The Secret Land - 1946 US Navy Antarctic Expedition (1948)

The Secret Land is a feature-length documentary film that chronicles the United States Navy’s 1946-1947 expedition to Antarctica, code-named Operation Highjump. Led by Rear Admiral Richard E. Byrd, the mission aimed to train military personnel in polar operations, test cold-weather equipment, map the land, and study the natural resources beneath the ice. Shot entirely by military photographers, the documentary features re-enactments of critical moments, including shipboard damage control and a dramatic engine failure in an airplane. The Secret Land won the Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature in 1948, providing a unique glimpse into this historic and ambitious military expedition.