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Douglas Corrigan
(1907 - 1995)
American pilot
American pilot
American aviator nicknamed 'Wrong Way Corrigan' after his unauthorized transatlantic flight from New York to Ireland in 1938. His daring flight captured public imagination during the Golden Age of aviation.
Born in Galveston, Texas, in 1907, Corrigan began his career as an aircraft mechanic and later earned his pilot's license.
Denied permission for a transatlantic flight, he filed a flight plan to California but instead took off for Ireland on July 17, 1938.
After 28 hours in the air, he landed safely in Dublin, claiming navigational error and becoming an instant folk hero.
Known for his skill with modifying aircraft, Corrigan built and maintained his own planes throughout his life.
He continued flying and maintaining gliders and light aircraft until his passing, leaving behind a legacy of audacity and mechanical ingenuity.
Douglas Corrigan