Harold I. June: A June Man Who Co-Piloted Admiral Richard Byrd's Plane Across the South Pole

Stamford's Tribute to Harold I. June on June 26, 1930

Harold I. June, The Stamford Man Who Piloted Admiral Byrd

Across the Antarctic's South Pole

What better way to initiate on-- June 1, 2010 -- my tribute to Stamford's finest than remembering a local native and attendee of Stamford High School, Harold I. June (12 February 1895-22 November 1962) ; he was honored 80 years ago this month on June 26, 1930 by the City of Stamford with a grand motorcade, speeches, lunches, dinners, etc.

Born in Stamford in 1895, he attended Bangall (country school ) 1902-1906 and completed ninth grade at age 11 and attended Stamford High School for one year. Thereafter, he followed a technical/vocational career as a machinist for a local firm, The Mianus Motor Works and became their salesman and road repair man at age 15, based in Providence, Rhode Island.

From 1912-1917,, he became engineer for Harold S. Vanderbilt including all the Vanderbilt boats. and then in 1919 became Vanderbilt's chief engineer.

Requesting transfer to Pensacola Air Station, in 1922, he earned his Aircraft Radio Operator and Radio Theory and Instruments qualification in 12 weeks. Then in 1923, he finished first in a class of 60 aviation pilots (only 38 finished).

We will fast forward his career to November 29, 1929. (Richard Byrd had established a base camp called "Little America" on the Ross Ice Shelf in Antarctica in 1928 and scientific expeditions were conducted by snowshoe, dog-sled, snowmobile and airplance, of which there were three) Copiloting and acting as radioman, June, accompanied by Byrd and pilot Bernt Balchen and photographer Ashley Mckinley, flew the Ford Trimoter, the Floyd Bennet, to the South Pole and back in 18 hours and 41 minutes. According to Wikipedia:

"They had difficulty gaining enough altitude, and they had to dump empty gas tanks, as well as their emergency supplies, in order to achieve the altitude of the Polar Plateau. However, the flight was successful and it entered Byrd {and June} into the history books. After a further summer of exploration, the expedition returned to North America on June 18, 1930.

Here is a letter sent to June by Mayor William Graves, Mayor of Stamford upon his return to the United States.

The author is deeply indebted to the Stamford Historical Society for much information contained herein and as a source for the images.

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Click here to view the author's adventures in earning his own wings and a list of other blogs on various aviation topics.