ARCTIC AVIATOR RECEIVES CONGRESSIONAL ACCOLADE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 17, 2000

Fairbanks, Alaska - Arctic aviator Bernt Balchen spent a lifetime flying to various points on the globe, but always counted on the calculations from his trusty slide-rule to bring him home. Balchen's skill as a pilot earned him fame as the first aviator to fly a plane over both the North and South poles, notoriety as the tutor for one of the first female fliers, and infamy as the man who would cast doubt on the accomplishments of adventurer and explorer Adm. Richard Byrd.

A century has passed since Balchen was born, but what he accomplished as a polar aviator continues to have a global impact on Arctic flight and commerce today. His achievements have once again brought him to national acclaim. When the U.S. Congress returns to session this month, both houses will consider a joint resolution recognizing Balchen, a Norwegian-born navigator, pilot and mechanic who wandered the world by air, but whose heart remained in the Far North.

Balchen is also recognized for his support of Allied efforts during World War II. The pioneer aviator served with distinction as a member of the Royal Norwegian Naval Air Force, the British Royal Air Force, and the U.S. Army Air Forces. Balchen flew various wartime missions and is credited with developing rescue techniques and arctic survival methods still used today. Balchen was Commander of the U.S. Air Force Rescue Squadron at Elmendorf Air Force Base in Anchorage until his retirement in 1956.

A permanent part of the pioneer aviator's life remains in Alaska thanks to a donation by Balchen's widow, Audrey. A collection of his paintings, books and memorabilia are housed in the Bibliography of Alaska and Polar Regions Archives at the University of Alaska Fairbanks.

The proposed U.S. Congressional resolution follows the recent release of "Bernt Balchen: Polar Aviator," a biography written by aviation historian and retired U.S. Air Force Col. Carroll Glines and published by The Smithsonian Institution Press.

Balchen was born in Norway 100 years ago. On the centennial of his birth on Oct. 23 last fall, Anchorage Mayor Rick Mystrom signed a "Bernt Balchen Day" resolution. Alaska Gov. Tony Knowles also proclaimed Oct. 23 "Polar Aviation Day" to recognize Balchen's contributions to the state. Balchen in 1948 piloted the first test flight of a direct air route over the North Pole linking Scandinavia with Alaska. Regular flights followed by the Scandinavian Airline System, SAS, an international aviation business Balchen helped to found.

The U.S. Library of Congress currently holds a majority of Balchen's personal papers and historical momentos in Washington D.C., along with important articles at The National Archives and The Air Force Historical Research Center at Maxwell Air Force Base in Montgomery, Ala.

Seventy-three years ago, Balchen was on the small island of Spitsbergen in the North Atlantic when Roald Amundsen and Adm. Richard Byrd winged their way into the history books within hours of each other. Amundsen, who had already made a name for himself as the first person to reach the South Pole by land, had his headings honed in on Alaska as the first person to pilot an aircraft over the geographic North Pole. Amundsen asked Balchen to join his team and support his North Pole flight goal.

Byrd, however, wanted to claim victory as the first over the pole and launched his fixed-wing plane northward. His journey was boosted by Balchen, who, at Amundsen's request, helped the Byrd team repair a shattered ski on the Fokker Tri-motor "Josephine Ford" aircraft. Byrd would return 15 hours later, claiming to be the first person to have ever flown over the top of the world, a claim that remains in dispute today.

Although just who the first person to fly over the North Pole still remains controversial, Balchen's accomplishments at the other end of the world were undisputed. He was at the controls when Byrd commanded the first airflight over the South Pole during the 1928-1931 expeditions.

In 1927, Balchen was also on Byrd's team during the flight of another Fokker Tri-motor, the "America," from New York to France. Byrd apparently miscalculated the amount of fuel need for the flight, but Balchen was able to safely land the "America" and her team in shallow water just off the coast of France.

According to the biography written by Glines, Balchen's aviation acumen also extended to Amelia Earhart, who he taught instrument flying in 1932 prior to her successful flight as the first woman to fly solo across the Atlantic. Seventeen years later, Balchen became the first pilot to fly a plane over both poles when he flew a Douglas C-54 from Fairbanks, Alaska to Thule, Greenland.

In 1954, the University of Alaska awarded Balchen an honorary doctor of science degree recognizing his lifelong advancement of exploration and aviation in the Arctic and the Antarctic. A mountain in the Alaska Range is named in Balchen's honor.

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NOTE TO EDITORS: A copy of Glines' book about Bernt Balchen is available for check out and review by calling University Relations at (907) 474-7581.

CONTACT: Editor Ron Inouye, Bibliography of Alaska and Polar Regions Department, (907) 474-5354 or Jillian Swope, University Relations, at (907) 474-7778.

JCS/1-17-00/00-037