The Flying Irishman

The Flying Irishman aka Born to Fly is a 1939 biographical drama film produced by RKO Pictures about Douglas Corrigans unofficial transatlantic flight the previous year in a dilapidated Curtiss Robin light aircraft. The film was directed by Leigh Jason based on a screenplay by Ernest Pagano and Dalton Trumbo.

In 1938, an unlikely event unfolds as pilot Douglas Corrigan returns to the United States after his transatlantic flight, made the wrong way across the Atlantic. The passion to fly was there from an early age as young Douglas faced some hardships as his parents separated, leaving his mother Dorothy Peterson to rear two sons and a daughter.When his mother dies, Douglas becomes the family breadwinner, putting his Henry Eddie Quillan through college. With his own funds, he becomes partners with his friend Butch Paul Kelly, an experienced pilot, in the purchase of an aircraft. Doug aspires to attain a pilots job, but increasing regulation of commercial aviation keeps putting the job beyond his grasp by the time he gains the experience required, the qualification standards have been increased again. After a series of setbacks, including losing his aircraft in a crash and seeing the qualification requirements include a college degree beyond his means, Doug begins to plan an audacious feat, flying across the Atlantic just like Charles Lindbergh who also did not have a college education, to prove his exceptional ability. Note ........

Source: Wikipedia