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On the occasion of 100 years anniversary of Feliksas Vaitkus and the commemoration of the transatlantic flight of Lituanica II, a temporary stone marker will be erected on 30 September in Ballinrobe, Ireland. Later the stone marker will be replaced by a monument which is to be built there to commemorate the flight of the pilot in 1935. In Ballinrobe, F.Vaitkus is still remembered with respect.

Among the participants of the celebration there will be Lithuanian Minister of National Defence Juozas Olekas, Undersecretary of Lithuanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs Laimonas Talat-Kelpša, Adviser to the President of Lithuania Irena Vaišvilaitė, Kaunas City Mayor Andrius Kupčinskas, Lithuanian Ambassador to Ireland Izolda Bričkovskienė and representatives of Lithuanian community in Ireland.

In the place where Lituanica II landed an oak tree is going to be planted and an exhibition of photography opened on the occasion of 100 years anniversary of F.Vaitkus. A film by Jonas Čepas and Stasys Dargis dedicated to the same occasion will be screened and the dixieland band of the National Defence Volunteer Forces will give a performance.

The initiators and organizers of the event are the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of National Defence, Kaunas City Municipality, Lithuanian Embassy in Ireland and Ballinrobe city municipality.

The event will officially open the Lithuanian Days in Ireland – such a presentation of Lithuania will be held for the first time in Ireland. The Lithuanian Days in Ireland 2007 will take place on October 8-28 in Dublin, Ballinrobe, Galway, Cavan, and Limerick.

During the Lithuanian Days in Ireland 2007, an exhibition of photography by Kęstutis Stoškus called “Vilnius. Photographs of the Old Town” will be presented, exhibitions of graphics by Mikalojus Vilutis and Irish Lithuanian photography club Fotomanai will be opened, a film by Jonas Vaitkus “Utterly Alone” will be screened. A concert will be performed by Andrius Mamontovas, Veronika Povilionienė, Saulius Balandis, Nojus, the Christopher Chamber Orchestra and Vilnius Municipal Choir “Jauna Muzika”. A collection of paintings on silk “Pictura et vestis” by Ramutė Stakėnienė and an album compiled by the same author “Between Earth and Sky” will be presented, the Dance Sport Group Žuvėdra will perform. A match between Galway women rugby „Connacht Team“and Marijampolė women team will be organized. Prime Minister Gediminas Kirkilas will also honour the Lithuanian Days in Ireland.

On 12-13 September in Galway city, a fair “New and Dynamic Lithuania” presenting Lithuania’s economy will help Irish businessmen to get more closely acquainted with Lithuania. During the fair, Lithuanian folk artist Regimantas Šilinskas will perform with wooden bells.

Background information on Feliksas Vaitkus

Feliksas Vaitkus was born in Chicago, in 1907. He studied in Chicago University, later on he graduated from an aviation school in California and took training courses for aviators. In 1931 he established his own aviation school in Wisconsin.

After the transatlantic flight of Steponas Darius and Stasys Girėnas ended tragically in 1933, the American Lithuanian community decided, that this flight had to be repeated. They started raising funds for this project.

On 21 September, 1935, having received a favorable weather report, an aircraft Lockheed L-5B, called Lituanica II and piloted by F.Vaitkus, took off from New York for the flight over the Atlantic. Soon Lituanica II plunged into the trail of clouds. Even for 17.5 hours the pilot had to fly relying only on the navigation equipment and changed altitude often to prevent the ice forming on the airplane, as he was flying in icing conditions. Due to very bad flying conditions, the airplane consumed fuel faster than in the usual conditions.

After having noticed a fuel pump failure and after having consumed a larger amount of fuel than it was expected, F.Vaitkus decided to land in Ireland. The pilot intended to fix the pump, fill more fuel and head to Kaunas. However, while landing in an open field in Ballinrobe, the wing of the aircraft suffered substantial damage, because a gust of wind blew the aircraft from its position.

During the 22-hour flight, F.Vaitkus covered 5100 kilometres. It was the only successful transatlantic flight in 1935. F.Vaitkus is the sixth pilot to fly solo across the Atlantic in a single-motored aircraft.