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[[File:10 litai (1993).jpg|left|thumb|350px|Darius (left) and Girėnas on a [[Lithuanian litas|Lithuanian 10 litas]] banknote]]
[[File:10 litai (1993).jpg|left|thumb|350px|Darius (left) and Girėnas on a [[Lithuanian litas|Lithuanian 10 litas]] banknote]]


Born in [[:lt:Dariaus kaimas|Rubiškės]], in the [[Kovno Governorate]] of the [[Russian Empire]], Darius emigrated to the USA with his family in 1907. In 1917 he joined the [[United States Army]], after the United States entered [[World War I]], and changed his name to Darius. He served as a telephone operator in the [[149th Field Artillery Regiment]], fought in France, was wounded and received the [[Purple Heart]] medal. In 1920, he returned to Lithuania and joined the [[Lithuanian Army]], graduating from [[War School of Kaunas]] in 1921. He participated in the [[Klaipėda Revolt]] of 1923. While living in Lithuania he completed pilot training. In 1927 he returned to the United States and started working in civil aviation. He initially formed South Bend Airways in partnership with Carl G. Jordan of [[South Bend, Indiana]]. Their fleet consisted of a [[Pheasant H-10]] and a [[Longwing Eaglerock]], both powered by OX-5 engines of World War I vintage. He lived for a while in the Jordan household prior to moving to Chicago.
Born in [[:lt:Dariaus kaimas|Rubiškės]], in the [[Kovno Governorate]] of the [[Russian Empire]], Darius immigrated to the US with his family in 1907. In 1917 he joined the [[United States Army]], after the United States entered [[World War I]], and changed his name to Darius. He served as a telephone operator in the [[149th Field Artillery Regiment]], fought in France, was wounded and received the [[Purple Heart]] medal. In 1920, he returned to Lithuania and joined the [[Lithuanian Army]], graduating from [[War School of Kaunas]] in 1921. He participated in the [[Klaipėda Revolt]] of 1923. While living in Lithuania he completed pilot training. In 1927 he returned to the United States and started working in civil aviation. He initially formed South Bend Airways in partnership with Carl G. Jordan of [[South Bend, Indiana]]. Their fleet consisted of a [[Pheasant H-10]] and a [[Longwing Eaglerock]], both powered by OX-5 engines of World War I vintage. He lived for a while in the Jordan household prior to moving to Chicago.


While living in Lithuania he actively promoted various sports. He initiated building of first stadium in [[Kaunas]]; it was later was named after him – the [[S. Darius and S. Girėnas Stadium]]. He played [[basketball]], [[baseball]], [[ice hockey]], and practiced [[boxing]] and [[Athletics (track and field)|athletics]], while also being an international [[football]]er, having played for [[Lithuania national football team]] in its first competitive game against [[Estonian national football team|Estonia]] on June 23, 1923. Since he was the first to publish booklets about basketball and baseball, he is considered to have brought those sports to Lithuania. He was also the first chairman of Lithuanian Physical Education Union, and a founder of ''Sporto Žurnalas'' (''Sports magazine'').
While living in Lithuania he actively promoted various sports. He initiated building of first stadium in [[Kaunas]]; it was later was named after him – the [[S. Darius and S. Girėnas Stadium]]. He played [[basketball]], [[baseball]], [[ice hockey]], and practiced [[boxing]] and [[Athletics (track and field)|athletics]], while also being an international [[football]]er, having played for [[Lithuania national football team]] in its first competitive game against [[Estonian national football team|Estonia]] on June 23, 1923. Since he was the first to publish booklets about basketball and baseball, he is considered to have brought those sports to Lithuania. He was also the first chairman of Lithuanian Physical Education Union, and a founder of ''Sporto Žurnalas'' (''Sports magazine'').

Revision as of 21:58, 10 August 2018

Steponas Darius
Steponas Darius
Born(1896-01-09)January 9, 1896
Rubiškės, Kovno Governorate, Russian Empire
DiedJuly 17, 1933(1933-07-17) (aged 37)
Kuhdamm, Nazi Germany)
Cause of deathAviation crash
NationalityLithuanian
Known forThe second-longest non-stop flight by distance, and the fourth-longest by duration, at the time; also the first official airmail shipment from the USA to Europe.
SpouseJaunutė Škėmaitė-Darienė
Aviation career
Full nameSteponas Darašius
Famous flightsLituanica flight
Flight license1927
Air forceLithuanian Air Force
RankCaptain

Steponas Darius (known as Stephen Darius in the USA; born Steponas Jucevičius - Darašius; January 8, 1896 – July 17, 1933) was a Lithuanian American pilot.

Darius (left) and Girėnas on a Lithuanian 10 litas banknote

Born in Rubiškės, in the Kovno Governorate of the Russian Empire, Darius immigrated to the US with his family in 1907. In 1917 he joined the United States Army, after the United States entered World War I, and changed his name to Darius. He served as a telephone operator in the 149th Field Artillery Regiment, fought in France, was wounded and received the Purple Heart medal. In 1920, he returned to Lithuania and joined the Lithuanian Army, graduating from War School of Kaunas in 1921. He participated in the Klaipėda Revolt of 1923. While living in Lithuania he completed pilot training. In 1927 he returned to the United States and started working in civil aviation. He initially formed South Bend Airways in partnership with Carl G. Jordan of South Bend, Indiana. Their fleet consisted of a Pheasant H-10 and a Longwing Eaglerock, both powered by OX-5 engines of World War I vintage. He lived for a while in the Jordan household prior to moving to Chicago.

While living in Lithuania he actively promoted various sports. He initiated building of first stadium in Kaunas; it was later was named after him – the S. Darius and S. Girėnas Stadium. He played basketball, baseball, ice hockey, and practiced boxing and athletics, while also being an international footballer, having played for Lithuania national football team in its first competitive game against Estonia on June 23, 1923. Since he was the first to publish booklets about basketball and baseball, he is considered to have brought those sports to Lithuania. He was also the first chairman of Lithuanian Physical Education Union, and a founder of Sporto Žurnalas (Sports magazine).

On July 15, 1933, along with Stasys Girėnas, he attempted a nonstop flight from New York City, United States to Kaunas, Lithuania – a total of 7,186 kilometres (4,465 mi), in a Bellanca CH-300 Pacemaker airplane named Lituanica. After successfully crossing the Atlantic Ocean in 37 hours and 11 minutes, they crashed on July 17, at 0:36 AM (Berlin Time), by the village of Kuhdamm, near Soldin, Germany (now Pszczelnik, near the Myślibórz area, Poland), most probably because of difficult weather conditions combined with engine problems[citation needed]. Both aviators were killed in the crash. They had covered a distance of 6,411 km (3,984 mi) without landing, and were only 650 km (400 mi) short of their final destination.

A monument to Darius and Girėnas is located in the northeast corner of Marquette Park in Chicago.

See also

  • Lituanica (for complete information on the famous feat)
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Steponas Darius and Stasys Girėnas.
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