An Cosantóir May 2018 www.dfmagazine.ie
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vEtERAn'S nEWS vEtERAn'S nEWS vEtERAn'S nEWS
By AIR CoRPS PRESS oFFICE
COL FITZMAURICE AND THE BREMEN FLIGHT REMEMBERED
O
n the
12th
April
1928 a Junkers
W33 aircraft
named the 'Bre-
men' departed
Baldonnel
Aerodrome
bound for
North America.
On board was
the Officer
Command-
ing the Air
Corps Colonel James Fitzmaurice and two German crew-
members, Captain Kohl and Baron Von Huenefeld. Some
36 hours later they landed on Greenly Island on the Eastern
shores of Canada.
This was a truly remarkable achievement given the
prevailing winds, the treacherous weather conditions and
the multiple previously
failed attempts. Colonel
Fitzmaurice and the
crew of the Bremen
were hailed as aviation
pioneers and
their achievement still
stands as one of the
greatest chapters in
aviation history.
Today in Casement
Airbase a ceremony was
held at the very spot
from which the Bremen
aircraft departed on its
epic voyage. The ceremo-
ny included music from
the Defence Forces Bands, a tribute from the Artillery Corps
and a Guard of Honour. Unfortunately the poor weather
did not allow for a fly past. Photos: Sgt Colum Lawlor, Armn
Jamie Martin and Armn Emmet Long, 105 Sqn
COL JAMES FITZMAURICE REMEMBERED
M
embers of IUNVA Post 27 Portlaoise are pictured with Lt Col Frank
Byrne commemorating the 90th Anniversary of the first transat-
lantic aeronautical flight from Europe to North America in Port-
laoise on the 12th April 2018. A wreath laying ceremony commemorating
the flight by local man Colonel
James Fitzmaurice of the Irish
Air Corps, took place at the Eitilt
monument in Fitzmaurice Place.
In attendance were Laois Coun-
ty Council, Laois Heritage Soci-
ety, the Heritage Council, rep-
resentatives of the Irish Air Corps,
members of IUNVA Post 27 and Portlaoise CBS, where Col Fitzmaurice attended
school. Photos by Martin Rowe
