Page 4 - Feb2018

Balchen also thought Ellsworth’s plans were too By this time, according to Green in his Free
dangerous and is quoted in one account as saying Press article, a very impatient Ellsworth was

“Ellsworth can commit suicide if he wants, but he can’t second-guessing his choice of Hollick-Kenyon and
take me with him.” seriously considered taking Lymburner instead.

According to Green, Hollick-Kenyon went to see
After advertising and making extensive enquiries,
Ellsworth and said, “I understand that you would
Ellsworth narrowed his choice to two names with
prefer Lymburner on your next flight. That’s quite
outstanding reputations – Hollick-Kenyon and Lymburner.
all right with me.” In the ensuing conversation,
Ellsworth originally planned to appoint one pilot for the
Ellsworth realized that Hollick-Kenyon was,
expedition, but ultimately decided to sign both. Among
according to Green’s article, “no glory-or-death boy,
other qualifications, both pilots had experience in the
but a highly competent man hired to do an exacting
“specialized art” of starting airplane engines in cold
job, and in turning back he had used excellent
weather.
judgement.”
The aircraft for Ellsworth’s third attempt to fly across the
On November 23, Ellsworth and Hollick-Kenyon
Antarctic was the Northrop Gamma, the first plane to be
took off for the third time. After several hours they
built by the newly formed Northup Corporation of
lost radio contact with their base and landed after
California. It was an all-metal, low-wing monoplane
flying 13 hours.
powered by a Pratt & Whitney 600 hp radial engine. Its

top speed was rated at 230 mph with a cruising radius of They resumed their journey 19 hours later, but only
7,000 miles fully fuelled. for another 30 minutes when the weather forced
them to land, stranding them for the next three
Ellsworth and his team sailed to Dundee Island opposite
days.
the tip of South America in late 1935. By November 18,
In the afternoon of November 27, Ellsworth and
the Polar Star was re-assembled, test-flown and ready.
Hollick-Kenyon took off but weather forced them to
land after 50 minutes. Another blizzard grounded

them a further three days. They were, however,
On November 21, with full fuel tanks and three months of
able to determine that they were about 500 miles
emergency rations, Hollick-Kenyon lifted the Polar Star’s
short of their goal.
7,600 pounds into the air. Ninety minutes later, Hollick-
When the storm ended, it took three days to dig out
Kenyon told Ellsworth that it was necessary to abort the
the Polar Star. The engine fired up in the afternoon
flight because the glass fuel flow gauge was cracked and
of December 3, but they did not take off because
likely to burst. They took off the next day, and again
still another storm moved in. Able to fly the next
aborted the flight, this time due to bad weather.
day, they were airborne for about four hours and
landed a fourth time to check their position and fuel

supply.