Nungesser and Coli – the white bird – Men Basic Shirt

Nungesser et Coli : An aviation t-shirt with a cool design from the HERITAGE collection dedicated to the pioneers of aviation.

 

Aviation clothing HERITAGE Collection:

The HERITAGE collection showcases the big names in aviation and their iconic aircraft. Man has always been drawn to the sky and the hope of imitating birds. Some, by their intelligence, their passion, their determination or their bravery have enabled significant advances that allow us today to move across the sky quickly and safely. Tribute is paid to them thanks to this new collection regularly enriched by new pioneers who have passed on their heritage to us.

 

The Aviation t-shirt:

Comfortable fit available in several colors and sizes. The printing of the t-shirts is of very good quality and will not come off after several washes

100% cotton, printed to order from our German supplier.

Print on demand, usually ships two days after ordering.

 

Charles Nungesser, François Coli and the white bird

Charles Nungesser was an ace of the first world war. His spirit and courage make him very popular in France and abroad. Wounded during a prototype test, hardly recovered, he refuses his possible reform and continues the war by being carried to his plane. He walked with a cane for the rest of his life. Engaged in the race to cross the Atlantic, he attempted the crossing from east to west with François Coli on May 8, 1927.

 

François Coli was also a war pilot during the First World War. Trained as a sailor, his commitment at the beginning of the First World War was refused by the Navy. He enlisted as a private infantryman and quickly rose through the ranks until he was appointed Captain. But his courage in battle earned him several wounds that rendered him unfit for combat. He was then transferred to the air force (!). After the war, he continued to attempt all crossing records, especially around the Mediterranean. He joined Charles Nungesser in the race to cross the Atlantic.

The 2 pilots have a specially equipped LEVASSEUR plane to attempt the crossing. Heavily loaded with fuel, with very little equipment to save weight, the two pilots decided to attempt the crossing on May 8, 1927, thanks to an appropriate weather window.

They take off from Le Bourget, drop the landing gear (they plan to land on the water) and head for New-York. On the 9th, the American newspapers celebrated the success of the crossing, information that was repeated in France on the 10th. Unfortunately, the two men did not arrive in New York and it is still not known where the plane crashed.

Various theories have been put forward about the fate of the white bird. Crash near a Canadian lake, in the north of New York or at sea near Saint Pierre and Miquelon. Al Capone himself was suspected of having made the 2 pilots disappear after they had caught illegal activities of importing alcohol in the United States…

Some associations continue today to search for the truth about the end of the white bird…which may have been the first plane, with its 2 pilots to cross the Atlantic, a few days before Lindbergh.