Hostname: page-component-78c5997874-mlc7c Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-10T13:04:38.307Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

The deaths of Roald Amundsen and the crew of the Latham 47

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  17 June 2013

Karen May  and
George Lewis
Karen May
Affiliation:
c/o Scott Polar Research Institute, Lensfield Rd., Cambridge CB2 1ER (karenmay31@gmail.com)
George Lewis
Affiliation:
c/o Scott Polar Research Institute, Lensfield Rd., Cambridge CB2 1ER (karenmay31@gmail.com)
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

On 18 June 1928, Roald Amundsen and a team of five men (René Guilbaud, Leif Dietrichson, Albert Cavelier de Cuverville, Gilbert Brazy and Emile Valette) flew in a French Latham 47 prototype aeroplane from Tromsø, Norway, to aid in the rescue of survivors of the crashed airship Italia. The party disappeared nearly without trace into the Barents Sea. We shall examine Amundsen's last years, the decision to employ for an Arctic relief mission a prototype aeroplane which had not completed its flight tests, and the evidence that, in deciding to disregard warnings and fly this aeroplane unaccompanied over the Barents Sea, Amundsen took a significant risk that led to his death and those of his crew.

Type
Research Article
Information
Polar Record , Volume 51 , Issue 1 , January 2015 , pp. 1 - 15
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2013 

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Alexander, C. 2011. The man who took the prize. National Geographic 220 (3): 122–135.Google Scholar
Amundsen, R. 1927. My life as an explorer. London: William Heinemann.Google Scholar
Anthi, P.R. 1999. Roald Amundsen: a study in rivalry, masochism and paranoia. International Journal of Psychoanalysis 80: 995–1010.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Arnesen, O. 1929a. The polar adventure. London: Victor Gollancz.Google Scholar
Arnesen, O. 1929b. Roald Amundsen: som han var. Oslo: Gyldendal Norsk Forlag.Google Scholar
Behounek, F. 1929. Sieben Wochen auf der Eisscholle: der Untergang der Nobile–Expedition. Leipzig: F.A. Brockhaus.Google Scholar
Bellow, S. 2007. Humboldt's gift. London: Penguin.Google Scholar
Bomann–Larsen, T. 2011. Roald Amundsen. Stroud: The History Press.Google Scholar
Bosco, P. and Stone, I.R.. 2004. Black feathers over Svalbard: the Alpini expeditions, 1928. Polar Record 40 (215): 303–308.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Bown, S. 2012a. The last Viking: the life of Roald Amundsen, conqueror of the south pole. London: Aurum Press.Google Scholar
Bown, S. 2012b. Interview 21 August 2012. URL: http://www.dmpibooks.com/book/douglas–mcintyre/the–last–viking/interview (accessed 22 September 2012).Google Scholar
Bujeaud, A. 2007. La dernière mission du Commandant Guilbaud. Recherches vendéennes 14: 391–414.Google Scholar
Calic, E. 1966. Kapitän Amundsen. Leipzig: F.A. Brockhaus.Google Scholar
Cross, W. 2002. Disaster at the pole. Connecticut: Lyons Press.Google Scholar
Czech, K.P. 1998. Polar flight survival story. Aviation History: 8 (5). Available online under the title Roald Amundsen and the 1925 north pole expedition. URL: http://www.historynet.com/roald–amundsen–and–the–1925–north–pole–expedition.htm (accessed 17 April 2012).Google Scholar
Ellsworth, L. 1928. Air pioneering in the Arctic. Boys’ Life April 1928: 7, 64–66.Google Scholar
Everett, S. (director). 2006. Challenger: countdown to disaster (documentary). URL: http://www.channel4.com/programmes/challenger–countdown–to–disaster/4od#2922382Google Scholar
Goldberg, F. 2003. Drama in the Arctic: S.O.S. ‘Italia’: the search for Nobile and Amundsen. A diary and postal history. Lidingo: self published.Google Scholar
Guidici, D. 1928. The tragedy of the ‘Italia’: with the rescuers to the red tent. London: Ernest Benn Ltd.Google Scholar
Gynnild, O. 2002. The white eagle: Roald Amundsen, sailor of the skies. Bodø: Odds Interbok/Norwegian Aviation Museum.Google Scholar
Hovdenak, G. 1934. Roald Amundsens siste ferd. Oslo: Gyldendal Norsk Forlag.Google Scholar
Huntford, R. 1979. Scott and Amundsen. London: Hodder and Stoughton.Google Scholar
Huntford, R. 2002. Scott and Amundsen. London: Abacus.Google Scholar
Huntford, R. 2010. Nansen. London: Abacus.Google Scholar
Lüdecke, C. 2011. Amundsen: ein biografisches Porträt. Freiburg: Verlag Herder.Google Scholar
Nobile, U. 1930. With the “Italia” to the north pole. London: George Allen and Unwin Ltd.Google Scholar
Officer, C. and Page, J.. 2012. A fabulous kingdom: the exploration of the Arctic. 2nd edn. Oxford: Oxford University Press.Google Scholar
Orvin, A.K. 1934. Skrifter om Svalbard og Ishavet, Nr 57: Geology of the Kings Bay region, Spitsbergen, with special reference to the coal deposits. Oslo: I Kommisjon Hos Jacob Dybwad.Google Scholar
Østby, J. 1942. Roald Amundsen, sa vie et ses expéditions. Bruxelles: Office de Publicité.Google Scholar
Partridge, B. 1953. Amundsen. London: Robert Hale.Google Scholar
Rynin, N.A. 1971. Interplanetary flight and communication 2 (6). Superaviation and superartillery. Jerusalem: Israel program for Scientific Translations.Google Scholar
Simmons, G. 1965. Target: Arctic: men in the skies at the top of the world. Philadelphia: Chilton Books.Google Scholar
Taylor, J.W.R. (editor). 1969. Combat aircraft of the world from 1909 to the present. New York: G.P. Putnam's Sons.Google Scholar
Taylor, M.J.H. 1980. Jane's encyclopaedia of aviation. Vol.4. London: Jane's Publishing Company.Google Scholar
Taylor, M.J.H. 1981. Warplanes of the world 1918–1939. Shepperton: Ian Allen Ltd.Google Scholar
Wisting, A. 2011. Roald Amundsen: det største eventyret. Oslo: Kagge Forlag.Google Scholar
Wisting, O. 1930. 16 år med Roald Amundsen: fra pol til pol. Oslo: Gyldendal Norsk Forlag.Google Scholar
Zapffe, F.G. 1935. Roald Amundsen; mitt samarbeide med ham gjennem 25 år. Oslo: H. Aschehoug.Google Scholar