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{{Infobox Person | name =Joseph Otis Fletcher
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{{cite book |author=Mark Nuttall
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Fletcher started studying at the [[University of Oklahoma]] and then continued his studies in [[meteorology]] at [[Massachusetts Institute of Technology]]. After graduation, he entered the [[U.S. Army Air Corps]] and eventually became the deputy commanding officer of the [[4th Weather Group]], United States Air Force, stationed in Alaska.<ref>{{cite news |author= |coauthors= |title=Meteorologists To Hear Colonel |url=http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/baltsun/access/1682391652.html?FMT=CITE&FMTS=CITE:AI&type=historic&date=Sep+18%2C+1952&author=&pub=The+Sun+(1837-1985)&desc=Meteorologists+To+Hear+Colonel&pqatl=google |quote=Joseph O. Fletcher, deputy commanding officer of the 4th Weather Group, United States Air Force, will address the first meeting of the Baltimore chapter of the ... |newspaper=[[Baltimore Sun]] |date=September 18, 1952 |accessdate=2012-11-24 }}</ref> |
Fletcher started studying at the [[University of Oklahoma]] and then continued his studies in [[meteorology]] at [[Massachusetts Institute of Technology]]. After graduation, he entered the [[U.S. Army Air Corps]] and eventually became the deputy commanding officer of the [[4th Weather Group]], United States Air Force, stationed in Alaska.<ref>{{cite news |author= |coauthors= |title=Meteorologists To Hear Colonel |url=http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/baltsun/access/1682391652.html?FMT=CITE&FMTS=CITE:AI&type=historic&date=Sep+18%2C+1952&author=&pub=The+Sun+(1837-1985)&desc=Meteorologists+To+Hear+Colonel&pqatl=google |quote=Joseph O. Fletcher, deputy commanding officer of the 4th Weather Group, United States Air Force, will address the first meeting of the Baltimore chapter of the ... |newspaper=[[Baltimore Sun]] |date=September 18, 1952 |accessdate=2012-11-24 }}</ref> |
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On March 19, 1952, his team landed with a [[C-47 Skytrain|C-47]] aircraft modified to have both wheels and skis on a tabular [[iceberg]] and established a weather station there, which remained manned for 22 years before that iceberg broke up. The station was initially known just as "T-3", but soon renamed "[[Fletcher's Ice Island]]". |
On March 19, 1952, his team landed with a [[C-47 Skytrain|C-47]] aircraft modified to have both wheels and skis on a tabular [[iceberg]] and established a weather station there, which remained manned for 22 years before that iceberg broke up.<ref>{{cite book |author=[[Mark Nuttall]] |coauthors= |title=Encyclopedia of the Arctic |year=2012 |publisher= |page= |quote=The history of US drifting stations began with the T3 station, set up on an ice island in March 1952 by Joseph O. Fletcher of ... | url=http://books.google.com/books?id=LcucDSk4w3YC&pg=PA512&dq=Joseph++Fletcher+polar&hl=en&sa=X&ei=5wuxULz5PKXE0AHr64CYAg&ved=0CDgQ6AEwATgK#v=onepage&q=Joseph%20%20Fletcher%20polar&f=false |isbn= }}</ref> The station was initially known just as "T-3", but soon renamed "[[Fletcher's Ice Island]]". |
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On May 3, 1952, pilot [[William P. Benedict]] and Fletcher as co-pilot<ref>The original article in the ''[[The Polar Times]]'' stated that Fletcher was the pilot, but in the Fall/Winter 1997 issue of the ''[[Polar Times]]'', following a personal communication from Mr. Fletcher, a correction appeared stating that Benedict had been in charge of that flight. This is also confirmed by the interview Brian Shoemaker conducted with Fletcher in 1997 (link below).</ref> flew that plane to the [[North Pole]], becoming the first humans to land there and the first humans (together with scientist [[Albert P. Crary]], who flew with them) to set foot on the exact geographical North Pole. (However, some sources credit this achievement instead to a Soviet Union expedition that landed there on 23 April 1948.<ref>[http://www.spri.cam.ac.uk/resources/infosheets/21.html Concise chronology of approach to the poles], Scott Polar Research Institute</ref>) |
On May 3, 1952, pilot [[William P. Benedict]] and Fletcher as co-pilot<ref>The original article in the ''[[The Polar Times]]'' stated that Fletcher was the pilot, but in the Fall/Winter 1997 issue of the ''[[Polar Times]]'', following a personal communication from Mr. Fletcher, a correction appeared stating that Benedict had been in charge of that flight. This is also confirmed by the interview Brian Shoemaker conducted with Fletcher in 1997 (link below).</ref> flew that plane to the [[North Pole]], becoming the first humans to land there and the first humans (together with scientist [[Albert P. Crary]], who flew with them) to set foot on the exact geographical North Pole. (However, some sources credit this achievement instead to a Soviet Union expedition that landed there on 23 April 1948.<ref>[http://www.spri.cam.ac.uk/resources/infosheets/21.html Concise chronology of approach to the poles], Scott Polar Research Institute</ref>) |
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Joseph Otis Fletcher
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| Born | (1920-05-16)May 16, 1920 |
| Died | July 6, 2008(2008-07-06) (aged 88) |
| Education | University of Oklahoma Massachusetts Institute of Technology |
| Known for | Polar explorer |
Joseph Otis Fletcher (May 16, 1920 – July 6, 2008) was an American Air Force pilot and polar explorer.
He was born outside of Ryegate, Montana on May 16, 1920. The family moved to Oklahoma during the Dust Bowl.
Fletcher started studying at the University of Oklahoma and then continued his studies in meteorologyatMassachusetts Institute of Technology. After graduation, he entered the U.S. Army Air Corps and eventually became the deputy commanding officer of the 4th Weather Group, United States Air Force, stationed in Alaska.[1]
On March 19, 1952, his team landed with a C-47 aircraft modified to have both wheels and skis on a tabular iceberg and established a weather station there, which remained manned for 22 years before that iceberg broke up.[2] The station was initially known just as "T-3", but soon renamed "Fletcher's Ice Island".
On May 3, 1952, pilot William P. Benedict and Fletcher as co-pilot[3] flew that plane to the North Pole, becoming the first humans to land there and the first humans (together with scientist Albert P. Crary, who flew with them) to set foot on the exact geographical North Pole. (However, some sources credit this achievement instead to a Soviet Union expedition that landed there on 23 April 1948.[4])
Fletcher left the Air Force in 1963. In later years, he held various management positions in meteorological institutions, including a post as director of the NOAA's Ocean and Atmosphere Research Labs (OAR). He retired in 1993. In 2005, he was awarded the honorary membership of the American Meteorological Society.
He died on July 6, 2008 in Sequim, Washington.
Joseph O. Fletcher, deputy commanding officer of the 4th Weather Group, United States Air Force, will address the first meeting of the Baltimore chapter of the ...
{{cite news}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
The history of US drifting stations began with the T3 station, set up on an ice island in March 1952 by Joseph O. Fletcher of ...
{{cite book}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
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