Foynes Flying Boat & Maritime Museum

Foynes, Ireland, became the center of the aviation world from 1939 to 1945. On July 9th 1939, Pan Am's luxury Flying Boat, the "Yankee Clipper" landed at Foynes. This was the first commercial passenger flight on a direct route from the USA to Europe. During the late 1930s and early 1940s, this quiet little town on the Shannon became the focal point for air traffic on the North Atlantic.

During this period, many famous politicians, international businessmen, film stars, active-service-men and wartime refugees passed through Foynes.

In 1942 Eleanor Roosevelt arrived in Foynes under the alias "Mrs. Smith". Earlier that year, Captain Charlie Blair, later to become the husband of the actress Maureen O'Hara, had made the first non-stop passenger flight from Foynes to New York in 25 hours, 40 minutes.

For current visiting hours, please visit the website of the museum.

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Source

• Text: Foynes Flying Boat & Maritime Museum
• Photos: Arjan Vrieze