Admiral Robert Peary’s Account
In 1908, Admiral Robert Peary (1856-1920) set out on his quest for the North Pole from Ellesmere Island, accompanied by Matthew Henson and four Inuits. He claimed to have reached the North Pole on April 6, 1909, though his achievement has been questioned. Nevertheless, Congress recognized Peary’s achievement and offered appreciation in 1911, when he retired from the Navy as rear admiral.
However, in the 1980s, re-examining his diary and notes cast doubt on the trip’s success. Due to navigational errors and record-keeping mistakes, he may have missed the North Pole by fifty kilometers or more.
On May 3, 1952, U.S. Lieutenant Colonel Joseph O. Fletcher of Oklahoma stepped out of a plane and walked to the precise location of the North Pole, the first person to do so undisputedly and thus proving that there are no holes at the North or South Poles.
Further Reading
Raymond Bernard, THE HOLLOW EARTH Contents The Greatest Geographical Discovery in History Made by Admiral Richard E. Byrd in the Mysterious Land Beyond the Poles The True Origin of the Flying Saucers, free resource