In Defense of Bernt Balchen

To the Editor
Universityof MissouriPress
2910LeMoneBoulevard
Columbia,MO 65201
July2, 2008
F(e:Lisle A. Rose:Explorer. TheLife oJ:Richard E. B:lrd
Dear Sir,
aboutour
somanyliesandinnuendoes
Mr. Rose'sbookcontains
thatyou stop
suggest
thatwe respectfully
father,BerntBalchen,
list.
seeattached
thesaleof thisbook.Please
Sincerely,
/br.*//fu,/'fr,.,,
/
Jr.
Balchen
Bernt
63 A
Lillevannsveien
0393Oslo3, Norway
C C:
RaimundE. Goerler
JohnC. Behrendt
Club
TheExplorers
PolarSociety
Norwegian
Soci ety
tlTheAntarctican
LaurttzBalchen
1834MasonBayRoad
ME 04649
Jonesport,
RogerD. Launius
NorskLuftfartsmuseum
AmericanPolarSociety
TheLibraryof Congress
ColinBull
L isle A. R os e:
Exp lo r e r
The Li fe
University
of
Missouri
University
of
of
press,
Columbia
Rie h a r d E . B y r d
CoLumbra and London
,
20Og
pr
li:c k n o w r e a sme n i
a
er ar er ul
_ to i. l .n o n yrn ou:":":j:,,;;".r :", eenerous
support of the publicati;;
ussisted
u"_rian
rn an interview
this
;;'";;:::,.:?::"_
oursranding
volume.
minu"".ipt"
srant
n""
in
'vvith The Anet-ican
Experience:
n L :O://,r,.\^ F *.l )b S ,ir l,a/W qpt;;.ar neX_,.:SS:_:- - _r :Lu_jr _ll- ,::i __g_::t_l r tl e.,,::- :- _q,:- _,:e!:i
tO j e!_:- :t:t!:L!:
M r. Ro se s ay s : ,,W hethr
the g"oJt;'pnj.. northei:
l"
(rrvrd)-actualry got
to
anorher
marrer.r o;;;i-ffiilu niJ"jr!1"rhe'sioueis
On page I 4 Z o f t h i s
b o o k , NIr . Ro se wr ite s: ,,? o
cl aim t hat t h e t w o
a*"ri"un,
r " ii" c
to r e a ch th e
top of the worLd i
s i*pf V wr ong . ,,
"
Mr' Ros e p u t s f o r t h
n o p ro o f th a t Byr d
N ort h pole , b u t j . n
r e a ch e d th e
o r J . , to ,,p r o ve ,,
th
a
t
h e d id , h e
w h o k n e w th e ir u ti,,
S:f : il: ; . per s o n s
m a in ty Be r n t
3:i"f:i]:-::3";::H":'.
Rose,seff orts ro smear
Pa g e 1 1 3 . "B aLc hen fl ew f o r m a n y h o u r s o v e r t h e
No r th Po l ar i c e s c ape, h u n d r e d s o f m ile s f r o m h e lp
sh o u ld h e hi ms el f qo down . "
Refe re n ce ?
11 3 . " Th ereafter,
the y o u n g f lie r
c o n s id e r e d
him se lf a n ex pert on por a r a v ia t io n
and a top-notch
p il o t. "
Re fe r e n ce ? Mr. R os e nev e r m e t B e r n t B a lc h e n .
1-17: t'At this momeriL-.Balehe+jeegan t+ eRdear
.
him se lf t o the A meri c ans. , ,
Ba l ch e n w ork ed on orders f r o m A m u n d s e n . r n a r e t t e r
da te d Ja nuary 30, 1950, A m u n d s e n ' s s e c o n d - in co m m a n d H j al mar R i i s er L a r s e n wr o t e t o L o u is
R u p p e l , E di tor of c ol l .i er , s r , , B y r d h a d lo t
of
1s ic
tr o u b r e s w i th hi s s k i s a n d a s k e d A m u n d s e n if a n y) o n e
in h is company c ourd herp h im . A m u n d s e n a n d
r
discu sse d the matter,
an d we p ic k e d o u t B e r n t
Ba l ch e n as the bes t one f o r t h e jo b , wh ic h
he
f i n ish e d to B y rd,s great s a t is f a c t io n . , ,
Am u n d se n and E rrs w orth h a d in s p e c t e d B y r d , s
s le d
and fo u n d i t to be i n bad s n a p e . A m u n d s e n
asked
F e rd . R . A ri rd,
the ex ped it io n ' s
carpenter,
if h e
co u ld m a k e a better s l ed f o r B y r d , wh ic h
h e d id ,
assi ste d by B arc hen and o t h e r s .
( A r ild ;
carpenter
at sva l b a rd,
N ors k Luftfar t s m u s e u m , B o d , o t g - g g .
t
11 8 : An as i de:
E ie l so n .
Mr. R os e h a s . m is s p e r le d
carr
Ben
r2 4 : " Ba l c hen fi rs t
pubri cly
r a is e d h is o wn d o u b t s
(wh e th e r By rd had reac hed t h e No r t h p o r e )
in 1 9 5 g ,
t hirty
ye ars after B ennet t , s d e a t h a n d a y e a r
after
B yr d d i e d . ',
wh il e Ba lc hen w as s tati one d
in t h e p e n t a g o n in t h e
ea rly 1 9 5 0 's , B y rd made rif e s o m is e r a b r e
f o r h im
t ha t h e d ec i ded to c ome o u t wit h t h e t r u t h ,
but
B y r d d i e d before he c oul d d o s o . o n o c t o b e r
13,
19 5 3 , d u r i ng the ei rgri mag e o f t h e A ir p io n e e r . s
at
K itty
Ha wk , N .c ., B y rd too k B a lc h e n t o t h e s id e :
'r a m goi ng to l et y ou k n o w t h a t wh a t y o u h a v e b e e n
g e ttin g
and are g.etti ng h a s g o t € o s L o p [ h e m e a n t , ,
p u b r i city l .
r am deman d in g a n d r a m o r d e r in g y o u r o
sto p th is at onc e and f o r e v e r .
Do n o t e v e r
b e r i -e ve for a moment th a t r wir r s t a n d f o r b e in q
ste p p e d upon by y ou. '
Ba l ch e n papers .
Afte r th ar, B y rd w oul d c a r r B a r c h e n r - n t h e m id d le
o f th e ni ght and ev en w h e n h e wa s wa it in g
for a
frig h t
ar rdrew i rd A i rpo r t .
The tapes can be found
--at the Byrd..Potr+r Research eenter-, The Oirto State
Un ive rsi ty ,
C ol umbi a.
L 2 6 - " r n a 1999 terev i s i - o n
in t e r v ie w,
B e s s B a lc h e n
u rb a h n r ei terated
her r a t e h u s b a n d , s in s is t e n c e
th a t b a rns tormi ng
aroun d t h e c o u n t r y wit h B e n n e t t . . . , ,
M r. R o se di dn't
pay atte n t io n :
No t b a r n s t o r m in g ,
b u t a n around the c ountr y t o u r f o r t h e
G u g g e n h e im
Fo u n d a tion. H ow ev er, i t wa s o n a t r ip
t o iin a a a
th a t Be nnett tol d B al c h e n t h e t r u t h .
Al so , Bd l c hen w as my for m e r , n o t m y
rate husband.
1 2 6 . Acc ordi ng to Mrs . Ur b a h n , h e r
la t e h u s b a n d
b o ld ly r ai s ed the matter wit h B e n n e t t . . . , ,
ft w a s B ennett w ho c onfe s s e d t o B a L c h e n .
r2 7 : " Ac c ordi ng to R aw l j- n s , G r o v e n o r
a n d h is s t a f f
'd e rib e ra tel y
doc tored'
B y r d , s n a v lg a t io n
report.
Ra w l i n s w ent s o.far
as t o c r a im t h a t h e h a d
'o b ta i-n e d el s ew here (pre s u m a b ly f r o m
B a lc h e n ) a
co p y o f B y rd's ori gi nai
r e p o r t p r o v in g t h a t h e a n d
Be n n e tt had not reac hed t h ; p o le . ,
Ra wl i n s, report w as publis h e d in 2 0 0 0
, 27 years
afte r Ba l c hen's death.
Ba rch e n 's rog from hi s f lig h t s
in t h e J o s e p h in e
Fo r d w i th F10y d B ennett
made for the
1t iig h t s
G u g g e n h ei m Foundati on) i s in t h e
L ib r a r y o f
co n g r e ss. rt s how s an ave r a g e o f 7 g
m ir e s p e r h o u r .
With ski l andi ng gear, th e n . r t
t h e p la n e c o u ld
ave r a g e w as 6g mph. The d is t a n c e f r o m
s p it s b e r g e n
to th e p ol e i s roughl y 1 5 5 0 m ile s .
I ZB . , , N i n e y e a r s Ia te _ r i
Byr d ,s lo n g tim e . a sso cia te
and s o m e t i m e c r i t i c
Ch a r le s ,ly, M u r p h y,
wr o t€ that
r
w
a
s
s
p
e
c
i
al
'wh e n
Assista n t sim u lta n e o u sly
bot ' h ( u . s . A i ; F o r ce
to
) se cr e r a r y F in le tte r
c hi e f o f S r a f f
&
th e A i r
, V an d e n b " ;;;- ir i.n 0 =
wet t , f d i s c o v e r e d
o f m in e a s
r h a r t;; ;lg l co m m a n d
For c e w a s
o f th e Ai r
u
p
g a lch e r r ]= r n "
w
ith
c om p l a i n e d_ foefd n i s
cr
A
had
i.n fi" .r "lio n =
a n d th e Assista n r
Ba,chen
reported
iil:;:'.':',iioo5i';:i:F';;';;:.
If thi s had
been an "
: a s e , it wo u l_ d s h o w in
2OI fi l e,
wh ic n it d o e s
not.
Ba lc hen,s
72e: ,,Balchen,s
initial,
charge
o"t'""n
i?:11:: Byrd hinged
himserr
unJ-nroyo
:il:nffn" rlvins
iff:.itff:i3
Ford
on
i:':
.the rosephine
"'-;;;.;;=*i3:,
coreyioJo:";;::.#:i:::"":"":i!*::i;
making rhe srory
*oi:_oou*uii".]_whicn r,;:,":". on
rhough Batchen
l':i:"frl,f;1i".:*:
,_ r_ -v u rr(=
Canada.
trurh,
1 2 9 : ,,Wh-o kn e w
'D " e w w hrrd
a tE was in
in
mindzii
S e e t h e a b o ve .
L29:
Bennetrhad
:1" \,i/er e fJ- ying
Ewo
,,B a l ch e D r _ d l l d ...other - s ..
of r ai . r u i e a n d
f r a u d , ,:r = ;,
What,,varying a "i""i;
*L^
the
fotXeis
_, .
dying
man,s
to
fever ish
co
co _cte
^,.rh{ ;;_. d va r yin g
ta j.e s
1 .2 9t , ,A s thei r
bi ttern
-;;;"i;d::X?il:"iffT:::*:"..
theyears,Balch";
s us c ep t i b l e
to
ske p ticism andlevel-edby c o n t eam1 lp oirha"r y =::l_.i:1
-o't
"*- th e .ri;;;i"*
r righi 1 , , - t ""..",io'.;;;" .r iti."
1926
Po la r
what do e s M :
I.. su c c es s;i;.ilii5';:
th e '".,,1I
frights
of
rhe r.ur , "
aboutBa.r.chen,s
reerinssr
angry
to him, could atutlantic
r eat him
that.Byrd;_;;;.
and s"rin"rJr"
the
!{ ay he did,
o we d
1 3 0 . ,,But B al c hen k new o f a n c i s h o u l, d - h a v e
a cko w l edged B y rd's i ns is t e n c e
that he and Bennett
h a d b e en ai rborne nearr y s ix t e e n h o u r s , b e c a u s e t h e
N o r w e g i an at s ome poi nt o b t a in e d a n d k e p t a c o p y o f
a d o cu m ent ti tl ed
,,N avig a t io n Re p o r t o f F I ig h t
to
Po le " s i gned by B y rd, wh ic h wa s t h e f o r m a l r e p o r t
su b m i tted to the N ati on a l G e o g r a p h ic s o c ie t y . , ,
wh e re is proof that B a r c h e n h a d s u c h a r e p o it l
Th e N o r w egi an j ournari s t
o d d A r n e s e n wir e d h is
n e wsp a p er A f tenpos ten f r o m s p it s b e r g e n :
,,Byrd over
cr o ssb a y after fi fteen
a n d o n e - h a 1 f h o u r s f r y in g ;
te n m i.n utes l ater the t wo p ir o t s
la n d e d in 9 6 o o
sh a p e . pi rots
i ns i s ted
t o h a v e b e e n a t t h e p o le ,
b u t j u d gi ng by the ti me a wa y d o u b t h a v in g b e e n
th e re . "
1 3 5 : ,,F roes c h got bac k t o
wi th th e c onc rus i on tha t
d isco u ra gi ng
to B arc hen i
No r th p ol e fl i ght
data o f
yo u le f t w i th me and f i n d
rn fa ct,
thi s c orroborat e d
Barchen some days rater
courd onry have L..n
, , T h a v e lo o k e d o v e r t h e
r h e J o s e p h in e F o r d wh ic h
n o t h in g wr o n g wit h it . , ,
B a r c h e n , s f in d in g s ,
1 3 6 - " ..- one
of B arc hen ' s e a r r - ie s t s c a n d in a v ia n
ch a m p i o n s , Gs s ta H . Li Ij e g u j. s t ,
in s is t e d
in a n
a rti cle
tw o y ears 1ater in a p r e s t ig io u s
i n te r n a tional
jo u r n a l t h a t t h e J o s e p h in e
av i ati on
ford must h4ve. b-een as under:powered as
ealchln
c laimed . ,,
No re fe re nc e.
Li l j equi s t
a n d B a r c h e n m e t o n ly o n c e .
Pro fe sso r H arard s v erdru p , p r e s id e n t
of the
No r w e g i -a n porar s oc i ety ,
in it ia t e d
t h e m e e t in g . r t
to o k p la c e on February 2 7 , r g 5 7 a t t h e
home of the
sw e d i sh profes s or
H ans Ah lm a n n , d D A r c t ic
exprorer
o f n o te . A hl mann had i -n v it e d L il je g u is t ,
and asked
ti rje q u ist
to mak e a s ru d y o f n y io , s f lig h r .
wh y d i d n 't
R os e i nc l ude r , ir ju g u is t , s f in d in g s
?
Lil j e q u ist
c onc rudes : "r t r . r u id s e e m a p p r o p r ia t e
th a t a commi ttee of aero n a u t ic a l
a n d * . l" o io r o g ic a l
e xp e rts b e gi v en ac c es s t o t h e f lig h t
r o g a n d a ll
data to s tudy t h e q u e s t io n wh e t h e r
a va il a b l e
f act he di-d t.-.th rt'ht* Po'Le':-/ractual
lo g '
Bu t th e re i s no fl i ght
in
In th e s pri ng of 1957, B d lc h e n wa s a p p r o a c h e d b y
about
t h e p u b lis h e r ,
E.P. Dutton & C o., Inc . ,
a bi ography w i t h Co : : e y F o r d a s g h o s t wr it e r .
writin g
Afte r t he treatment B y r d h a < i s u b je c t e d h im t o ,
Ba lch e n had dec i ded to c o m e o u t wit h t h e t r u t h
no r t h . T h o u g h B y r d d ie d b e f o r e
a b o u t By rd's fl i ght
ll.* vras- agteed' among the
the--b'66k--ebUllJ""bd"pu'b-1isttell
The
s h o t t ld b e t o ld .
that the t r u t h
th re e parti es
b o o k h ad been pri nted wh e n 1 : h e E ly r d g r o u p g o t n e ws
D utton, Ford an d B a lc h e n we r e t h r e a t e n e d
o f it.
wi th law s ui ts by the B y r d f a m ily a n d f r ie n d s .
e d it io n .
Du tto n dec i ded to des tr o y t h e f ir s t
f 3 9 . ,,B al c hen had more t h a n o n e a x t o g r in d . No t
B y r d , b u t jo in in g
Byrd
o n ly d id he c ome to di s lik e
after A mun d s e n ' s d e p a r t u r e f o r t h e p o le
so q u i c k l y
hi m w i t h a n A m e r ic a n t r iu m p h o v e r
a lso i denti fi ed
h i s h o m e c ountry of N o r wa y . O n e wa y t o r e m a in o n
g o o d te rms w i th hi s fe llo w No r we c lj- a n s - wh o
i m m e d i atel y ex pres s ed s k e p t . L c is m o v e r t h e A m e r ic a n
cla im - w as to agree t h a t B y r d , in f a c t ,
had not
b y a : L r , t : h e r e f o r e g iv in g t h e
re a ch e d the pol e fi rs t
tr i u m p h ov er to A munds e n . "
Th is is pure s pec ul ati on .
1 4 0 . ,,Bennett nev er i nd ic a t e d
t o a n y o n e e ls e t h a t
h e a n d B y rd had not re a c h e d t h e p o le . I n d e e d , h e
wro te h i s ow n ac c ount o f t h e f lig h t
that
p u b lis h in g
B y rd's re p o r t ,
co r ro b o rated
it ju s t
sh o r tly
before the al l e g e d c o n f e s s io n t o B a lc h e n . . .
Th e o n ly man w ho c oul d c o r r o b o r a t e
or refute
Ba l ch e n 's c l ai ms ,
fi rs t
m a d e p u b lic in t h e la t e
1 9 5 0 s, w as Fl oy d B enne t t , wh o h a d b e e n d e a d f o r
y ears . "
th irty
Ba l ch e n 's c l ai ms w ere n o t m a d e p u b lic in t h e la t e
1 9 5 0 ' . The B y rd group s t o p p r : d p u b lic a t io n
o f Co m e
No r th , s ee abov e.
Ba lch e n w oul d not.hav e c o m e o u t wit h t h e , t r u t h
o o m a t E e r wh a t F lo y d B e n n e t t
a b o u t By rd's fl i ght,
h a d to l d hi m, i f i t w e r e n ' t f o r B y r d ' s c o n s t . a n t
OnIy
abetted b y a g r o u p o f f r ie n d s .
p e r se cu ti on,
from Byrd to
a fte r B al c hen's death d id le t t e r s
In a memorandumto
c ome to lig h t .
va r i o u s fri ends
Ja m e s E . I"l ooney , dated No v e m b e r L 2 , 1 9 5 3 , B y r d
wro te : ,,E v er s i nc e B alc h e n h a s b e e n wo r k in g wit h
t o wh o s e 1s ic ) wit h
Am e r i ca ns he has been a t r a it o r
he betrayed Amundsen
wh o m h e w ork ed. Fi rs t o f a I I ,
a t Sp itzbergen
l s i c ) i v h e n h e I e f t h im a n d we n t o v e r
to th e B y rd c amp beeau s e h e wa n t e d t o c o m e t o t h e
B a lc h e n is : : e a d y t o b e t r a y t h e
Un ite d S tates ...N ow
i
f
the
A
i
r
F o r c e d o e s n ' t d o wh a t h e
Fo
rc
e
Air
wa n ts. " The B y rd P ol ar Re s e a r c h Ce n t e r .
L 4 2 . ,,C ons pi -rac y theori s t s ,
s u c h a s B a lc h e n , h is
wi ve s, R aw l i ns , and oth e r s a r e a d e p t a t c r e a t in g
a n d r i g idry
mai ntai ni ng
a r t e r n a r iv e
r e a lit ie s
based
o n a si ngl e hi ghl y que s t io n a b le
a s s u m p t io n , b e it
th a t
By rd and B ennett c o u r d n e v e r . h a v e r e a c h e d t h e
No r th Pol e, H arry Trum a n d r o p p e d t h e a t o m ic b o m b s
a s a m i l i tary
demons tra t io n
a g a n s t s t a r in ,
or John
F. Ke n n edy w as the v i c t im o f a p lo t b y t h e c r A a n d
So vie ts or perhaps FB I d ir e c t o r
J . E d g a r Ho o v e r .
su ch p eopre w i l r
rai s e n e w p e r s p e c t iv e s
and propose
fre sh a rguments . Theor ie s a n d t h e o r is t s
are serdom
if e ve r amenabl e to rea s o n o r c o m m o n s e n s e . , ,
Wh y d id n 't
Mr. R os e c o n s u lt a n y o f , , t h e c o n s p ir a c y
th e o rists "
w hen he w rot e t h is b o o k ?
1 6 1 . ,,vaughan's ac c oun t is t h e m o s t b iz a r r e
of arr.
He cl a ims that , one da y , B a lc h e n t o ld h im wh a t
really
happened on the f lig h r .
A c o s r a f le w t h e
first
s ev eral hours ov e r t , h e o c e a n , t h e n No v ille
r e li e ve d
hi m and w as fo r c e d t o f ly lo w, n e a r ly
cli p p i n g
the ground. ,, ( T h e y we r e o v e r wa t e r I I
)
Va u g h a n, i f i ndeed B al c h e n h a d d is c u s s e d t h e f r ig h t
w i th h im, got i t al l wr o n g : No v ille
wa s n o t a
p il o t,
V aughan w ent on : , , No v ilI e a n d A c o s t a k e p t
d r i n ki n g
and getti ng m o r e a n d m o r e o b s t r e p e r o u s
u n ti l
B y rd at l as t pi ck e d u p a wr e n c h a r id k n o e k e d
b o th m en out..
No wh e re di d B arc hen m e n t io n No v ir le ' s
and Acosta,s
d r i n ki n g ,
nor about By r d k n o c k i- n g b o t h m e n o u t .
w rite s Mr. R os e: ,,The y ( B y r d a n d B a r c h e n
) got the
two d r unk s out of the c o c k p it . . . , , Ha d t h e t wo d r u n k s
b e e n i n the c oc k pi t,
t h e p la n e wo u r d h a v e r a n d e d in
th e d r i nk .
w rote B y rd d u r j- n g t h e f r ig h t :
, , L ig h t s
d o n 't work s o w el l .
Fo u n d a lo n g s t ia k u r r a n it
No vi l l e
on the s hoe w i t h t h a t . , ,
*( To-the-Pole1
--The -dtary ,and' rn6tdbo6k
o f Ric h a r d
E.
By r d . R a i mu n d E . Go e r1er ,
Ohio Stat.e Un iv e r s it y
Press r 1998. )
To n y Fok k er w as the pe r s o n wh o in s is t e d
that
Ba r ch e n go on the fri gh t
s i- n c e h e wa s t h e o n r y
in str u m ent
pi l ot.
B al c h e n wa s t h e n e m p lo y e d b y
Fo kke r , and they w our- d - b e f r y in g
a F o k k e r p la n e .
w rite s Fok k er i n The F ly in g b u t lh n a n z
r D t h e lig h t
o f wh a t, ac tuarr-y oc c urr e d , - B y r d , s d e s c r,ip t io n
in
skyw a r d s ounds ' i ai ntl y
r id ic u r o u s .
A b o u t t-h" is
VrO stage
(wh e n they : w el e apprbac h in g V - e r _ = , r r _ l, r " i
i,
w ro te i
,r fel t my s el f e n t ir e ly
r e s p o n s ib le
for the
r i ve s of my s hi pmates . r d o n , L b e r ie v e
they thought
th e re was muc h c hanc e g I g e t t in g
d o wn s a t e iy ,
Ur r t
stil l
r hey fac ed i t ga lr a n t ly . . .
to the tasl they
calmly obeyed orders . Bar-cne'n happened
to be at the
w h e e r -- (The i tari c s
are F o k k e r , = . ) B a lc h e n s e t t h e
sh i p d ow n on the frares r s o a c c u r a t e ly
d-tiid h e
land.... Balc'rrelT"s. nerv'es are of iron,
r"t
a ,rs'"" his,
ju d g m e n t, too. H e has n o t g o t t e n
t h e c r e d it
he
d e se r ve s , r s uppos e, be c a u s e h is
e x t r a o r d in a r y
m o d e sty s hames the s hri n k in g
v io I e t . , ,
1 6 1 : ,,Bal c hen's s el f -s e r v in g
r e c o lr e c t io n s
are
p a r ticla r l y
s us pec t. Th ir t y y e a r s la t e r
he
remembered many exact *oment= of
the f1ight......,,
Mr. Rose must' ref e' 'to c?*?', rrgrth wi,thi;:, il
h e e ve r
forget
that
fl i gh t ? ? ? ?
couta
2 3 3 , ,,Tr ue, he (B al c hen) h a d e x h ib it e d
a tendency
to a l l o w ,publ i c i ty '
to g o t o h is h e a d a b if ; -
s o ,i n Ne w Y o r k . '
F o r t u n a t e ly ,
the
,co n sid e rabl y '
N o r w e g i an had , s napped o u t o f it a f t e r s e v e r a l
b a w l i n g s out, and I c o u ld n o t a s k f o r a b e t t e r
a ttitu d e
than hi s has b e e n f o r we e k s . '
Se e Fo k k er's s tatement a b o v e .
2 4 Iz ,,...S mi th w as one o f t h e f e w , , B y r d m e n , ,
a lo n g
w i th Bal c hen, Fi nn R on n e a n d A I a n I n n e s T a y lo r
wh o ca m e to harbor a b it t e r
d is ik e o f h is
commander . "
Ba lch e n ',s ,,bi tter
di s l i k e , ,
for Byrd came at a much
l a te r
s tage, w hen B y rd d id e v e r y t h in g
in h is p o we r
to r u i-n hi s c areer i n t h e A ir F o : : - c e .
2 ' 73 : , ,B a l ch e n ,
w h o b e came close
Eo Sr nith
m u t u a l ca mp a i g n to d i scredit
Bvr d...,,
What campaign?
2 7 6 : ,,W hi Ie B y rd k ept
Ba l ch e n and J une...,,
No re fe re nc e.
d r i n k i n g , a c c o r d in q
in
their
to
2 7 3 t " In I972, fi fteen
y e a r s a f t e r B y r d , s death,
wh iL e Ba l c hen w as i n th e m id s t o f h is o wn
c ampai gn
to d i scre di t
hi s former e m p 1 o y e r . . . , ,
What campaj-gn?
275t , , B a I c h e n b e l i e v e d th e y we r e c lo s e , wit h in
m iles , p e r h a p s , b u t n o t a t t , h e p o le it s e I f . . . "
N o r ef ere n c e .
2 7 5 : ,,Sh ortIy af ter l eav in g t h e p o le h e ( B y r d
)
a ll e g e d l y
pu1l ed a pi nt b o t t le
of cognac out of
ba g a n d began dri nk i D 9..., ,
Wh o a ll e q es ?
2 7 6 2 ,,Wh i l e B y rd k ept dr in k jn g ,
a c c o r d in g
Ba lch e n and J une...,
Wh e r e d i d J une and B al c h e n r e la t e
t h is ? ?
to
f ir r e
h is
2 8 1 : ,,S i tti ng
of f by h im s e lf , t h e p e r p e t u a lly
su sp icious
and c r'1t'i c a r ' B a ' lc h b n wr o t e : ' , , T h e r e a d b r
o f th e ex pedi ti on
now ' jiis t p r o m < > r e d t o t h g r a n k o f
Re a r Admi raI..."
N o r e ferenc e.
2 8 Iz ,,Li k e D ean S mi th a n d , la t e r , F in n Ro n n e ,
Ba lch e n c onc l uded that B v r d wa s n o t o n ly a p o s e u r
b u t a n i gnoramus . ,,
No r e ferenc e.
2 8 r : ,,The man w as a v i c t im ,
h is o wn wit t in g
v ic t i. m ,
i n fa ct, af ,publ i c
ad u r a t i. n
and unde=er,r"d know
h o w ,' whi c h i n a nuni be r o f in s t iln c e s t h a t
B a le h e n
ch o se not to di s c us s a lle g e d ly
p la c e d B A E r in
j e o p a r dy . ',
No re fe renc e.
3 0 5 . ,,L i nc o1n E l l sw o rth ,
a b a n d o n ed the i d e a . "
No r e fe r enc e.
3 0 5 . ,,Ba1c hen w rote
N o re fe renc e.
in
3 0 7 . ,,They were Bernt
N o r e fe r enc e.
W ilkins
h is
and Balchen
,never :
d ia r y - - - , ,
B a lc h e n , s
p a r t is a n s . , ,
434 . ,, Btr€r--Greentand ,. not i.Lsfory
- Ca t a I y s t
, wa - S t h e
th a t se nt the B y rd-B al c h e n f e u d
i- n t o o r b it . , ,
No re fe re nc e.
fn Ja n u a ry , 1949, B aLc h e n , t h e '
head of the 10th
Re scu e Sguadron i n A l as k a , wr o t e
to Byrd:
,,r h a ve s tudi ed the s i tu a t . io n
s . r n c e r c a m e t o t h is
co m rn a n d and hav e c ome to t h e c o n c lu s io n
that for
e fficie n t
w ork i n the p o la q B a s in , wg . m r ls . t :
have,. .:
th r e e ke y poi nts es tabri s iie d ' j, n
t h e No r t h A m e : : ic a n
s e cto r,
'rh...
about s y nmerri c a lly
a lo ' q . h ; - ; j; " ' - o ' f
Arci tc
o c ean. w i th s tati o n s
a t n ir r e r
rsrand,
M e lvil l e
rs rand i n the c a n t r d i. a n A r ic h p e r a g o
and at
|0
Th u l e in G reenl 'and'w ec ans a t is f a c t o r ily c o v eNo
r t h5ewa y . . . . ,
S ib e r ia . a n d
to
ac
ros
s
o
c
ean
Ar cti c
wh a ' t e v e r t h a t m a y
f ut u r e
L o o kin g tow ards the
'
b e o f t h e u t m o s t v a lu e
will
thes e s tati ons
bring,
i n q u ickl oc ati onofdow nedai r : c r a f t o u t o v e r t h eo p o r t u n it y
to
al s o g iv e u s i ' a ' n
p o l a r i c e. It w i l t
our c r e ws ' in h ig h la t it u d e
and perfec t
tra i n
n a vig a tion....
a r c t ic
for a central
I h a ve s ent i n a proposa l
a r o n g t h e s e r in e s ,
se a rch and res c ue orga n i: e a . E iO n
o n ly " " "
w o r Xi n g w i th one ty pe o f a ir c r a f t
Ba l ch e n nev erheardfromB y r d in t h is c o n n e c t io n .
both t h e a ir f o r c e a n d t h e n a v y
4 3 4 ;,,Thereafter,
to
d ir e c t io n
under B yr d , s o v e r a ll
m o ve d s w i ftl y
a
ir
b o t h s t r a t e g ic
im p l e m ent p:'l ns to es t a b lis h
in G r e e n I a n d . "
n a se s and w eather s tati o n s
that
It w as u n d e r B a lc h e n ' s d ir e c t io n
N o r e ferenc e.
senator
Th u le A i r Forc e B as e w a s b r : ilt . ' ; it wa s t h e n
s y mi ngton w ho g o t t h e T ' h u I e p r o je c t
stu a r t
B al c he n b r ie f e r d t h e S e n a t o r a b o u t
u n d e r w ay s afi er
t o A I a s k a . No
h is i d e as duri ng s y mi n g t o n ' s v is it
p a p e rSa boutB y rd,s part.i c i p a t io n o r o v e r a ll
to i mpl emen t t h e s e p la n s e x is t in t h e
d i re cti ons
Byrd Li brarY .
4 3 8 . ,,Fi nn R onne s udde n ly e m e r g e d a s a f u r t h e r
T h e No r we g ia n c a m e o u t o f
so u r ce of i rri tati on.
m o d e st w arti me s erv i c e d e t e r m in e d t o c a r v e h is o wn
L ik e B a I c h e n , h e
ex p lo r a t io n .
n ich e i n A ntarc ti c
fa n cie d that B y rd w as o u t t o b lo c k h im " '
No re fe renc e '
t o o k p la c e , o r c a n b e
4 3 5 . ,, W hether thi s i nc id e n t
is h ig h ly
as B al c h e n r e p o r t e d it ,
ch a ra ct eri z ed
q u e sti onabl e. "
Ro se ac c us es B al c hen o f I Y in g '
ll
4 3 5 .,,o n l y .themoS tfooIj .s h,na v a I . o f f i' . c e r c o u I d
wi sh o r hope to i nf ].r:rbn c e' t h e , ; . , o j: r l" , . f Q r q gp r _ o m o t lo n , , .
.'."
pro ce ss-- . "
l.
e
t Ler {rom
a
i s ev i de n t ln
ittu t Byrd tri ed
! i=
1
9
5
3 (Byrd
8
,
De
'
:
e
m
b
e
r
d
a
t
e
d
Mooney
E
.
Ja
mes
frie n d
L ib r a r y ) : ,,Further , A dm ir a l , I a m n o w in a p o s it io n
sh o u l d a n y s teps be made f o r c o n g r e s s io n a l
of a pl an to h a v e B a lc h e n m a d e a B ' G .
i n itia ti o n
G eneral ) ov er t h e h e a d s o f t h e m ilit a r y
(Br i g a d ie r
b e s q u e lc h e d '
that i t w ilI
esta b l i sh ment,
-;lFhere-fteht
fertEti*+$
-€+!fL
-+ba+-9ast--of--lzo'u.r-
regu
es t
to m e co v eri ng the probl e m a s t o wh o o u t s id e o f t h e
Ai r Fo r ce i s s pons ori ng B a lc h e n , a n d if s u c h
as to
sp o n so r sh i p i nv ol v es y ou a s a n in d iv id u a l
or other grud g e s . f c a n a s s u r e y o u t h a t
p re j u d i ce s
we sh a l l hav e thes e ans we r s a ls o . "
o r r e f le c t e d
s t ir n u la t e d ,
the
4 5 4 z ,,Ba 1c hen c reated,
'
,
w
o
u
ld
d
o
g
t
h
e
A n t a r a c t ic
anx i ety that
c e n tr a l
. ,
community f or years, to. come'.i'
No ref erence;" A s€-rious ,accusat ir>n s u c h a , s t h is
sh o u ld hav e been doc ume n t e d . .
o-to sa y that D i c k B y rd d ic ln ' t m a k e it t o t h e p o J e
or Di ck B y rd di d nak e i t : t o t h e P o le , f t h in k ls
I don't t h in k . y o u c a n s a y t h a t . "
to o ca te gori c al -.
?|tT€American Experienee.Li-sIe e;--Ros€;
Be ss Urb ahn
11 5 Ba rn es tow n R oad
Ca m d e n , M E 04843
J u lv
2008
ll
B yrd and Balchen
The ques ti on rema in s : W h a t c a u s e d B y r d , s
a n im o sity agai ns t B al c h e n ? T h e a n s we r is s im p le :
Fe a r a nd j eal ous y .
Fear, bec aus e he kn e w t h a t B a lc h e n wa s a n
e xce lre nt
mathemati c i an a n d h a d f ig u r e d
out that
the Josephine Ford courd not have made it to the
No r th Pore; j earous y b e c a u s e B a r c h e n m a d e h e a d r in e s
o n h is ow n.
It w as n't al w ay s t h a t wa y : O n J a n u a r y 1 6 , 1 9 3 1 ,
Byrd w rote to G eorge p a lm e r p u t n a m :
Bernt is a prince.
r shar,r- never r-et go by en
opportunity
to show how I feel- towards hin.
Bu t then B arc hen g o t a t t e n t io n
from the press.
rn M a r c h, 1931, Meri an c . c o o p e r , p r o d u c e r o f K in g
Ko n g , had s ent a c rew t o Ne wf o u n d la n d t o m a k e a
m o vi e a bout s ear hunti n g .
B u t a n e x p r o s io n o c c u r r e d
o n b o a rd ; c ooper c aIl ed B a r c h e n f o r h e r p . wr o t e
C o o p e r:
BaLchen was wonderfuL
the greatest Arctic
piTot who ever l-ived. hle f Lew in bad weather Low
among icebergs,
dropped supplies,
blankets,
food,
e tc. , to s c attered
s urv iv o r s ,
g
u
id
e
d
and
them to
shore
three or four days' desperate work, Balchen
made incredibTe
Tandings in broken ice--we
should
h a ve b een k i l Led a doze n t im e s .
D u r i ng W orl d W ar f f , B a lc h e n m a d e m o r e
h e a d li n e s . A l ong w i th Do o lit t r e
and chennaurt,
he
w a s in terv i ew ed
by J on He r s e y a n d s k e t c h e d b y T o m
L e a ; e a c h of the three f r y e r s h a d t wo f u l_ l p a g e s in
th e M a r c h 29, L944 i s s u e o f L if e .
Several
n e w s papers w rote abo u t t h e r e s c u e s B a lc h e n h a o
p e rformed i n G reenl a n d ; t h e n c a m e t h e b o o k , W a r
Be L o w Zero
hel p t h a t L - i. f e p r in t e d
a n a r t ic le ,
It di dn't
a Gi ant Ne w A ir B a s e a t t h e T o p o f t h e
Ho w W e B ui l t
Wo rld, menti oni ng B a lc h e n b u t n o t p r r r r i r r r ^ r : q
i n The R e a d e r s Di. g e s t .
r e p rinted
B ut i t w as Franc is a n c i K a t h a r in e Dr a k e , s s t o r y
i n T he D i ges tz B ernt B a L c h e n , V jk in g o f t h e A ir ,
r h a t rea1l y got B y rd ' s g o a t .
B y rd and fri ends wr o t € r t o t h e e d it o r ,
De wit t
Wa I l ac e , to c ompTi -n . T n f ' e b r u a r y 2 7 , 1 95 3 , M ic h a e l J. B rennan, c aptai n o f t h e Ch a n t ie r , wr o t e a f o u r
a n d a hal f page l ette r i " T h e s t o r y in t h e Dig e s t
i n ce n s ed me and r th o u g h t a b o u t n y f r ie n d s ,
liv in g
a n d dead, s o I dec i d e d t o wr it e y o u . , ,
w hat B rennan's liv in g
a n d d e a d f r ie n d s h a d t o
d o w i th the arti c re
is a q u e s t io n .
B y r d f o r r o we d u p
w i th a l etter
on Feb r u a r y 2 g ; h o we v e r it wa s n o t
se n t bec aus e Mrs . W a l_ l_ a c ewa s s ic k
Then on J anuary L 4 t h e r " a c lm ir : a r c a r r e d F r a n c is D ra ke to c ompl ai n; o n A p r ir 2 9 h e s e n t : Dr a k e a b r r r
fo r t he phone c arr, wh ic h Dr a k e r e f u s e d c o p a y .
A l t thi s c orres p o n d e n c : e , a r o n g wit h a r e - p a g e
critique
of the D rak e a r t ic r e ,
c a n b e f o u n d i; t h e
Byr d Ii brary .
w hen B al -c hen w a s t r a n s f e r r e d
from Araska to the
Pe n tagon as proj ec t
o f f ic e r
o f t h e T h u le A ir b a s e ,
thq_ cqr:_qgwe,re stAcked against him. Byrd l-rad his
re ra tiv e,
s enator H a r r y B y r d ; t h e A ir F o r c e c h ie f
o f St aff,
General Th o m a s D. wh it e , wa s a r e la t iv e .
T he fac t that B a l- c h e n f r a d d ir e c t
c o n t a c t wit h
se cre tari es
of the A ir F o r c e F in r e t t e r
and Tarbott
m a d e hi s s uperi or,
G e n e r a r Ro g e r Ra m e y , f u r io u s .
Ba l,chen at that ti rne h a d a d e s k in t h e p e n t a g o n
b a se m ent, and s omebo d y o r o t h e r h a d r e s r r i. a ; ;
h im :'
h e w as a popul ar s pe a k e r b u t wa s n o t p e r m ia a . J
;;
g i ve more than one s p e e c h . a m d n t h . He ' r h a d
'
n a t ; i; ;
to d o . A n arti c l e
i n Ne v t s we e ka p p e a r e d z will- in e '
Ai r F orc e Forc e fi re
a G . r e a t A r c t ic E x p e r t ?
-' t
h o b b y'
h e to o k r e fu g e in h is
p
e
r
i
o
d
t
h
i
s
Du r i n g Ar t'
1 95 3 th e Gr a n d Ce n tr a l
6
J
u
n
t
t
u
t
y
o
n
.
paint ing
- c allerie s i ; N e w y o i X g' a ve a n e xh ib it o f h is
ca m e ' th e Do o little s '
F
i
n
l
e
tte
r
s
t
n
"
'
\ , , rat er c o l o r s .
T r yg ve L ie a n d o th e r s '
s
m
ith
,
*
.
.
i
G ene T u n n e y ,
not
o f th e sp o n so r s' h e d id
o
n
e
B
y
r
d
'
t
u
"
Though
C o | Jr e ls h a d a b ig sp r e a d
o
p
e
n
i
n
g
'
t
h
e
at t end
I
s nowin g h i s P a i n t i n g s '
Pe:Fagongot Barchen
thF
it
s
rn 1e5 ,"??il-"a'"
sp e n t h is
' wh e r e h e
t rans f e r r e d t o N e w f o un d la n {Ce
n e r a l Gle n n Ba r cu s '
under I
I as t y e a r r n s e r v i c e
B a r cu s p r e se n te d - h im with th e
when h e r e t i r e d ,
r e a d th e cita tio n :
Dis t ing u i s n e O S e r v i c e u e ia l tg-i"tntin
d .g u ish e d h jm se J't b y
C o I o n e I B e r n t n alcie n
His firm
service----.
exceptionuirl-i"rii.orious
a n d se lf T e ss
l-ead e r s h i P , e x t e n s i v e b a ckg to u n d
dev ot i o n t o d u t y w e r e i n str u m e n ta T fa cto r sin th e
s uc c e s s f u ] . a c c o m p T i sh m e n to fse ve r a T m a jo r p r o je cts
ot v it a l s i g n i f i c a n c e t o t he d e fe n se o fth e e n tir e
North American Continent '
Bes s U r b a h n
I L5 B a r n e s t o w n R o a d
Cam d e n , M E 0 4 8 4 3
J uly 2 0 0 8