Q: What was so frustrating at the MacMillan Expedition for Byrd. What kind
of resolve did it give him and how did it prepare him for his own
expeditions.
RG: The MacMillan Expedition of 1925 was an important event for Byrd. It of
course frustrated him that he did not have as much flying time as he expected
under Donald MacMillan. It frustrated him that he was third in command and in
command only of the flying squadron, but nevertheless, there were several
accomplishments. Number one was that he developed as a result of that
MacMillan Expedition a strong connection with a National Geographic Society,
which had backed the expedition. He also proved to his backers namely Ford and
Rockefeller that Byrd was a comer, that he was a man who could accomplish
things and basically set the stage for another attempt at the North Pole, in
1926.
Q: Did he get a real polar experience, too?
RG: Oh, yes. One of the things that came out of the 1925 Expedition was the
publicity in the National Geographic and also Byrd's article therein called
"Flying in the Arctic", really established Byrd as an Arctic flyer and put him
in some demand.
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