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Hubert Wilkins

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description Hubert Wilkins Overview

Sir Hubert Wilkins was an Australian polar explorer, photographer, and aviator. He is best known for making the first transpolar flight in 1928, flying from Point Barrow, Alaska, to Spitsbergen, Norway. During World War I, he served as an official war photographer. Wilkins also conducted early explorations of the Arctic using submarines, attempting to navigate under the polar ice cap.

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What route did Hubert Wilkins fly during the first transpolar flight?

In 1928, Wilkins and pilot Carl Ben Eielson flew from Point Barrow, Alaska, to Spitsbergen, Norway. The crossing took roughly 21 hours of flight time and demonstrated that aircraft could cross the Arctic Ocean.

What aircraft did Hubert Wilkins use for his 1928 Arctic crossing?

The expedition used a Lockheed Vega, with Eielson handling the piloting and Wilkins serving as the expedition leader and navigator. The aircraft was associated with the name San Francisco during the polar project.

Was Hubert Wilkins also a photographer?

Yes. During World War I, Wilkins worked as an official war photographer before becoming better known for polar exploration and aviation.

How was Hubert Wilkins connected to Carl Ben Eielson?

Wilkins recruited Eielson because of his experience flying in Alaska and the Arctic. Their partnership combined Wilkins’s exploration and navigation work with Eielson’s practical bush-pilot skills.