Bernt Balchen: Polar Aviatior

354 Pages·1999·18.552 MB·English

by  Carroll V. Glines

ISBN 1-56098-906-8
781 560"989066l >
MOUW
SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION PRESS
Washington and London
To Bernt Balchen's Carpetbaggers
and the crewmen of the Ve Bo It Squadron
who braved Norway's wartime shies
© 1999 by Carroll V. Glines
All rights reserved
Copy editor: Debbie K. Hardin
Production editor: Ruth Spiegel
Designer: Janice Wheeler
Cartographer: Rod Eyer
Library of Congress Cataloging­in­Publication Data
Glines, Carroll V., 1920­
Bernt Balchen : polar aviator / by Carroll V. Glines
p. cm.
Includes bibliographical references and index.
ISBN: 1­56098­906­8 (alk. paper)
1. Balchen, Bernt, 1899­1973. 2. Air pilots—United States—Biography.
3. Explorers—United States—Biography. 4. Arctic regions. 5. Antarctica.
6. Aeronautics—Flights. I. Title.
G585.B3G58 1999
9i9.8'o4'o92—dc2i
[B] 99­20698
British Library Cataloguing­in­Publication Data available
Manufactured in the United States of America
© © The recycled paper used in this publication meets the minimum
requirements of the American National Standard for Information Sciences—
Permanence of Paper for Printed Library Materials ANSI Z39.48­1948.
For permission to reproduce illustrations appearing in this book, please
correspond directly with the owners of the works as listed in the individual
captions. The Smithsonian Institution Press does not retain reproduction rights
for these illustrations or maintain a file of addresses for photo sources.
Contents
Foreword by George L. Weiss v
Acknowledgments vii
Introduction ix
1. Spitsbergen ,
2. The Lad from Tveit x6
5. Introduction to a New World 26
4. The Flight of the America 43
5. Tragedy and Prelude to Triumph
59
6. To the South Pole
73
7. Fame and Misfortune
94
8. Prelude to War us
9. The Challenge of Blule West 8 i
33
10. "War Below Zero" i
JO
11. Operations Sonnie and Ball
167
12. Operation Where and When and the Sepals Project 188
15. From Airline Copresident to Squadron Commander 205
iv Contents
14. "The Most Unpleasant Years of My Life" 227
15. An Autobiography Raises a Storm
250
16. The World's Polar Consultant 268
Appendix 279
Notes 281
Bibliography 300
Index 303
Foreword
Bernt Balchen is one of the least recognized public figures in America, yet
he was a hero to individuals the public called heroes. He was a leader of
those who called themselves leaders. He was a person who managed to
remain mostly anonymous to the public despite the honors he received
throughout his lifetime.
He never sought fame; rather it seemed to seek him. He sought chal­
lenge and in doing so found his role in life. He sought excellence and won
international acclaim. He believed in freedom and fought for it in the uni­
forms of three nations.
As a flyer he had few peers. It was Balchen the famous names sought
out when they launched expeditions across oceans and uncharted conti­
nents. He was the first to fly above the South Pole and the first to see both
Poles from the air.
Balchen the man was much like Balchen the hero. Fame and honors
had little apparent effect on him. He managed to retain his low profile
because he never took himself that seriously.
He became an explorer because he possessed the flight and navigation
skills few men had in those early days of aviation. He was an arctic ex­
pert because his life was tied to the arctic and survival was the only way
of life there.
He became a Norwegian resistance hero because his homeland needed
him. He fought as a Finnish soldier in World War I because he under­
stood that if Finland fell, Norway would follow. He was a friend to
everyone—to the mechanic on whom he depended to change his spark
plugs or a king who could cut red tape with a prime minister who stood
in his way when he had a job to do.
v
vi Foreword
He professed not to be a public speaker but could speak without notes
on the future of aviation or the need for air power.
Adversity was not unknown to Bernt Balchen. Within the space of
minutes he was congratulated by a president in the White House and
handed a summons ordering his deportation as he left the grounds.
He became a colonel in the U.S. Air Force, drove out Nazi weather sta­
tions from Greenland during the war, rescued airmen downed on the
Greenland ice cap.
He was outspoken and hated sham and pretense. His candor won him
enemies, and the Senate never promoted him to star rank.
Balchen's friend, Lowell Thomas, paid fitting tribute: "He was the last
of the great Norsemen."
George L. Weiss,
Lieutenant Colonel, U.S. Air Force (Retired)
Former Pentagon Editor, Armed Forces Journal
Acknowledgments
Of the many pilots who represent the Golden Age of Flight, Bernt
Balchen is further distinguished: educated, modest, artistically talented,
and with flying skills far more proficient than his contemporaries. To my
delight, he kept excellent notes, diaries, sketches, and correspondence
files throughout his life. These were judiciously distributed to archives
throughout the country after his death by his widow Audrey, who has a
keen appreciation of the historical significance of her late husband's ac­
complishments. I am greatly indebted to her for providing continual en­
couragement and extensive background knowledge.
I am also indebted to the Royal Norwegian Embassy, the curators at
the National Archives and Library of Congress in Washington, D.C., the
Air Force Museum, and the Ford Museum for their cooperation. Espe­
cially helpful was archivist Joseph D. Caver of the Air Force Historical
Research Agency at Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama, where most of
the Balchen files of military significance are located. And I am grateful to
Dr. Raimund E. Goerler, director, and Bertha L. Ihnat and Laura J. Kissel,
archives assistants at the Byrd Polar Research Center at Ohio State Uni­
versity, for their efficiency in providing the Richard E. Byrd files for re­
view. Thanks are also owed to Duane J. Reed, chief of Special Collections
at the Air Force Academy, Colorado Springs, Colorado, who filled in
gaps related to Balchen's contributions to the Air Force. Bruno A. Yoka,
who served on the Greenland Coast Guard patrol during World War II
provided interesting information about operations there. H. V. "Pat"
Reilly, executive director of the Aviation Hall of Fame of New Jersey, sent
valuable background on the Atlantic flight and the French museum at
Ver­sur­Mer.
vii
viii Acknowledgments
Because many of Bernt Balchen's activities during World War II were
classified top secret and the participants on the missions he led were
sworn to maintain that secrecy until several years ago, there was reluc­
tance on the part of a few to respond to queries. However, I am indebted
to Col. Robert W. Fish and two dozen members of the 8oist/492nd
Bomb Group and Balchen's Ve Do It Squadron for providing anecdotes,
information, and photographs about that phase of the air war. Knut Ha­
grup, former president of Scandinavian Airlines System (SAS), also pro­
vided invaluable history on the airline. Signe Balchen, cousin of Bernt
Balchen, sent photographs, as did Lars Gyllenhaal, Oyvind Aaonevik,
Kjell Agren, and Torbjorn Olausson. Ornunf Thune and Toril McGowan
provided valuable translation services.
My appreciation is also extended to Fred W. Hotson, past president of
the Canadian Aviation Historical Society, for providing background and
photographs about Balchen's pioneering days in Canada. Fred Schempf
furnished information about the ioth Rescue Squadron; Lowell Thomas,
Jr., also provided information about Balchen on the record­setting round­
the­world flight on which they were passengers. The superb artistic ability
of Rod Eyer to produce excellent maps is also very much appreciated, and
my thanks are also extended to him for locating rare photographs.
Sincere appreciation is extended to Smithsonian Institution Press for
continuing—through its History of Aviation series—to honor the men
and women who led the way in developing aviation.