Britannica Sources used in this answer

What did Richard E. Byrd do during the U.S. Antarctic Service expedition of 1939–41?

Created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.

Richard E. Byrd stands on a ship deck in heavy fur clothing and a leather cap, holding a sundial compass during an Antarctic expedition. — Richard E. Byrd Richard E. Byrd.

At the request of President Franklin D. Roosevelt, Richard E. Byrd took command of the U.S. Antarctic Service and led the 1939–41 expedition, which was the first to be financed and sponsored by the U.S. government.1

During this expedition, Byrd oversaw the establishment of bases at Little America and Stonington Island, located off the Antarctic Peninsula. A significant achievement of this mission was Byrd’s discovery of Thurston Island, which substantially reduced the amount of unexplored coastline on the continent.1