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Wings of Ice: The riddle of the Polar Air Race

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A story that’s waited 90 years to be told. Wings of Ice reveals the fierce rivalry between two flawed polar Sir Hubert Wilkins and Admiral Richard Byrd. It tells the story of their pioneering flights in the 1920s, while laying out clues and challenging the reader to solve an eighty-year-old mystery. On 8 May 1926 three expeditions were locked in a race to fly to the North Pole. Hubert Wilkins was at Barrow, Alaska anxiously waiting for clear weather. Richard Byrd was at Kings Bay, Spitsbergen hurriedly building a runway for his plane. Roald Amundsen was also at Kings Bay repairing his airship. Shortly after midnight Byrd flew north. He returned 15 hours later and claimed he had reached the North Pole. A year later Byrd announced his intention to be the first to fly to the South Pole. Wilkins, who had just completed a record-breaking flight in the Arctic, was hired to beat him. Six months later they unloaded their planes on opposite sides of Antarctica and prepared for the last great race in polar history. Byrd won and became an American icon. During his life no one dared question his claims. It was only after his death in 1957 that he was accused of being ‘the greatest fraud in polar history’. Wilkins died in 1958 and disappeared from the history books after his jealous, secretive wife locked away his records and diaries. Factually based and methodically researched, Wings of Ice reveals what really happened on Byrd’s polar flights and traces the lost records of Sir Hubert Wilkins. It brings to light an untold story of courage, daring and adventure, while exposing secrets and lies that will rewrite polar history. Praise for Wings of 'Reads like a fabulous adventure story' - booktopia.com 'Maynard presents the various controversies, along with in-depth documentation. A must-read' - Clive Cussler 'Gripping reading, turning this factual history into a fast-paced thriller' - Good Reading Magazine Jeff Maynard is an author and documentary maker. His books include Niagara’s Gold, Divers in Time and The Unseen Anzac. He is a former editor of Australian Motorcycle News and retains a keen interest in classic motorcycles. He is a member of the Explorers Club and on the board of the Historical Diving Society. Jeff lives in Melbourne, Australia, with his wife, Zoe, and their family.

320 pages, Kindle Edition

Published November 11, 2020

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Jeff Maynard

20 books2 followers

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5 stars
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
1,395 reviews
May 6, 2021
little boys with big egoes

They do say that behind every man with a spirit of adventure there’s a little boy waiting to fulfil that dream. Men are overgrown boys playing with more grown-up toys or so they say. This book kind of proves the theory if that’s what you believe. Lies and favrications but to what extent? One cannot really like Byrd and I know I found myself rooting for Wilkins but then again, who really knows what happened? Only the dead and despite the opinion of some they’re not about to tell. It’s a good book though especially for those that like their adventure pure and unsullied by progress. The last of the great explorers doing it oon the strength of their wits alone. I’d read it again anyway.
53 reviews2 followers
May 10, 2022
Fabulous history of this event

This is a well written history about the polar air race. The two men Wilkins And Byrd are well described flaws and all . It is extremely well researched and doesn’t fail to surmise conclusions that are enlightening and controversial. What more can you ask if a history book enjoy it .
4 reviews
May 1, 2021
Very interesting read

Excellent research, well put together and an extremely interesting read for anyone interested in early aircraft development and how the aircraft were adapted for exploration.
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1,031 reviews4 followers
May 3, 2021
Average book. Very confusing. He seemed not to like chronological order.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews

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