Adamowicz brothers
Encyclopedia
Brothers Benjamin Adamowicz (born in Krajsk, Poland, 1898; died June 1979, New York, and Joseph Adamowicz (born in Jankowszczyzna, Poland, 1893; died November 1970, New York), born Bolesław and Józef Adamowicz, were American businessmen of Polish
descent and amateur aviators, who were known for their transatlantic flight
in 1934.
under Russian
occupation. Before World War I
they emigrated to the USA. After working in a sugar factory, they started their own small business in New York City
in 1918, producing soda water and soft drink
s.
In 1928, they flew in a plane for the first time as passengers, sparking their enthusiasm for aviation. They bought a Waco biplane and learned to fly at a basic level. Impressed by trans-Atlantic flights, they decided to fly across the Atlantic themselves. In May 1932 they won a minor tourist planes contest at Floyd Bennett airfield, which encouraged them to pursue their plans.
In August 1933, the plane was damaged by a hired pilot while landing in Harbour Grace, Newfoundland
. After repairs, the brothers decided to try again. Although Ben Adamowicz had learned to fly blind, both brothers were purely amateur aviators. Moreover, their aircraft was not fitted with a radio
, which made their trip more dangerous.
On June 28, 1934, Benjamin and Joseph Adamowicz took off from Floyd Bennett Field
in New York City and landed in Harbour Grace, Newfoundland. On June 29 at 5 AM they took off for their Atlantic trip. After six hours of flight, they encountered a problem with ice. Benjamin managed to lower the plane and regain control (Joseph, writing a flight log in English, surprisingly wrote in Polish at one moment: "God, have mercy on us"). Then, for a few hours, they flew in a heavy rainstorm. After they managed to get above the clouds they noticed that the main fuel tank was leaking. Luckily, after pumping in emergency fuel, they determined it was enough to reach Europe. On the morning of June 30, they crossed the shore, but due to fog and clouds, they were unable to determine their position (a result of their poor navigation skills). After flying for 3 hours without sight of land they reversed direction, and after an additional hour, the fog cleared and the brothers decided to land in a small meadow, while avoiding a herd of cattle. It appeared that they were near Caen
in France
.
The next day, after repairing the landing gear
, they took off for Paris
, then Germany, where they were forced to land due to fuel leaks. On July 2, the brothers arrived in Warsaw
, Poland
, where they were treated as heroes. Another Pole had already flown across the Atlantic, Stanislaw Skarzynski
in May 1933. By that time, more pilots had managed to fly across the Atlantic
, but it was still a very risky trip, even for professional pilots. The Adamowicz brothers may have been the first amateur pilots in the world to make a transatlantic flight.
After a celebration, they sold their plane to a governmental organization in Poland, and sailed back to their business in the USA. Further information can be found in the new book by Zofia Reklewska-Braun and Kazimierz Braun (Bracia Adamowiczowie Emigranci – lotnicy; Pierwsi polscy zdobywcy północnego Atlantyku Z archiwum pisarza, t. II. Wydawnictwo Uniwersytetu Rzeszowskiego. Rzeszów 2011.
Poles
thumb|right|180px|The state flag of [[Poland]] as used by Polish government and diplomatic authoritiesThe Polish people, or Poles , are a nation indigenous to Poland. They are united by the Polish language, which belongs to the historical Lechitic subgroup of West Slavic languages of Central Europe...
descent and amateur aviators, who were known for their transatlantic flight
Transatlantic flight
Transatlantic flight is the flight of an aircraft across the Atlantic Ocean. A transatlantic flight may proceed east-to-west, originating in Europe or Africa and terminating in North America or South America, or it may go in the reverse direction, west-to-east...
in 1934.
Early life
They were born in Krajsk and Janowszczyzna (near Olkowicze), Poland, respectively, not far from Vilnius, in the territory of the former Polish-Lithuanian CommonwealthPolish-Lithuanian Commonwealth
The Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth was a dualistic state of Poland and Lithuania ruled by a common monarch. It was the largest and one of the most populous countries of 16th- and 17th‑century Europe with some and a multi-ethnic population of 11 million at its peak in the early 17th century...
under Russian
Russian Empire
The Russian Empire was a state that existed from 1721 until the Russian Revolution of 1917. It was the successor to the Tsardom of Russia and the predecessor of the Soviet Union...
occupation. Before World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
they emigrated to the USA. After working in a sugar factory, they started their own small business in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
in 1918, producing soda water and soft drink
Soft drink
A soft drink is a non-alcoholic beverage that typically contains water , a sweetener, and a flavoring agent...
s.
In 1928, they flew in a plane for the first time as passengers, sparking their enthusiasm for aviation. They bought a Waco biplane and learned to fly at a basic level. Impressed by trans-Atlantic flights, they decided to fly across the Atlantic themselves. In May 1932 they won a minor tourist planes contest at Floyd Bennett airfield, which encouraged them to pursue their plans.
Careers
The brothers bought a long-distance plane, the Bellanca J300, registration NR797W, c/n 3003, for US$22,000. In addition to the standard 1627l fuel tanks, it was fitted with an additional 440 gallon tank, and extra emergency fuel was brought in cans. The plane had a Polish national White Eagle and the name "City of Warsaw" painted on the fuselage.In August 1933, the plane was damaged by a hired pilot while landing in Harbour Grace, Newfoundland
Dominion of Newfoundland
The Dominion of Newfoundland was a British Dominion from 1907 to 1949 . The Dominion of Newfoundland was situated in northeastern North America along the Atlantic coast and comprised the island of Newfoundland and Labrador on the continental mainland...
. After repairs, the brothers decided to try again. Although Ben Adamowicz had learned to fly blind, both brothers were purely amateur aviators. Moreover, their aircraft was not fitted with a radio
Radio
Radio is the transmission of signals through free space by modulation of electromagnetic waves with frequencies below those of visible light. Electromagnetic radiation travels by means of oscillating electromagnetic fields that pass through the air and the vacuum of space...
, which made their trip more dangerous.
On June 28, 1934, Benjamin and Joseph Adamowicz took off from Floyd Bennett Field
Floyd Bennett Field
Floyd Bennett Field is New York City's first municipal airport. While no longer used as an operational commercial, military or general aviation airfield, the New York Police Department still flies its helicopters from its heliport base there...
in New York City and landed in Harbour Grace, Newfoundland. On June 29 at 5 AM they took off for their Atlantic trip. After six hours of flight, they encountered a problem with ice. Benjamin managed to lower the plane and regain control (Joseph, writing a flight log in English, surprisingly wrote in Polish at one moment: "God, have mercy on us"). Then, for a few hours, they flew in a heavy rainstorm. After they managed to get above the clouds they noticed that the main fuel tank was leaking. Luckily, after pumping in emergency fuel, they determined it was enough to reach Europe. On the morning of June 30, they crossed the shore, but due to fog and clouds, they were unable to determine their position (a result of their poor navigation skills). After flying for 3 hours without sight of land they reversed direction, and after an additional hour, the fog cleared and the brothers decided to land in a small meadow, while avoiding a herd of cattle. It appeared that they were near Caen
Caen
Caen is a commune in northwestern France. It is the prefecture of the Calvados department and the capital of the Basse-Normandie region. It is located inland from the English Channel....
in France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
.
First
Landing Gear
Landing Gear is Devin the Dude's fifth studio album. It was released on October 7, 2008. It was his first studio album since signing with the label Razor & Tie. It features a high-profile guest appearance from Snoop Dogg. As of October 30, 2008, the album has sold 18,906 copies.-Track...
, they took off for Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
, then Germany, where they were forced to land due to fuel leaks. On July 2, the brothers arrived in Warsaw
Warsaw
Warsaw is the capital and largest city of Poland. It is located on the Vistula River, roughly from the Baltic Sea and from the Carpathian Mountains. Its population in 2010 was estimated at 1,716,855 residents with a greater metropolitan area of 2,631,902 residents, making Warsaw the 10th most...
, Poland
Poland
Poland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north...
, where they were treated as heroes. Another Pole had already flown across the Atlantic, Stanislaw Skarzynski
Stanislaw Skarzynski
Stanisław Jakub Skarżyński was a Lt. Colonel in the Polish Air Force and aviator famous for his transatlantic solo flight in 1933.-Early military career:...
in May 1933. By that time, more pilots had managed to fly across the Atlantic
Transatlantic flight
Transatlantic flight is the flight of an aircraft across the Atlantic Ocean. A transatlantic flight may proceed east-to-west, originating in Europe or Africa and terminating in North America or South America, or it may go in the reverse direction, west-to-east...
, but it was still a very risky trip, even for professional pilots. The Adamowicz brothers may have been the first amateur pilots in the world to make a transatlantic flight.
After a celebration, they sold their plane to a governmental organization in Poland, and sailed back to their business in the USA. Further information can be found in the new book by Zofia Reklewska-Braun and Kazimierz Braun (Bracia Adamowiczowie Emigranci – lotnicy; Pierwsi polscy zdobywcy północnego Atlantyku Z archiwum pisarza, t. II. Wydawnictwo Uniwersytetu Rzeszowskiego. Rzeszów 2011.