Lithuanians in Ireland celebrate 80th anniversary of Feliksas Vaitkus’ trans-Atlantic flight

Feliksas Vaitkus made history as the only pilot who had crossed the Atlantic Ocean in a one-man plane, Lituanica II, and the sixth pilot to accomplish the feat in the history of aviation. Vaitkus’ aim was to land in Kaunas, the then capital of Lithuania, but adverse weather conditions forced him to land in Ireland.

The celebrations in Ballingrobe included a performance by the Vilnius choir “Jauna Muzika” (“Young Music”) and unveiling of a monument for Feliksas Vaitkus’ flight. Gražina Sviderskytė, a well-known Lithuanian journalist and historian, delivered a lecture about the flights of Feliksas Vaitkus as well as his better-known colleagues Steponas Darius and Stasys Girėnas.