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1st Flight Over the North Pole

May 12, 1926, Titina boarded the airship Norge and became the first dog to fly over the North Pole. Oh, and the great Norwegian polar explorer Roald Amundsen was also on the fight.

Roald Amundsen 150 years 2 North PoleRoald Amundsen, Polar Explorer, 150th Anniversary
Issued by Norge post March 1, 2022
Designer: Magnus Rakeng

Shamefully, there are no stamps dedicated to Titina. He, along with 16 humans, climbed aboard the rigid dirigible Norge on the morning of May 12 and flew north. The race to be the first to fly over the North Pole was fierce. US explorer Richard Byrd claimed to have succeeded a few days prior to the Norge’s flight but this has been hotly disputed for decades.   

No matter which human crossed first, what is undisputed is Titina was the first dog to cross the North Pole in an airship. 

Umberto Nobile and Titina. Image © Italian Air Force Museum of Vigna Di Valle.

Pilot of the Norge airship Umberto Nobile with his dog Titina. Image courtesy © Italian Air Force Museum of Vigna Di Valle.

 

Norway Norge Post This day in stamps