Magnificent men in their flying machines!

John Alcock and

Arthur Whitten Brown

 

'Landed Clifden, Ireland'.

 

1919: British aviators, Alcock & Brown flew from Newfoundland in a

converted WW1 Vickers Vimy biplane to take part in the 'Daily Mail Cross-Atlantic Race' and a chance of winning £10,000. Against all the odds, 16 hours later, a telegram arrived announcing to the world they had flown the 1st non-stop transatlantic flight; and delivered the 1st aerial mail too.

 

Brown indulged himself in thinking that their daring flight had ended in a

perfect landing. Then, with a squelch, the plane sank axle-deep, pivoting

over its wheels, the nose crashing forward. This was not a meadow! They had landed face first in an Irish peat bog.

 

Their epic flight is now an establish date in aviation history. Winston

Churchill presented their award; they were knighted by King George V;

and were the 1st people to officially say:

 

"Yesterday I was in America."

c

 

 

 

g