May 05, 1953 - Flying Over The North Pole... Two Hastings aircraft of the Royal...

May 05, 1953 - Flying Over The North Pole... Two Hastings aircraft of the Royal Air Force Flying College at Manby, Linss., have just returned with these photographs taken by an Air Ministry Photographer on flights over ans near the North Pole. Each aircraft circled the Geographical Pole on two 11-hour flights from the Royal Canadian Air Force Base at Resolute Bay, which lies within the Arctic Circle (position 74 Degrees 50 minutes North, 95 Degrees West). The flights, which involved 10,115 miles, gave practical training in high altitude navigation over featureless areas, where magnetic compasse are unreliable, using special techniques. Photo Shows: - In front of a Hastings in which they have just landed at Resolute Bay on returning from the North Pole are (Left to right) Squadron Leader A.A. Smailes; Flight Lieut. H.V. Firmin; Sqd. LDR. J.I.S. Digman and Sqd. LDR. H.D. Archer.. They are wearing different specimens of the special Arctic clothing issued to them for the flights.