George Otto Noville

[3] He was flight engineer on the America (the third plane to fly non stop over the Atlantic Ocean), and was executive officer of Byrd's Second Antarctic Exploration 1933-35.

In 1927, in a trimotor Fokker C-2 monoplane, named America he flew with Richard E. Byrd, Bernt Balchen, and Bert Acosta on their record-setting transatlantic flight.

On April 20, 1927, during a test flight in Hasbrouck Heights, New Jersey, the plane somersaulted when landing, breaking Byrd's arm and knocking him unconscious.

According to The Big Aviation Book for Boys by Richard E. Byrd, Noville was one of the group who gathered to wish Lindbergh godspeed right before his historic flight.

After several delays, Byrd's America took off for Paris on June 29, 1927, with Noville and two relief pilots, Bert Acosta and Bernt Balchen.

Byrd, Acosta, Balchen and Noville ended up entering France in a rubber life raft as America sank after landing on the water.

The Absorbing Story of the America's Flight across the Atlantic – a Valiant Escape from Death in Blinding Fog"[9] Upon return to the U.S., Byrd and Noville were awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross by Secretary of the Navy Wilbur on July 19.