The first person to fly over the North Pole actually missed it!
Richard Byrd gained renown 87 years ago by becoming the first person to fly over the North Pole. However, it is now being reported that he missed it by as much as 80 miles.
A first clue was that the flight was supposed to take 18 hours, but only took him 15 hours and 44 minutes. The man also didn't have a written down flight plan. Byrd is said to have relied on a solar compass, a tiny barograph and measured speed with a stopwatch.
However, it is possible that Byrd saw the North Pole, given that his altitude gave him 90-mile visibility. However, the real record holder for being the first to fly over the North Pole goes to a Norwegian who accomplished the feat days after Byrd.
