Limerick-born author recounts story of aviation heroes in new book

THE daring heroics of Alcock and Brown, who wrote themselves into history by becoming the first aviators to cross the Atlantic non-stop, are being remembered this week on the 100th anniversary of their pioneering feat.

But for Abbeyfeale-born Brendan Lynch their story was a childhood constant and one that stayed with him all his life. Now, in tandem with the centenary, it has inspired Brendan’s latest book, Yesterday We Were in America.

The book recounts the story of that incredible flight which came to land in Connemara on June 15, 1919.

‘For over 16 hours, John Alcock and Arthur Whitten Brown battled the elements in their open-cockpit Vimy plane, to touch down in Connemara after an 1800-mile epic,” Brendan explained following the launch of his book in Dublin last week. “With constant rain and cloud, navigator Brown enjoyed only three fleeting sun sightings between Newfoundland and Ireland, yet the pair landed just 20 miles off their original target destination.”

The two Royal Navy pilots in their Vickers Vimy biplane took to the skies about 1:45 p.m. on June 14 from St John’s in Newfoundland, Canada and landed at 8:40 a.m. on 15 June  at Derrigimlagh Bog, Clifden. The landing site is now one of the Atlantic Way signature discovery points. 

Tony Alcock, nephew of John Alcock sent a special message to the launch in which he paid tribute to the Irish people who gave the aviators such an enthusiastic welcome.

“The flight was a triumph of rare skill and navigation, thanks as much to Brown’s navigation, as to my uncle’s flying ability,” he said. “Not only was it the first crossing of any ocean, but also the greatest distance ever flown up to that time. This centenary book  is a most comprehensive and accurate account of Alcock and Brown’s flight.”

MC at the launch, Martin McCarthy reminded the gathering that “Alcock and Brown’s success opened up the Atlantic for commercial flights and put Ireland firmly on the world aviation map.”

“It also lifted people’s spirits after the horrors of WW1 and the Spanish Flu, which had decimated western Europe,” he said.

The author, Brendan Lynch said. “The occasion was more than a book launch, it was also a tribute to two of aviation’s most courageous pioneers.” There will be another launch of the book in Clifden during the town’s special centenary celebrations which began this Wednesday and runs until Sunday.  He will also speak at the Central Bank’s launch of a commemorative coin this Friday. 

Brendan Lynch is the son of former Abbeyfeale Garda Sergeant Patrick Lynch and the author of several books including There might be a drop of rain yet, City of Writers, Parsons Bookshop and Green Dust, Ireland’s unique motor racing history.

Yesterday We Were in America is published by Mountjoy Publishing, Dublin which can be contacted at 01 830 2511.