1932–33 East Greenland expedition

The 1932–33 East Greenland expedition, also known as the Pan Am expedition, was a small expedition to Greenland led by Henry "Gino" Watkins until his death and then by John Rymill.[1] The expedition was intended to continue the work of the previous British Arctic Air Route Expedition (BAARE) that had mapped unexplored sections of Greenland in 1930–1931.[2]

The 1932–33 East Greenland expedition led to the death of Gino Watkins. His remains were never found, but there is a memorial to this ill-fated Arctic explorer in St Peter's Church in Dumbleton, UK

Expedition

This expedition was to be a one-year venture financed by Pan American Airways as part of a project of eventually building an air base in the Arctic.[3]

The members of this expedition were only four: Gino Watkins as leader, John Rymill (surveyor), Freddie Spencer Chapman (ornithologist and photographer) and Quintin Riley (meteorologist). Their aim was to follow up their work of the previous summer's British Arctic Air Route Expedition as well as undertaking meteorological observations for Pan Am.[3]

The expedition began in July 1932. However, on 20 August Watkins died while hunting for seals in Tuttilik (Tugtilik Fjord). His empty kayak was found floating upside down by his companions. His body was never found.[4]

Rymill assumed leadership of the expedition an he, Spencer Chapman and Riley decided to continue the expedition but were forced to limit its scope. They wintered in Greenland and surveyed area of about 440 km2 (170 sq mi) collecting flora and fauna specimens in the process. Chapman and his companions went through many hardships during the winter, braving rough weather conditions. In the spring Chapman spent a month among Ammassalik Inuit studying local birds, meanwhile Rymill and Riley surveyed the coast in order to improve on the maps of the area. The expedition concluded at the end of the 1933 summer season. The three members reached Reykjavik on 24 September, catching a steamer to Hull and returning finally to the United Kingdom in the fall of 1933.[3]

Bibliography
  • Spencer Apollonio, Lands That Hold One Spellbound: A Story of East Greenland, 2008
  • Rymill, J. R.; Riley, Quintin; Chapman, F. S. (1934). "The Tugtilik (Lake Fjord) Country, East Greenland". The Geographical Journal. Royal Geographical Society. 83 (5): 364–377. doi:10.2307/1785720. JSTOR 1785720.

See also

References
  1. "Mr Watkins' Expedition to East Greenland, 1932–33". Polar Record. Cambridge University Press. 1 (5): 28–30. 1933. doi:10.1017/S0032247400030138. Retrieved 26 July 2016.
  2. Scott, Jeremy (2008). Dancing on Ice: A Stirring Tale of Adventure, Risk and Reckless Folly. London: Old Street Publishing Ltd. ISBN 978-1-905847-50-1.
  3. "East Greenland Expedition (Pan Am) 1932-33". Scott Polar Research Institute. Retrieved 13 January 2020.
  4. "Watkins, Explorer, England" (PDF). The Urban Explorer. 2010. Retrieved 13 January 2020.
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