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Why has Richard E. Byrd’s claim to have flown over the North Pole been questioned?

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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.

Richard E. Byrd’s 1926 claim to have reached the North Pole by airplane has been questioned for decades, with some associates, such as Bernt Balchen, even labeling the flight a hoax.1

The primary evidence casting doubt on the achievement emerged in 1996 with the discovery of Byrd’s personal diary from the expedition. Entries in the diary suggest that Byrd and his pilot, Floyd Bennett, were approximately 150 miles (240 km) short of the North Pole when they decided to turn back due to concerns regarding an oil leak in their engine.12

Because of these discrepancies, credit for the first definitively documented flight over the North Pole is generally attributed to Roald Amundsen, Lincoln Ellsworth, and Umberto Nobile, who successfully flew over the Pole in a dirigible just three days after Byrd’s attempt.12