Two Lithuanian heroes 

Steponas Darius and Stasys Girėnas

While walking on the guided tour the first day in Kaunas we stopped in front of  a model plane named Lituanica. I was told the sad story of  two famous Lithuanian pilots I have never  known about  before. They are still  remembered nowadays as national heroes, also on the 10 litas banknotes.

On July 15, 1933, the pilot Steponas Darius and  Stasys Girėnas  attempted a nonstop flight from New York City, USA to Kaunas, in a Bellanca CH-300 Pacemaker airplane named Lituanica. They  had successfully crossed the Atlantic Ocean in 37 hours and 11 minutes and they had almost achieved their great  adventure, only 650 km short of their final destination, when they  crashed on July 17.   Both were killed in the crash. The reason of the crash is still unkwnown. most probably because of difficult weather conditions and engine problems.

How sad the story was! I admire them for their great courage and  their desire of challenging human limits!

                                   Patrizia Coppola