Murray A. Wiener facts for kids
Murray A. Wiener (born 1909) was an amazing explorer of the Earth's coldest places, the Arctic and Antarctic. He was also a talented photographer who captured incredible images during his journeys. We don't know when he passed away.
Early Life and Work
Murray Wiener grew up in a town called Bradley Beach, New Jersey. He went to college at the University of Missouri and finished his studies in 1935. Before becoming a famous explorer, Wiener worked for Universal Studios, which is a big movie company.
Exploring the Poles
Murray Wiener loved exploring the icy regions of the world. He was the official photographer for the MacGregor Arctic Expedition from 1937 to 1938. This trip took him to the Arctic, the area around the North Pole.
Later, he traveled to the Antarctic, the land around the South Pole. He was part of the United States Antarctic Service Expedition from 1939 to 1941. During this time, he was an "auroral observer" at West Base. This means he studied the beautiful aurora lights, also known as the Northern and Southern Lights, which glow in the polar skies.
Wiener joined Admiral Byrd, a very famous polar explorer, on three more trips to Antarctica:
- Operation Highjump (1946–1947)
- Operation Deep Freeze I (1955–1956)
- Operation Deep Freeze II
He worked closely with Admiral Byrd and became one of the top experts in the United States on how to survive in the harsh, freezing conditions of the poles.
Military Service
During World War II, Murray Wiener served in the U.S. Army. He was a Captain and helped with air-sea rescue missions on Mount Olympia. This meant he helped save people from planes or ships that crashed in the water.
By 1955, he was a Major in the United States Air Force. He continued to work with Admiral Byrd, serving as an air force adviser. He was known for having visited the "bottom of the world" (Antarctica) three times!
