Dangerous Crossings: The First Modern Polar Expedition, 1925

An American expedition that left the coast of Maine in June 1925, skirted the Canadian coast, then headed for Greenland and points farther north, this lesser known voyage was undertaken to map the yet unexplored polar sea above Canada; whether there was an actual landmass there was still unclear. The focus of professors Bryant and Cones, coauthors of the standard history of Zenith Radio Corp., is on technology; the voyage was the first to use aircraft and shortwave radio, with the specific goal of enhancing success. Leader Donald B. MacMillan commanded the naval contingent; Navy Lt.-Comdr. Richard E. Byrd, who would later go on to Antarctica, was one of the fliers, clashing frequently with MacMillan and apparently spending years afterward amplifying his own contributions to the trip. Eugene F. McDonald Jr., second in command and an associate of Peary's, was at the time owner of the small Zenith Radio company. He voluntarily gave the expedition a number of shortwave radio sets that proved to be invaluable for communication in the land of the midnight sun. (McDonald's own humility is contrasted with radioman John L. Reinartz's devious behavior during the trip.) Perfect Storm-like moments, a lack of supplies, some conflict with Danish officials in Greenland, nascent corporate development and the extraordinary bravery of the personnel involved make this an unusually rich exploration narrative. But frequently intrusive source materials--diaries, logs, period accounts--slow things down. This history won't do much on its own beyond the academic market, but it's ripe for a screenwriter's judicious condensation and extrapolation. 31 b&w photos and 5 maps. (Oct.)