Okla-homey
5/3/2006, 06:01 AM
May 3, 1952 Oklahoman lands on the North Pole
http://img232.echo.cx/img232/4764/t3plane3hx.jpg
54 years ago on this day, an American scientific expedition commanded by an Air Force officer from Oklahoma was the first group in history certain to have reached the North Pole. On May 3, 1952, a ski-modified U.S. Air Force C-47 piloted by Lieutenant Colonel Joseph O. Fletcher of Oklahoma and Lieutenant Colonel William P. Benedict of California became the first aircraft to land on the North Pole. A moment later, Fletcher climbed out of the plane and walked to the exact geographic North Pole, the first person in history to do so.
http://img232.echo.cx/img232/9803/jfletcher8gh.jpg
In the early 20th century, American explorers Robert Peary and Dr. Frederick Cook, both claiming to have separately reached the North Pole by land, publicly disputed each other's claims. In 1911, Congress formally recognized Peary's claim.
http://img53.imageshack.us/img53/6228/zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz6.gif (http://imageshack.us)
Robert Peary. He thought he was there first.
http://img72.imageshack.us/img72/6973/zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz16.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
1907 Peary expedition
In recent years, further studies of the conflicting claims suggest that neither expedition reached the exact North Pole, but that Peary came far closer, falling perhaps 30 miles short. In 1952, Lieutenant Colonel Fletcher was the first person to undisputedly stand on the North Pole.
Standing alongside Fletcher on the top of the world was Dr. Albert P. Crary, a scientist who in 1961 traveled to the South Pole by motorized vehicle, becoming the first person in history to have stood on both poles.
No word of whether or not they encountered Santa or the Claus compound ;)
http://img142.echo.cx/img142/2623/insane7zo.jpg
http://img232.echo.cx/img232/4764/t3plane3hx.jpg
54 years ago on this day, an American scientific expedition commanded by an Air Force officer from Oklahoma was the first group in history certain to have reached the North Pole. On May 3, 1952, a ski-modified U.S. Air Force C-47 piloted by Lieutenant Colonel Joseph O. Fletcher of Oklahoma and Lieutenant Colonel William P. Benedict of California became the first aircraft to land on the North Pole. A moment later, Fletcher climbed out of the plane and walked to the exact geographic North Pole, the first person in history to do so.
http://img232.echo.cx/img232/9803/jfletcher8gh.jpg
In the early 20th century, American explorers Robert Peary and Dr. Frederick Cook, both claiming to have separately reached the North Pole by land, publicly disputed each other's claims. In 1911, Congress formally recognized Peary's claim.
http://img53.imageshack.us/img53/6228/zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz6.gif (http://imageshack.us)
Robert Peary. He thought he was there first.
http://img72.imageshack.us/img72/6973/zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz16.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
1907 Peary expedition
In recent years, further studies of the conflicting claims suggest that neither expedition reached the exact North Pole, but that Peary came far closer, falling perhaps 30 miles short. In 1952, Lieutenant Colonel Fletcher was the first person to undisputedly stand on the North Pole.
Standing alongside Fletcher on the top of the world was Dr. Albert P. Crary, a scientist who in 1961 traveled to the South Pole by motorized vehicle, becoming the first person in history to have stood on both poles.
No word of whether or not they encountered Santa or the Claus compound ;)
http://img142.echo.cx/img142/2623/insane7zo.jpg