Col Carl Ben Eielson

Carl Ben Eielson was born in Hatton, North Dakota, on July 20, 1897. In 1922-23 he served as principal of a high school in Fairbanks, Alaska. On February 21, 1924, he flew the first airmail to McGrath, and on March 3, 1924, he became an honorary member of the Pioneers of Alaska. In April 1928 he flew over the top of the world, and he was the first to fly an airplane around the North Pole from Alaska to Spitzbergen, Norway. On April 3, 1929, he was commissioned a colonel in the North Dakota National Guard, and in 1929 he organized Alaskan Airways. He died on a flight on November 9, 1929. Known to the Indians at McGrath as "Moose Ptarmigan Ben," he received the Distinguished Flying Cross, the Harmon Trophy for 1928, the International League of Aviators First Flyer for 1928 Trophy, and Norway's Lief Erikson Memorial Award. He was regarded as the father of Alaskan aviation and airmail service.

Eielson AFB, Alaska · United States