Crossing the Atlantic Ocean in the 1930s with a single-engine plane was, without question, a daunting task. Nonetheless, many pilots, inspired by the Wright brothers or Charles Lindbergh, who made the first-ever non-stop flight across the Atlantic Ocean, were eager to take on the challenge.

And in fact, two Lithuanian pilots took on the challenge and embarked on a journey to fly across the Atlantic Ocean in 1933. Despite the promising progress of the trip, it ended in tragedy just a few hundred kilometers from its planned destination.

The idea

Steponas Darius, a pilot and founder of an aeroclub and aviation school in the United States, was the first to conceive of a flight across the Atlantic Ocean. Yet, the venture required a second pilot to be realized. Darius invited his friend Stanislovas Girenas, a fellow pilot and aviation mechanic, who accepted the proposal.

Both pilots decided to fly the Atlantic Ocean in a Bellanca CH-300 Pacemaker, a single-engine aircraft used for civil purposes. The plane was purchased with their own savings as well as donations.

However, to make the aircraft suitable for a transatlantic flight, modifications were made – a stronger engine was included, wings were extended, and the fuel tank was expanded. On May 6, 1933, the airplane was given a new name, 'Lituanica'.

The flight

On July 15, 1933, both pilots planned to fly across the Atlantic Ocean and reach Kaunas, Lithuania. The Lituanica aircraft took off from New York's Floyd Bennett Field on July 15, 1933, at approximately 06.20 local time.

It was alleged that the aircraft was heavy with cargo, including airmail parcels. Vital radio equipment, parachutes, and life vests had to be left behind because the freight was so heavy and because two pilots needed more money to purchase them.

Lithuania was prepared to welcome both pilots as the mass lights illuminated the night sky, a military aircraft surveilled the airspace, and a hefty crowd of 25 thousand people gathered at Aleksotas Airport (which was later renamed after Darius and Girenas) to welcome the arrival of Lituanica.

The plane was due to land on July 17, 1933, at around 03:00. However, the Pacemaker ultimately did not reach its destination, as it crashed in Soldin forest (now Poland), which was then under German control. Tragically, both Lithuanian pilots perished in the accident, having been just 650 kilometers away from their final destination.

The aftermath

The cause of the plane crash in a treetop in Poland remained a mystery, leading to various myths surrounding the event.

Various theories have been put forward to explain why the aircraft crashed, including potential Nazi fire, the aircraft's weight, unfavorable weather conditions, insufficient fuel onboard, or pilot errors.

However, a Lithuanian investigation board was appointed to determine the cause of the accident. It concluded that the pilots were adequately qualified, and the aircraft was outfitted correctly with enough fuel onboard. But it never explained why the Lituanica flight ended in tragedy.

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According to the lecturer of VGTU Aeronautics engineering faculty, Bronius Merkys, the pilots from Lithuania not only chose the plane correctly but also devoted a lot of time to training and setting up navigation. He told LRT:

"They were well-prepared for the flight and properly prepared the plane for it, so they had a real chance to successfully reach their goal. From a technical point of view, the decisions were good. The Bellanca CH-300 Pacemaker was reliable and had good modification options for long-haul flights."

Despite the tragic event, it is also important to note the positive changes influenced by this flight. More and more people became interested in aviation, technology, progress, and modernization, according to the historian of Vilnius University, Nerijus Sepetys, interviewed by the Lithuanian national media outlet LRT.

The Lituanica flight is mentioned as one of the most efficient ones. In 37 hours and 11 minutes, until the crash, Darius and Girenas had flown 6.411 kilometers. They achieved the second-best result in the world regarding flight distance and the fourth in terms of time spent in the air.

The remains of the Lituanica wreckage can be seen in Vytautas Didysis War Museum in Kaunas. However, not all aircraft parts were returned to the Lithuanian government.

Sources: LRT, Vilnius University