Arthur Whitten Brown

Flying the Atlantic in Sixteen Hours Arthur Whitten Brown

First to fly the Atlantic-the navigator's story in his own words




Brown was a Scottish aviator, born in Glasgow in 1886. Although he was initially commissioned in the Manchester Regiment during the First World War, he subsequently transferred to 2 Squadron, Royal Flying Corps as an observer. He was shot down twice in action eventually being captured by the Germans. After the war his association with the Vickers company resulted in the proposal that he should become navigator for the pilot, John Alcock in an attempt to cross the Atlantic Ocean non-stop, flying in a modified Vickers Vimy heavy bomber. In June, 1919, the pair took off from Newfoundland and, after a world first flight of 1,980 miles in 16 hours & 12 minutes, they landed safely in an Irish bog. Brown and Alcock were both knighted by King George V for their achievement. This book, written by Brown chronicles that extraordinary adventure.

Leonaur editions are newly typeset and are not facsimiles; each title is available in softcover and hardback with dustjacket.