Stock Photo - May 05, 1953 - Flying Over The North Pole: Two Hastings aircraft of the Royal Air Force Flying College at Menby, Lines., have just returned with these photographs taken by an Air Ministry Photographer on flights over and near the North Pole. Each aircraft circled the Geographical Pole on two 11-hour flights from the Royal Canadian Air Force Base at Resolute Bay, which lies within the Arctic Circle (position 74 Degrees 50 minutes North, 95 Degrees West). The flights, which involved 10,115 miles, gave practical training in high altitude navigation over featureless areas, where magnetic compasses are unreliable, using special techniques. Photo shows In front of a Hastings in which the have just landed at Resolute Bay on returning from the North Pole are (Left to Right) Squadron Leader A.A. Smailers; Flight Lieut. H.M. Firmin; Sqd. Ldr. J.I.S. Digman and Sqd. Ldr. H.D. Archer. They are wearing different specimens of the special Arctic clothing issued to them for the flights. (Credit Image: © Keystone Press Agency/Keystone USA via ZUMAPRESS.com)