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What was Operation Highjump?

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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.

Operation Highjump, conducted during the summer of 1946–1947, was the fourth Antarctic expedition led by U.S. naval officer and explorer Richard E. Byrd. It stands as the most massive and ambitious sea and air operation attempted in Antarctica up to that time.12

The expedition involved 4,700 personnel, 13 ships—including an aircraft carrier and two seaplane tenders—and 25 airplanes. Utilizing both ship-based and land-based aircraft, the mission successfully mapped and photographed approximately 537,000 square miles (1,390,000 square km) of the Antarctic coastline and interior, covering significant regions that had never been seen before.12

Operation Highjump served as a major milestone in the history of polar exploration, demonstrating the effectiveness of modern technical resources like aerial photography and advanced aviation in conducting systematic reconnaissance of the continent.2