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Norge Airship Achieves First Undisputed North Pole Visit
6 May
Summary
- The Norge airship completed the first undisputed journey to the North Pole.
- Roald Amundsen, Lincoln Ellsworth, and Umberto Nobile crewed the Norge.
- The airship made a forced landing in Teller, Alaska, due to damage.
On May 12, 1926, the Italian-built airship Norge completed the first undisputed journey to the North Pole. The expedition, crewed by Norwegian explorer Roald Amundsen, American financier Lincoln Ellsworth, and Italian aviator Umberto Nobile, departed from Spitzbergen, Norway.
After passing over the pole, the Norge continued for an additional 3,000 miles before making a forced landing at Teller, Alaska, due to damage sustained from ice formation on its propellers. Significant celebrations erupted in Norway and Italy upon news of the successful, albeit damaged, arrival.
During the flight, thin ice and open water were observed at the Pole, with no land discovered. Commander Ellsworth reported seeing rocky islands but noted they could not be considered land. The Norge spent considerable time at the Pole, descending to within 630ft for observations, before continuing its journey.
