The aviator who flew across the Atlantic by mistake

History · Published 8 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: In 1938, Douglas Corrigan departed New York with plans to reach California. However, he performed a sudden reversal and flew toward the ocean instead. This bizarre aviation blunder resulted in him landing in Ireland, transforming a rejected pilot into a famous figure who achieved international fame by traveling the wrong direction.

Douglas Corrigan was not a novice, but a man seeking a legacy. Having worked as a mechanic on Charles Lindbergh’s Spirit of St. Louis, he spent years 'barnstorming' the East Coast and selling rides at air shows. In 1933, he purchased a 1929 Curtiss Robin for just $325. He spent years modifying this 'rattletrap' aircraft, installing extra fuel tanks and a more powerful Wright model J6—5 engine to prepare for a transatlantic crossing.

His ambitions were met with bureaucratic resistance. In 1936, the U.S. Department of Commerce refused to grant him a license for a transatlantic flight, deeming his plane incapable. However, in June 1938, they granted him permission for a domestic cross-country flight. On July 17, 1938, Corrigan took off from Floyd Bennett Field in Brooklyn, ostensibly headed west toward California.

Just moments after takeoff, Corrigan performed a 180-degree U-turn, disappearing inside a bank of clouds. While the exact reason for the turn remains a mystery, he proceeded to fly east across the Atlantic. He landed in Dublin, Ireland, on July 18, 1938. While the press was stunned by the aircraft's survival, Corrigan became a household name as 'Wrong Way' Corrigan—a man who achieved international fame by flying in the exact opposite direction of his goal. Born in Texas, he was originally named Clyde before his mother renamed him to honor a movie star. He spent his youth working on construction sites in Los Angeles. His first solo flight occurred in March 1926. He eventually moved to San Diego to work at the Ryan Aircraft Factory.

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