This silver plaque commemorates "The Flight of the Bremen", which was the first successful East-West transatlantic flight to be made.
The first transatlantic flights were made in a West-East direction, but the severe winds and greater flight time made the flight from Europe to North America far more dangerous. There were ten unsuccessful East-West transatlantic attempts in which seven lives were lost. This achievement was finally made in April of 1928, when the Bremen, piloted by Koehl, Von Hunefeld, and Fitzmaurice departed from Baldonnel Aerodrome on Thursday 12th April 1928 and landed on Greenly Island in Labrador the following day.
Display Status
This object is not on display at the National Air and Space Museum. It is either on loan or in storage.
Object Details
Date
1928
Country of Origin
Germany
Type
AWARDS-Trophies
Physical Description
The silver "Bremen" commemorative plaque has a relief of the Junkers "Bremen" aircraft depicted in the center. Enameled United States, German, and Irish Republic flags are depicted below the aircraft. A enameled white pennant and enameled white flag with a crossed blue anchor and key is located in the upper left corner. There are red enamel letter text "EINHOLUNG DER OCEANFLIEGER JUNI 1928" across the top of the plaque and the pilots' names on three black enamel discs below each flag "Koehl, Hunefeld, Fitzmaurice".
Dimensions
3-D: 7.6 × 0.5 × 11.1cm (3 × 3/16 × 4 3/8 in.)
Materials
Silver Alloy
Enamel
Copper Alloy
White Metal Plating
Inventory Number
A19800458000
Credit Line
Donated by Charles J. Leary
Data Source
National Air and Space Museum
Restrictions & Rights
Usage conditions apply
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