The history of flight in Antarctica is a tale of daring, innovation, and tragedy. Early attempts to conquer the frozen continent from the air were fraught with peril. In 1928, George Hubert Wilkins and Carl Ben Eielson disappeared while attempting to fly over the South Pole. In 1935, Lincoln Ellsworth and Bernt Balchen made the first successful flight over the pole, but their plane was badly damaged and they were forced to make a perilous landing. In 1947, the United States Navy launched Operation Highjump, a massive expedition that involved 13 ships, 4,000 personnel, and 33 aircraft. The expedition was a success, but it also resulted in the loss of several aircraft and the deaths of several crew members. Today, Antarctica is still a dangerous place to fly, but modern technology has made it much safer.
