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They took off for the last time only to land an hour later He retired in 1962 and was named to Canada’s
when Polar Star’s engine sputtered and died – they were Aviation Hall of Fame in 1973. It was also reported

out of fuel. that at one point Hollick-Kenyon also operated a
motel in British Columbia where few, if any,
Dead reckoning told them they were close to their
travellers knew of his adventures.
destination, Little America. But, they didn’t know in
which direction. It took another 11 days, until December The 1935 Antarctic flight, a 2,150-mile trek across

15, for Ellsworth and Hollick-Kenyon to get their bearings totally unknown territory, was a daring adventure
and travel the remaining distance, which turned out to be by any measure. Anything beyond an hour of flying

a mere 16 miles. They then waited for rescue and were put Ellsworth and Hollick-Kenyon beyond any hope
sighted by the British Research Society ship Discovery II of rescue. To the extent that there was a rescue

on January 15, 1936. plan it consisted of a directive to look for them
along the coastline in the vicinity of their
Ellsworth returned to Australia while Hollick-Kenyon
destination, Little America, and to continue the
remained behind to assist with the recovery of the Polar
search for a set period of time. After their last
Star, which was refuelled and flown to the nearby coast
landing, it took more than a month for Ellsworth
and loaded onto the Ellsworth expedition ship, the Wyatt
and Hollick-Kenyon to be found. Navigation
Earp, and transported to New York, where it arrived in
depended on accurate sextant readings, something
April 1936.
which eluded the pair until they discovered a loose
Ellsworth promptly donated the Polar Star to the adjusting screw in their instrument. Any of the
Smithsonian Institution and proposed that he and Hollick- blizzards they encountered could have grounded

Kenyon fly it to Washington. However, an aircraft them permanently.

inspector nixed the plan when he discovered deficiencies
The combined achievement of Lincoln Ellsworth and
and refused an airworthiness certificate. Ellsworth
Herbert Hollick-Kenyon is properly recorded as one
protested and, in the end, Hollick-Kenyon took the Polar
of the greatest flights in early aviation history.
Star, solo, to its final destination.

Although many international honours were showered on
Ellsworth in the wake of the Antarctic adventure, Hollick-
Kenyon was not entirely forgotten – one of his many
honours was a knighthood, becoming Sir Herbert Hollick-
Kenyon, an honour he disliked. Green reports in his Free
Press article that Hollick-Kenyon returned to more prosaic
flying assignments in Canada, first as a pilot for Trans-

Canada Airlines. In 1942, he joined Canadian Pacific Photo (above): After his trans-Antarctic adventure, Herbert Hollick-Kenyon,
Airlines becoming its first chief pilot. shown here in an 1928 photo, basked in the limelight with his famous
employer, Lincoln Ellsworth. One of Hollick-Kenyon’s many honours
included a knighthood, an honour he avoided acknowledging. After
Antarctica, Hollick-Kenyon returned to Canada to fly for Trans-Canada
Airlines until 1942 when he joined Canadian Pacific Airlines and later
became its first chief pilot. He retired in 1962 and was named to Canada’s
Aviation Hall of Fame in 1973.