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In April 1928, Germany’s Hermann Koehl and Ireland’s James Fitzmaurice made the first non-stop east-to-west crossing of the Atlantic in Bremen, their Junkers W 33 aircraft. Leaving from Baldonnel, Ireland, they made an emergency landing on Greenly Island off the village of Blanc-Sablon in the Côte-Nord region of Quebec. They were rescued by Quebec aviator Roméo Vachon, and their plane was then brought to Québec City.
1911 - 1935

Fly to Québec City!

The early 20th century was marked by a number of technical revolutions, including air transport. In Québec City, a few aircraft made their appearance in the 1910s. Their proliferation over the following decades led to the construction of the airfield at Bois-Gomin in 1928. This basic airport is located in Sainte-Foy. Il est constitué de trois hangars de tôle et sert principalement à la livraison du courrier. It was only in 1941, with the outbreak of World War II, that a proper airfield was set up at L’Ancienne-Lorette. It would later become the Jean Lesage International Airport. Did you know the history of aviation in Québec City?

The airplane Bremen

W. B. Edwards Inc. In April 1928, Germany’s Hermann Koehl and Ireland’s James Fitzmaurice made the first non-stop east-to-west crossing of the Atlantic in Bremen, their Junkers W 33 aircraft. Leaving from Baldonnel, Ireland, they made an emergency landing on Greenly Island off the village of Blanc-Sablon in the Côte-Nord region of Quebec. They were rescued by Quebec aviator Roméo Vachon, and their plane was then brought to Québec City.
Chronoscope Do you recognize the mayor of Québec City posing next to the plane? (unilingual French for a limited time) Source: Ville de Québec Document in the public domain (free of copyright) - W. B. Edwards Inc. Fonds - Date: 1928