Phil Waitkus is a son of Felix Waitkus, whose emergency landing in Ballinrobe in 1935 became worldwide news. In this Question & Answer session (conducted July 2010), he talks about his father and that famous trans-Atlantic flight. Phil lives in Wisconsin, USA.

Did your father talk much about Ballinrobe?
Actually my father spoke very little about the flight. However, on several occasions he mentioned the help the folks of Ballinrobe gave him. Specifically he remembered the first night’s hospitality, and all the folks who came to help and observe.
He also mentioned the hot water bottle given him to warm the bed in the farmhouse near the landing site, the ride into town to call the Consulate, and the wonderful help he got from the Irish Air Force.
He mentioned singing with them on the truck, which I believe, was destined for Dublin. He did mention how fast and co-ordinated everyone was when it came time to dismantle the airplane. He also mentioned the case of the missing cow, which seemed to have been frightened away by the landing drama, never to be seen again.

Did he ever visit Ballinrobe Ireland again?
Not to my knowledge.

Have you ever visited Ballinrobe or Ireland?
No, not yet. We were planning to be there this year but other commitments have changed things a bit. We hope next year to be able to visit.

Did your father talk about the flight much?
No, hardly at all. However, a few years ago I discovered in his files a letter he wrote to my grandfather in Kohler, from Lithuania a few weeks after the landing. I believe Mr. Patsy Murphy has a copy of a Paower Point presentation I prepared on the flight for the local Experimental Aircraft Association chapter here in Sheboygan.

What memories did he speak of?
Mostly the cold in the aircraft cabin, the icing conditions, which put him almost completely at the mercy of the elements, and the great friendship he helped form between the countries. In one of his articles he pointed out that very little of engineering value was accomplished by such flights as all that work was well known in advance. He felt strongly that the major effect was indeed a shrinking of the world and bringing together of peoples separated by what previously seemed to be vast distances. He was quite surprised how quickly air travel accomplished this. Aside from this it has become pretty obvious that his crossing was most likely the first crossing of the Atlantic done completely on instruments. We believe it was the first crossing to use radio navigation as a primary navigation tool. A book I have on the Lockheed Vega states that his crossing was the last one in a wooden aircraft. Most major sections of his model Vega were moulded from spruce strips and glue.

Do the family still honour him on his birth date, anniversary, etc?
In the US the custom is to decorate the graves of our relatives on Memorial Day, the last Monday in May. We remember him around the Christmas table and in the saying of an occasional mass for his and my mother’s intentions. On occasion, during the Christmas holidays I will place a small Christmas tree at their grave sites and decorate it with bird seed cakes as they both loved birds, as do we.

Do you visit Lithuania regularly?
No, in fact I have never been there either. Perhaps next year my wife and I will go there after we visit Ballinrobe.

What is your message to the people who are continuing to keep alive the memory of Felix Waitkus?
Our family is deeply honoured by the continuing remembrances of Felix. Without doubt his flight and landing in Ballinrobe succeeded beyond his wildest dreams in making a lasting friendship between the peoples of three countries. In addition the monument to him erected by the people of Ballinrobe does him great honour and we deeply appreciate the fact that your town erected it.
It will keep his memory alive for many years to come and commemorate Ballinrobe’s connection with the age of flight. We send you our heartfelt thanks. We also wish to thank Mr. and Mrs. Patsy Murphy for all the work they have done to accomplish these many connections between America, Ireland and Lithuania.
In Lithuania, Mr. Jonas Cepas has accomplished many wonderful activities both personally as well as through the Lithuanian Aviation Museum to promote the remembrance of Felix’ flight. Here in the US, Mr. Ted Rudaitis and Mrs. Aurelija Dobrovolskiene of Chicago are actively promoting the 75th anniversary of the flight.
To all of these wonderful people, we are truly grateful.

Do you have a personal interest in aviation?
In my teen years I was a student pilot and accumulated sufficient flight time for a private pilot’s license. However, my interest in the sciences and years in graduate school and a growing family soon overshadowed my interest in aviation. In the US, and I suspect Ireland as well, aviation has become more and more expensive and regulated. For a short time I considered getting back into flying, but without a definite need for an aircraft I soon traded this interest for one in sailing. We have sailed Lake Michigan now for about 30 years. On the other hand our son Mark (Felix’ grandson) is an accomplished pilot holding private, commercial, multi-engine, instrument and seaplane ratings.