Fitzmaurice, Captain Koebl and Baron von Huenefeld, who had been forced down in the Gulf of St.

Lawrence, during the first east to west crossing of the Atlantic. At Murray Bay, Quebec, he developed influenza, which turned into pneumonia.

He died in Quebec. Colonel Lindbergh rushed to Quebec with serum to save his life, but it was of no use. Floyd Bennett, whom everybody loved, and one of the greatest pilots of his day, had flown his last flight.

"It meant a loss to all aviation, but to d.i.c.k Byrd especially, since the two men had been close friends. There was no man with whom Byrd would rather have flown over the South Pole, as he had flown over the North.

In memory of his friend, Byrd named the plane with which he was to fly over the Pole the _Floyd Bennett_.

"Preparations had to go on. It came time to choose the crew and staff which was to go with Byrd, to be gone for such a long time in the arctic wastes. The prospect does not seem inviting-the leaving of comfortable homes, of families, in order to spend a year in the coldest climate that will sustain life. But so great is the spirit of adventure in man that 15,000 people volunteered to go on the expedition. The men who were finally chosen were picked men-all physically in perfect health, and mentally alert. True, some of them shipped in positions in which they had had no training, but Admiral Byrd could safely say that he had made a mistake in no case. Every man that he chose proved himself worthy of the choice.

"Finally all was ready. On August 26, 1928, the _City of New York_ started out. _The Eleanor Bolling_, a steamship, started later, as did the supply ship, the _La.r.s.en_. _The City of New York_, a sail boat, got to New Zealand about the middle of November, the last to arrive. The _La.r.s.en's_ cargo was shifted to the other ships. On December 2, the _Eleanor Bolling_ and the _City of New York_ sailed for the ice pack. In about two weeks it came into sight. Then the latter ship took over the former's cargo, and while the sail boat sailed back for New Zealand, the steamer went on to penetrate the ice pack and steam at last into the Ross Sea.

"The ship and its precious cargo went on to the ice barrier, and it was on the ice barrier that Little America, the base of the expedition, that was to be the home of Byrd and his men for a rigorous year and a half, was built.

"The village they built was complete in every detail. As soon as they landed, the men started in with the building program. There were three cl.u.s.ters of buildings set in a circle about a thousand feet around.

These included the Administration Building, containing living quarters, dispensary and radio reception room, a meteorological shelter, etc. Then there was the general dormitory, and the observation igloo. Other buildings included the store houses and medical supply store-house; a Mess Hall, which was reached by a tunnel, and contained the dining room, and more living quarters.

"The community was a comfortable one. There was plenty of work, of course, but there was time for leisure, too, and the men could listen to the radio, play with the dogs, read one of the books of the large library; play cards, in fact, do any one of a number of things. The food was good. Dried vegetables and fruits had been taken down in quant.i.ties.

There was plenty of meat, both smoked, and fresh killed seal meat. They had electric light, and plenty of heat to keep them warm. In fact, the life was pleasant if anything.

"Of course, the most significant part of the whole expedition was Byrd's flight over the Pole. As in the other flights, the building of the runway was the greatest task, and one of the most important. It took the whole crew of 60 men to keep the runway in condition. On January 6th, the Commander made his first flight in Antarctica, making many photographs from his plane. After that, many trips were taken, new land discovered, and scientific observations made.

"The long night set in, and meant less activity, but in the Spring the sun rose once more, and activity broke out with renewed vigor, especially around the planes. Men had been sent ahead to cache food for emergency, in case of a forced landing of the _Floyd Bennett_. Byrd, Harold June, Bernt Balchen and Ashley McKinley were to make the flight.

Everything was at last ready, and they were waiting only for favorable weather conditions in order to start.

"On November 27, this was in 1929, came a weather report that satisfied Byrd, no fog, and plenty of sun. The next day was bright and fair. The plane was given a final overhauling. It was carefully warmed; the oil was heated and poured in. Into the cabin went the dogs, and the dog sledge, the food and other supplies that the men would have to use in case of a forced landing. Into the plane, too, went Ashley McKinley's camera, which was to take records of the crossing of the Pole.

"Finally Byrd gave the signal. _The Floyd Bennett_ was rolled out of its hangar to the runway. Balchen was to pilot first. He opened the throttle of all three motors. There was a roar, and they were on their way.

"Away they flew, into the cloudless sky. June and Balchen piloted, Byrd navigated. They flew high, and in spite of their load of 12,000 pounds, almost as much as they had had on the _America_, they attained an alt.i.tude of some 10,000 feet. This was necessary in order to clear the highest of the glaciers. On flew the _Floyd Bennett_, gayly as a bird.

"The craft had left Little America just before three o'clock in the afternoon. In ten hours she had covered 700 miles. Then suddenly they were over the Pole. They circled around in a great circle, whose center was the South Pole, and then turned back. At a little after ten the next morning they sped wearily into camp at Little America. In nineteen hours they had been to the South Pole and back, and d.i.c.k Byrd, even though he couldn't have been the first man at the North and South Poles, nevertheless found himself the only man in the world who had flown over both the North and South Poles.

"There was a let-down in the community's enthusiasm. The great task had been accomplished. They awaited the City of New York which was to come to take them home. Preparations were made for the homeward journey. It was with joyous cries that the steamer City of New York was greeted, and with pleasure that the men left Little America for New Zealand. By April they had left hospitable New Zealand behind, too, and had started for the United States.

"Once more his countrymen turned out to honor Byrd. d.i.c.k Byrd was now Rear-Admiral Byrd, but the same d.i.c.k Byrd as he had always been before.

There were banquets, and medals, and many honors heaped upon him. All over the world movies which had been taken of the expedition were shown to entranced millions. Everybody shared in the work, the good times, the adventures of that group of men.

"And here was little Richard Evelyn Byrd, who had been the undersized, delicate boy, with a will of iron, and a spirit for adventure, the leader of it all, the prime force behind the whole expedition. He accomplished all that he sat out to accomplish, and more. The scientific data that he collected proved valuable; and interest in aviation was beyond a doubt stimulated. And that's that. How's that for a little fellow with a b.u.m ankle? Pretty good, eh?"

n.o.body answered the Captain at first. There seemed no answer. Each of them was busy with his own thoughts. Or her own thoughts, because the feminine minds in that gathering were working very fast.

"Well," said Mrs. Martin at last, "I am usually the last person to point a moral, but I do think that there's a moral in that story." She saw her opportunity at last. "I think that d.i.c.k Byrd's parents were responsible for the boy's success. If they had squelched his adventurous spirit at the beginning, he would probably never have got any place."

Mrs. Gregg smiled to herself in the darkness. "Do you believe in young boys going off by themselves, Mrs. Martin?"

"It teaches them self-reliance," said Mrs. Martin firmly.

"Do you think that they ought to fly planes by themselves?"

"And why not? After all, there isn't very much to flying a plane, if you keep your wits about you. And I'm sure that both of our boys have their wits about them. I think that the earlier you learn a thing, the better it is for you. It makes everything else easier, too."

There was a silence for a while. Then Mrs. Gregg said, with a laugh in her voice, "I think that I'm being worked upon. First by the Captain with his story, and then by you. I'm afraid I have no defense." She turned to Hal, who had not spoken at all, but who had been thinking a great deal during the story of Byrd, and the obstacles that he had overcome. "Well, Hal," she said, "what do you think? Shall we yield to these people? Shall the Greggs yield to the Martins?"

Hal had not seen his mother so light-hearted and gay for a long time.

The pleasant evening and the story had had a decided effect upon her.

Hal didn't know exactly what to say, But his mother went on, "I think we're beaten, Hal. Do you want to go to the mountains with your friends?" n.o.body there knew the effort that that sentence cost Mrs.

Gregg, but she had said it, and she stood committed.

Hal was at a still greater loss as what to reply. His heart was beating wildly. There was nothing that he desired more now than to go to the mountains, but he felt the effort that his mother had put behind her words. Should he go? He wanted to. He wanted to show them that he wasn't afraid. And he wouldn't be afraid, either. Not any more. Other people, little fellows, too, had done things, had gone places, and they weren't afraid. So Hal said, "Well, I'd like to."

"If you wish to, you may," said Mrs. Gregg.

Bob, who had listened breathlessly to this conversation, could restrain himself no longer. "Whoopee!" he yelled. "Hal's coming along! Hal's coming along!" He jumped up and started to execute a war dance, dragging Hal after him.

Captain Bill was pleased. His story had made a hit-more of a hit than he had even hoped for.