Editing Steponas Darius

{{short description|Lithuanian-American long-distance pilot}}
{{more citations needed|date=September 2019}}
{{Infobox aviator
 |name                 = Steponas Darius 
 |image                = S.Darius.jpg 
 |caption              = Steponas Darius
 |full_name            = Steponas Darašius
 |birth_date           = {{birth date|1896|1|8}}
 |birth_place          = Rubiškės, [[Kovno Governorate]], [[Russian Empire]]
 |death_date           = {{death date and age|1933|7|17|1896|1|8}}
 |death_place          = [[Kuhdamm]], [[Nazi Germany]]
 |death_cause          = [[Aviation accidents and incidents|Aviation crash]]
 |nationality          = Lithuanian
 |spouse               = Jaunutė Škėmaitė-Darienė
 |relatives            =
 |known_for            = The second-longest non-stop flight by distance, and the fourth-longest by duration, at the time; also the first official [[airmail]] shipment from the United States to Europe
 |first_flight_aircraft=
 |first_flight_date    =
 |famous_flights       = [[Lituanica]] flight
 |license_date         = 1927
 |license_place        =
 |air_force            = [[Lithuanian Air Force]]
 |battles              =
 |rank                 = [[Captain]]
 |awards               =
}}

'''Steponas Darius''' (known as '''Stephen Darius''' in the US; born '''Steponas Jucevičius-Darašius'''; January 8, 1896 – July 17, 1933) was a [[Lithuanian American]] [[aviator|pilot]], who died in a non-stop flight attempt in the ''[[Lituanica]]'' from New York City to [[Kaunas]], Lithuania, in 1933.<ref name="MPC-object" />

== Biography ==
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 an [[Alexander Aircraft Company#Aircraft|Eaglerock Long Wing]], 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 the building of the first stadium in [[Kaunas]]; it was later named after him – the [[S. Darius and S. Girėnas Stadium]]. He played [[basketball]], [[baseball]], [[ice hockey]], and practiced [[boxing]] and [[sport of athletics|athletics]], while also being an international [[association football|footballer]], having played for [[Lithuania national football team]] in its first competitive game against [[Estonian national football team|Estonia]] on June 23, 1923. He was also part of Lithuania's squad for the [[1924 Summer Olympics]], but he did not play in any matches.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.olympedia.org/athletes/700261 |title=Steponas Darius |work=Olympedia |access-date=25 August 2021}}</ref> 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'').

=== Death ===
{{Further|Lituanica}}

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 {{convert|7186|km}}, 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|date=May 2018}}. Both aviators were killed in the crash. They had covered a distance of {{convert|6411|km|abbr=on}} without landing, and were only {{convert|650|km|abbr=on}} short of their destination.

== Awards and honors ==
* On 18 May 1934, [[Lithuania]] issued a set of six [[Airmail_stamp|airmail stamps]], in honor of Captains Darius and [[Stasys_Girėnas|Girėnas]], and the [[Lituanica]]. [https://colnect.com/en/stamps/list/country/124-Lithuania/series/443813-AIR_-_Deaths_of_Darius_and_Gir%C4%97nis_-_Trans-Atlantic_Airmen]
* A monument to Darius and Girėnas is located in the northeast corner of [[Marquette Park (Chicago)|Marquette Park]] in Chicago.
*The [[World War II]] [[Liberty Ship]] {{SS|Stepas Darius}} was named in his honor.
* Asteroid [[288960 Steponasdarius]], discovered by [[Kazimieras Černis]] and [[Justas Zdanavičius]] in 2004, was named in his memory.<ref name="MPC-object" /> The official {{MoMP|288960|naming citation}} was published by the [[Minor Planet Center]] on June 9, 2017 ({{small|[[Minor Planet Circulars|M.P.C.]] 105279}}).<ref name="MPC-Circulars-Archive" />

== Gallery ==
<gallery mode=packed heights=200px>
File:Steponas Darius (in cocpit) and Stasys Girėnas before Lituanica transatlantic flight in 1933 July.jpg|Darius (in cockpit) and [[Stasys Girėnas]] before the ''[[Lituanica]]'' transatlantic flight in 1933 July
File:10 litai (1993).jpg|Darius (left) and Girėnas on a [[Lithuanian litas|Lithuanian 10 litas]] banknote
File:Darius and Girėnas 2013 Lithuanian stamp.jpg|2013 Lithuanian stamp
</gallery>

== References ==
{{reflist|refs=

<ref name="MPC-object">{{cite web
  |title      = 288960 Steponasdarius (2004 TN16)
  |work       = Minor Planet Center
  |url        = https://www.minorplanetcenter.net/db_search/show_object?object_id=288960
  |accessdate = 11 September 2019}}</ref>

<ref name="MPC-Circulars-Archive">{{cite web
  |title      = MPC/MPO/MPS Archive
  |work       = Minor Planet Center
  |url        = https://www.minorplanetcenter.net/iau/ECS/MPCArchive/MPCArchive_TBL.html
  |accessdate = 11 September 2019}}</ref>

}} <!-- end of reflist -->

== External links ==
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20070621040214/http://www.michigancoinclub.org/palwaukee.html Palwaukee Airport (Wheeling, Illinois) featured on Lithuanian banknote]
{{commons category|Steponas Darius}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=September 2019}}

{{Lithuania football squad 1924 Summer Olympics}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Darius, Steponas}}
[[Category:1896 births]]
[[Category:1933 deaths]]
[[Category:People from Klaipėda District Municipality]]
[[Category:People from Rossiyensky Uyezd]]
[[Category:Emigrants from the Russian Empire to the United States]]
[[Category:American people of Lithuanian descent]]
[[Category:United States Army soldiers]]
[[Category:United States Army personnel of World War I]]
[[Category:Lithuanian Army officers]]
[[Category:Lithuanian aviators]]
[[Category:Aviators killed in aviation accidents or incidents in Germany]]
[[Category:Victims of aviation accidents or incidents in 1933]]
[[Category:Lithuanian men's footballers]]
[[Category:Lithuania men's international footballers]]
[[Category:Olympic footballers for Lithuania]]
[[Category:Footballers at the 1924 Summer Olympics]]
[[Category:Men's association football goalkeepers]]