1. Floyd Bennett was a United States Naval Aviator who, along with then USN Commander Richard E Byrd, made the first flight to the North Pole in May 1926.
10 Facts About Floyd Bennett
1. 2.
Floyd Bennett was an automobile mechanic before he enlisted in the Navy in 1917, during World War I Bennett attended flight school, learned to fly and was rated as an Aviation Pilot.
3.
Floyd Bennett advised turning back but Byrd decided to continue the flight.
4.
Later in his life Balchen claimed that Floyd Bennett confessed to him that he and Byrd did not reach the North Pole but, instead, flew around in circles.
5.
However, Floyd Bennett was seriously injured during a practice flight and the airplane, a Fokker F-VIIb-3m named America, was badly damaged when it crashed on take-off.
6.
Floyd Bennett's condition worsened during the rescue, and he died shortly afterward, while in hospital in Quebec City, on April 25,1928.
7.
Floyd Bennett was buried at Arlington National Cemetery, in Arlington County, Virginia.
8.
Shortly after his return to the United States, Floyd Bennett was promoted from Chief Aviation Pilot to the warrant officer rank of Machinist.
9.
Floyd Bennett received the following awards during his career in the Navy:.
10.
The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Navy Distinguished Service Medal to Aviation Pilot Floyd Bennett, United States Navy, for exceptionally meritorious and distinguished service in a position of great responsibility to the Government of the United States.