Wilkins, Sir (George) Hubert (1888-1958), an Australian explorer, flier, and scientist. He made the first flight over Antarctica and the first submarine voyage under the Arctic ice cap.

Wilkins was born in South Australia, the son of a rancher. After attending the Adelaide School of Mines and Industries, he worked as an electrical engineer, meteorologist, and motion-picture photographer. In 1910 he learned to fly an airplane. During the Balkan Wars, 1912-13, he served with the Turkish army as a military photographer.

Wilkins' polar career began when Vilhjalmur Stefansson appointed him photographer of the Canadian Arctic Expedition, 1913-17. Stefansson trained him in polar exploration techniques, and Wilkins rose to second in command. In 1917, during World War I, he joined the Australian Flying Corps. Wilkins was assigned to the military history department and served as official photographer for Australian forces in France. He rose to the rank of captain.

After the war Wilkins was assistant or commander in several arctic and antarctic expeditions. His chief purpose was to find bases for long-range weather forecasting installations. In April, 1928, Wilkins and Carl B. Eielson made the first flight over the polar region from North America to Europe. Their monoplane flew about 2,100 miles (3,400 km) from Point Barrow, Alaska, to Svalbard (Spitsbergen), Norway, in 20 1/2 hours. The flight revealed that there are no islands near the North Pole. Mapmakers then eliminated mythical areas such as "Keenan Land." For his navigational feat, Wilkins was knighted by King George V. In December, 1928, Wilkins made the first flight over Antarctica.

In 1931 Wilkins pioneered the underwater study of arctic seas. He planned to sail a submerged submarine to the North Pole. The submarine had to surface repeatedly to recharge batteries and was unable to reach the Pole.