Felix Waitkus – Lithuania’s national hero – the Ballinrobe connection

In 1935, a Lithuanian by the name of Felix Waitkus became only the sixth pilot to fly solo across the Atlantic – and, in a story that captured world attention at the time, he made his landing in Ballinrobe.

It was an unexpected landing as Waitkus had initially hoped to make it as far as Kaunas, Lithuania, but weather conditions forced him to come down in Ballinrobe.

The world’s media focused on the story. He was the only pilot to fly solo across the Atlantic in 1935.

More on Felix Waitkus:

Feliksas Vaitkus (Wikipedia)
Lithuanian American Community, Inc.
Dan’s Topical Stamps
Google News
Lithuanian Association in Ireland
Wings Publishing
Davis-Monthan Airfield Register

Notice the Shell connection in that they owned the plane originally, where it was probably used to ferry there executives around the country between oilfields and boardrooms etc.
Also notice the connection with Boeing, where Felix was employed as a test pilot during WW1. If you add the Lockheed Aircraft Corporation name to this, you have connections to three of the biggest Corporation names in the US.

If you want a conducted tour, inside and outside of a Lockheed Vega plane similar to Lituanica II. on the above site click on MOTION PICTURES on the top menu, and in the list of videos click on VEGAMOVIEAVI.