<P> Captain Finn Ronne, Byrd's executive officer, returned to Antarctica with his own expedition in 1947--1948, with Navy support, three planes, and dogs . Ronne disproved the notion that the continent was divided in two and established that East and West Antarctica was one single continent, i.e. that the Weddell Sea and the Ross Sea are not connected . The expedition explored and mapped large parts of Palmer Land and the Weddell Sea coastline, and identified the Ronne Ice Shelf, named by Ronne after his wife Edith Ronne . Ronne covered 3,600 miles by ski and dog sled--more than any other explorer in history . </P> <P> The 1955--58 Commonwealth Trans - Antarctic Expedition successfully completed the first overland crossing of Antarctica, via the South Pole . Although supported by the British and other Commonwealth governments, most of the funding came from corporate and individual donations . </P> <P> It was headed by British explorer Dr Vivian Fuchs, with New Zealander Sir Edmund Hillary leading the New Zealand Ross Sea Support team . After spending the winter of 1957 at Shackleton Base, Fuchs finally set out on the transcontinental journey in November 1957, with a twelve - man team travelling in six vehicles; three Sno - Cats, two Weasels and one specially adapted Muskeg tractor . On route, the team were also tasked with carrying out scientific research including seismic soundings and gravimetric readings . </P> <P> In parallel Hillary's team had set up Scott Base--which was to be Fuchs' final destination--on the opposite side of the continent at McMurdo Sound on the Ross Sea . Using three converted Massey Ferguson TE20 tractors and one Weasel (abandoned part - way), Hillary and his three men (Ron Balham, Peter Mulgrew and Murray Ellis), were responsible for route - finding and laying a line of supply depots up the Skelton Glacier and across the Polar Plateau on towards the South Pole, for the use of Fuchs on the final leg of his journey . Other members of Hillary's team carried out geological surveys around the Ross Sea and Victoria Land areas . </P>

Who was the first to cross the antarctica