National Wrong Way Corrigan Day
July 17
About National Wrong Way Corrigan Day
National Wrong Way Corrigan Day takes place on 17 July each year and commemorates one of aviation’s most charming acts of mischief. The day marks the anniversary of Douglas “Wrong Way” Corrigan’s unauthorised 1938 transatlantic flight, when the young pilot took off from New York ostensibly bound for California and landed, twenty-eight hours later, in Dublin, Ireland. It is a celebration of audacity, persistence, and the wink-and-a-nod refusal to take “no” for an answer.
The Story Behind National Wrong Way Corrigan Day
Douglas Corrigan was born in Galveston, Texas, on 22 January 1907. As a young aircraft mechanic in California, he found himself working on the most famous aeroplane of the age: the Spirit of St. Louis, the monoplane that carried Charles Lindbergh across the Atlantic in 1927. Watching Lindbergh’s triumph take shape under his own hands planted an ambition that Corrigan would chase for more than a decade. He wanted to make the same crossing himself.
By the late 1930s Corrigan had bought a battered 1929 Curtiss Robin aircraft, salvaged it, and rebuilt it for long-distance flight, fitting extra fuel tanks until the cockpit windscreen was almost entirely blocked by them. He applied repeatedly to the authorities for permission to fly across the Atlantic, and was refused every time. Officials judged the modified, ageing aircraft unfit for an ocean crossing and considered the attempt little short of suicidal. They would grant him only a permit for a non-stop transcontinental flight from New York back to California.
On 17 July 1938, Corrigan took off from Floyd Bennett Field in Brooklyn, pointed west as instructed, then banked into a cloudbank and disappeared. Twenty-eight hours later he touched down at Baldonnel Aerodrome near Dublin. When he climbed out and reportedly asked where he was, the explanation he offered, and stuck to for the rest of his life, was that his compass had malfunctioned and he had simply flown the wrong way. Almost nobody believed him, and that was rather the point. The public on both sides of the Atlantic adored the cheeky deniability of it, and the nickname “Wrong Way” Corrigan stuck forever.
When and Where is National Wrong Way Corrigan Day Celebrated?
National Wrong Way Corrigan Day falls on Friday, 17 July 2026. It is observed annually on the same fixed date, the anniversary of the famous flight, and is marked chiefly in the United States, where Corrigan became a folk hero, as well as among aviation enthusiasts in Ireland who remember his unexpected arrival.
Traditions and Customs
The day is light-hearted by nature, and the customs around it lean into the humour of Corrigan’s escapade.
- Sharing the story – Aviation buffs and history lovers retell the tale of the flight, often emphasising the deadpan “my compass was wrong” defence that Corrigan maintained for decades.
- Doing things “the wrong way” – Some people mark the day by deliberately taking the scenic route, getting playfully lost, or tackling a task back to front in tribute to the pilot’s accidental detour.
- Celebrating Irish-American ties – Because Corrigan landed in Dublin, the day carries a thread of Irish-American connection, and some celebrate with a nod to both nations.
- Honouring aviation history – Museums and flying clubs use the occasion to highlight the golden age of aviation and the daredevil pilots who defined it.
- Reading and screening – Corrigan’s 1938 autobiography and the 1939 film loosely based on his life make popular ways to spend the day.
Ways to Celebrate National Wrong Way Corrigan Day
There are plenty of ways to enjoy this quirky slice of history.
- Visit an aviation museum – Spend time among vintage aircraft and learn how early long-distance flight worked, hazards and all.
- Plan a deliberate detour – Take the long way home and notice something new, in the spirit of Corrigan’s unintended journey.
- Watch the 1939 film – “The Flying Irishman” starred Corrigan as himself, a rare chance to see a folk hero play his own legend.
- Learn about navigation – Read up on how pilots used compasses, dead reckoning, and the stars before satellite navigation existed.
- Tell the story to younger generations – It is a memorable, family-friendly piece of history that sparks curiosity about flight.
- Share online – Post the tale with the day’s hashtags and introduce new people to one of aviation’s best characters.
Facts and Figures
- Corrigan’s flight from Brooklyn to Dublin took approximately 28 hours and 13 minutes.
- He flew a 1929 Curtiss Robin that he had rebuilt himself, fitted with extra fuel tanks that largely blocked his forward view.
- Corrigan had been refused permission for a transatlantic flight on multiple occasions before 1938.
- His pilot’s licence was suspended for 14 days following the unauthorised crossing, a punishment that ended conveniently around the time his ship home docked.
- He had earlier helped build the Spirit of St. Louis, the aircraft Charles Lindbergh flew across the Atlantic in 1927.
- Douglas Corrigan lived to the age of 88, dying on 9 December 1995.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is National Wrong Way Corrigan Day?
It is an annual observance on 17 July honouring Douglas “Wrong Way” Corrigan, who flew from New York to Dublin in 1938 after being denied permission for a transatlantic crossing, then claimed he had simply got lost.
When is National Wrong Way Corrigan Day in 2026?
It falls on Friday, 17 July 2026, the anniversary of Corrigan’s 1938 flight.
Did Corrigan really fly the wrong way by accident?
Almost certainly not. He had sought permission to fly the Atlantic for years and was repeatedly refused. Most historians agree the “wrong way” story was a deliberate cover, and the public loved him all the more for it.
Spread the Word
Share National Wrong Way Corrigan Day with fellow history and aviation fans using #WrongWayCorriganDay and #WrongWayCorriganDay2026. Whether you take a scenic detour or simply retell the story, every share helps keep this delightful piece of aviation history alive.
Related Awareness Days
- National Amelia Earhart Day – Celebrates another pioneering aviator from the same daring era of flight.
- Wright Brothers Day – Honours the inventors who made powered flight possible in the first place.
- Pan American Aviation Day – Marks the broader achievements of aviation across the Americas.
If you enjoy the stories of aviation’s golden age, you will also appreciate National Amelia Earhart Day, which remembers a contemporary who pushed the limits of flight just as boldly.
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