Andre, balloon expeditions

• MS 1463/1-5;BPC Press Cuttings, 1895-1937 [Regarding the expedition] 5 volumes

In 1895, Andre publicly announced his plans to explore the Arctic Ocean by balloon and, if possible, reach the North Pole. The first Swedish North Polar balloon expedition of 1896 failed due to unsuitable weather conditions, in 1897, the second Swedish North Polar balloon expedition set out from Danskoya, Spitsbergen, in the hydrogen-filled balloon Ornen . Andre and two companions, Nils Strindberg and Knut Fraenkel, reached 82° 56 minutes North before abandoning the flight. After drifting on the ice as far as the island of Kvitya they died of unknown causes. Search expeditions were organized but nothing was known of their fate until 1930 when a Norwegian scientific expedition, under Captain Peder Eliassen in the sealer Bratvaag, unexpectedly discovered their camp, diaries and other relics. Their bodies were brought home in 1930.

The press cuttings cover the balloon ascents made by Andre, his disappearance and the subsequent search for the missing expedition. The last parts of the cuttings deal with the recovery of their bodies.

Chronological

Assembled by Anna Charlier who was engaged to Nils Strindberg, taken from the Swedish press.