Admiral Byrd's Shocking Antarctic Mission Reveals Surprising Military Agenda

Leading the charge for Operation High Jump was Admiral Richard E. The Admiral was a notable military figure. He graduated from the United States Naval Academy and even fought in World War I, but after the conflict he became an explorer. Byrd made headlines in 1926 when he and Navy Chief Aviation pilot Floyd Bennett became the flight over the North Pole. Both men were awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor for their achievement, and when Byrd himself completed the first solo flight over the South Pole, he became the youngest man in American Navy history to ever be promoted to the rank of Admiral. This guy was legit, so it was only fitting that he'd be the man to lead such an important mission. The goal of Operation High Jump was to explore the continent and train military personnel there, with the hopes of eventually turning it into a massive military base. President Harry Truman and the government were looking to establish American dominance over Antarctica, and they chose Admiral Byrd as the man to lead this initial phase.