1888 - 1957

The Winchester native attended the Virginia Military Institute, The University of Virginia, and graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy, 1912.

He was a pioneer aviator and Polar explorer. In 1926, he was the first to fly over the North Pole for which he was awarded the U.S. Congressional Medal of Honor. In 1927, with three companions, he flew the Atlantic, flight time 42 hours.

Admiral Byrd commanded five expeditions to the Antarctic to explore the unknown regions from the air. In 1929, Byrd, as navigator, with three companions, became the first to fly to the South Pole returning to his base Little America located on the face of the Ross Ice Shelf, a 19 hour flight.

In 1933, a second Byrd expedition extended the exploration of Antarctica and continued scientific observations. During the Antarctic winter of 1934, Byrd spent five months alone in a hut at a weather station named Bolling Advance Base. The base was named for his mother who lived at 326 Amherst Street, Winchester, where the Admiral was born.

Admiral Byrd commanded three subsequent expeditions and discovered and mapped 537,000 miles of Antarctic territory. He was officially cited 22 times for bravery or conspicuous conduct.

Admiral Byrd is buried in Arlington National Cemetery.

Dr. Jay Morton, Sculptor Commemorated July 14, 1997

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