Dirva = Field. [volume] (Cleveland, Ohio) 1915-current, 1943-07-23
DARIUS AND GIRENAS
(The Tenth Anniversary Of Their Trans
Atlantic Flight)

The effort by two Lithuanian
Americans to make historic non
stop New York-Kaunas Trans-At-
lantic flight in July, 1885, will al
ways be q shining inspiration to
all Lithuanians. The names of Da-
RUS and Girenas hid two stout,
patriotic hearts and their real ma
mes Of Jucevicius and Girskis, OBJ
noXicus to them on account OF
PoloniZed sound.
They both belonged to the Lith-
uanian tribe called zemaiciai, noted
for it's patriotism and obstinacy.
Stephen Darius was born in the
Taurage district, January s, 1896,
and Stanley Girenas in the Rasei-
Mai district. October A, 1898 They
both lost their fathers early: Da-
rius at the age cf 8, Girenas when
II. Darius came to the United
States when he was eleven, and Gil
renas at the age of fifteen. Both
settled in Chicago, the most popu-
lous Lithuanian colony in the Uni
ted States. 1t is to be noted that
Girenas was the sixteenth child in
their family.
Both Youngsters early showed
their mechanical inclinations and
love of aviation. Girenas was al
ways puttering around, first, with
2 bicycle, then with a motorcycle,
then with a motor boat, and, final
ly, with plane. Darius went to
a technical school and worked in
the Wright Brothers factory. In
1917 they both joined Uncle Sans
forces as volunteers, since, as we
have said, the zemaiciai are inten-
sely patriotic. Darius served with
the Communications Branch, was
wounded, and received two cita-
tions. Girenas was lucky in getting
in the aviation. "My heart is in
the sky, he said.
After the war, Darius took a
university course in aviation and
became one of the organizers of a
group of young Lithuanian Ameri-
can volunteers to go to Europe and
figth for Lithuania's freedom. He
went to Lithuania in 1920, and par
ticipated there, among other activi-
ties. in the annexation of Klaipeda
a silver medal for this. In 1927 he
returned to the United States via
Paris, and saw the enthusiastic re-
ception accorded to Lindbergh. This
left a lasting impression upon Da-
rius. He Immediately bought a
plane and started to prepare for a
Transatlantic flight in Lithuania's S
honor. In these preparations he
met Girenas and both made an in
separable team.
In 1883 they bought Bellanca
plane with $4,000 which they saved
up. Lithuanian Americans began
to take interest in the ambitious
project of these two lovable young
men, and soon a fund of $8,456.31
was raised to recondition the plane
for an oceanic flight. This sum
was not sufficient to install radio,
or safety devices for the pilots.
On July Is, 1888, at 6:24 in the
morning, the plane (named Lithua-
nica) rose on it's fatal historical
flight. 1t made the flight across
the Atlantic but it crashed July
II, about 100 A. M. in Germany
in the forest of Soldin. 1t appears
that Girenas was plotting before
the crash. The electrical torch of
Darius was still burning and his
wrist watch was still ticking when
his body was found, but his brave
heart and the heart of his comrade
Girenas were stilled forever.
Their death reused and moved
the Lithuanian nation as nothing
had done before. Their bodies were
brought to Kaunas by special
plane, and were met at the border
by the symbolical number of nine
Lithuanian planes. A crowd of
$4,000 was in the funeral cortege
which wound it's sad way through
the ancient streets of Kaunas.
Lituanica weighed about $500
pounds and was in the air 81 hours,
IL minutes. Darius had 1876 hours
of air experience (187,OOO miles,,
Girenas 1889 hours (113,6OO miles).