On April 3, 1928, aviation history was made with the successful completion of the first east-west transatlantic flight by a heavier-than-air aircraft. The Junkers W 33 monoplane named 'Bremen', piloted by German aviators Hermann Köhl and Ehrenfried Günther Freiherr von Hünefeld, along with Irish co-pilot Captain James C. Fitzmaurice, landed at Greenly Island, Canada, after a 36-hour flight from Baldonnel, Ireland.
The flight was notable for its pioneering use of radio navigation, or radio direction-finding, to maintain its course across the Atlantic Ocean. This technology, which involved receiving directional signals from ground stations, was crucial for navigation in poor weather conditions and limited visibility, representing a significant advancement in aerial navigation safety.
The 'Bremen's' journey was fraught with challenges, including strong headwinds and icing. The successful landing, though off-course from the intended New York destination, demonstrated the practical viability of long-distance over-water flights and the critical role of radio technology in enabling them.
This achievement marked a major milestone in linking Europe and North America by air. It paved the way for the development of commercial transatlantic air travel and highlighted the growing importance of radio-based instrumentation in aviation.
