Wrong Way Corrigan Day for the year 2023 is celebrated/observed on Monday, July 17th. There are until the next observance.
Every year on July 17, “Wrong Way Corrigan Day” honors a pilot and his remarkable trip that has inspired millions. Today is the anniversary of stunt pilot Douglas Corrigan’s unauthorized transatlantic flight from New York to Ireland. He was known for saying he went the wrong way, which gave him the name “Wrong Way” Corrigan.
📆 When is Wrong Way Corrigan Day?
This year, Wrong Way Corrigan Day is on July 17th. It is the 3rd Monday in July; in 2024, it is on Wednesday.
→ Did you know: He appeared as a competitor on “To Tell the Truth” in 1957, and he even supported “wrong-way” items such as a watch that ticked backward.
You can also see all exciting things you didn’t know about and facts about July 17, 2023.
📜 History of Wrong Way Corrigan Day
Early in the 20th century, I started to fall in love with airplanes. In a meadow near his house in 1925, he observed people paying money to be given quick sightseeing flights in a Curtiss JN-4 “Jenny” biplane. Naturally, the 18-year-old had to ascend as well. He spent 10 minutes in the air after paying the $2.50 ride charge. A week later, he was taking flying lessons and using his spare time to observe and learn from local aircraft mechanics. In 1926, he soon started doing solo flights as well.
Corrigan idolized Charles Lindbergh and requested permission for his own transatlantic trip after being inspired by his hero’s successful transatlantic journey. He asked the Bureau of Air Commerce for approval to travel from New York to Ireland, but he was turned down. But Corrigan was tenacious. He took a non-stop trip from his residence in Long Beach, California, to Brooklyn, New York, a few years after his flight idea was rejected. He preferred to travel to Ireland like Charles Lindbergh did rather than return to California. But the authorities were still doubtful because they believed his 1929 Curtiss Robin plane, which he had repaired and modified, wouldn’t make it to its destination. Once more, he was not given approval for this trip. Corrigan allegedly informed authorities on July 17, 1938, that he was returning to California. He subsequently said that the cloud cover made it difficult for him to navigate precisely, and when it eventually cleared, he discovered himself over water. He kept traveling in the hope of landing, and 28 hours later he arrived in Dublin, Ireland. He famously cried out, “I just arrived from New York.” “Who am I?”
He acquired the moniker “Wrong Way” as a result of this tale and the ensuing infamy. Given that he was a talented technician and that this flight was his ambition, many people believe that his “navigational error” was intentional. But he persisted in telling the truth, and authorities only lightly punished him by suspending his pilot’s license for a period of 14 days. There was a tremendous ceremony to honor his ship-based return to New York.
Only a few months after his journey, Corrigan self-penned his own narrative of the flight while adhering to his version of events. Later, he signed a movie deal, and in 1939, he appeared as himself in “The Flying Irishman.” He made $75,000 for this film, which is the same amount of money he would have made working at an airport.
He tested bombs and flew with the Ferry Command, an arm of the Air Transport Command, during World War II. After the war was over, he traveled the nation in parades with other combat heroes.
Corrigan afterwards bought an 18-acre (7.3 hectare) orange orchard near Santa Ana, California, and retired from flying to lead a tranquil life with his wife and family. He acknowledged having no prior experience with cultivating oranges but claimed to have picked it up by imitating his neighbors. Wrong Way Corrigan Day was established on Long Island to celebrate Corrigan on the occasion of the 49th anniversary of his trip, when he was 80 years old. A few years later, this day was also celebrated in his hometown, and eventually it spread across the country.
☑️ Wrong Way Corrigan Day facts
✅ Corrigan ran for the U.S. Senate
Corrigan campaigned for the United States Senate in 1946 but received just 2% of the vote as a member of the Prohibition Party.
✅ He planned his flight meticulously
Corrigan was carrying two chocolate bars, two boxes of fig bars, a quart of water, and a map of the United States that showed the path from New York to Long Island, California.
✅ Charles Lindbergh acknowledged Corrigan’s accomplishment
After getting a copy of Corrigan’s memoirs, Charles Lindbergh wrote him a four-page letter by hand.
✨ Things to do on Wrong Way Corrigan Day
⚡ Explore the history of transatlantic flights
Early aviation enthusiasts paved the way and created a name for themselves by completing spectacular non-stop flights over extremely great distances. To say the least, their transatlantic success is astounding. Look up Amelia Earhart, Charles Lindbergh, and Douglas Corrigan as pilots. Also, learn about their flights and accomplishments, as well as what their tales inspired.
⚡ Watch Douglas Corrigan’s movie
Set up a movie night with family and friends if you can get your hands on a DVD of “The Flying Irishman.” Watch Douglas Corrigan immortalize his flight on film and marvel at his bravery.
⚡ Visit an air museum
Look for nearby aviation museums and schedule a brief visit. Take a look at their aviation-themed rooms. Virtual air and space tours are available at several institutions. You may view their incredible 3D flight models, go inside some of the most renowned airplanes ever built, and explore instructional resources from anywhere.
📅 Wrong Way Corrigan Day Observances
| YEAR | DATE | DAY |
| 2022 | July 17 | Sunday |
| 2023 | July 17 | Monday |
| 2024 | July 17 | Wednesday |
| 2025 | July 17 | Thursday |
| 2026 | July 17 | Friday |
Explore all July holidays, including Special Interest and other American holidays.
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