INTRODUCTION
Maureen O’Hara (née FitzSimons, 1920–2015) was an Irish-born American actress acclaimed for her roles in Hollywood from the 1940s to the 1960s, often portraying strong-willed heroines in Westerns and adventure films and who insisted on doing her own stunts. In 1978, O’Hara made aviation history by becoming the first woman to serve as CEO and president of a scheduled United States airline.
CHILDHOOD
Maureen FitzSimons was born on August 17th 1920 in Ranelagh, Dublin, the second of six children. A tomboy, she enjoyed fishing, riding, swimming, soccer, and climbing trees. Her father worked in the clothing business and invested in Shamrock Rovers Football Club, while her mother was a former operatic contralto and successful clothier.
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HOLLYWOOD
After starring in eighteen Hollywood films between 1938 and 1946 and earning the nickname “the Queen of Technicolor,” O’Hara became a naturalized U.S. citizen on January 24th 1946, while retaining dual citizenship with her native Ireland.
Maureen O’Hara is best known for her starring role in the 1952 film The Quiet Man alongside John Wayne. Filmed in Cong, County Mayo, Ireland, the movie was both a critical and commercial success.
O’Hara regarded it as her personal favourite and often highlighted it in interviews. In 1996, The Quiet Man was voted one of the greatest films in an Irish Times poll.
IRISHMAN IN CUBA
While filming Our Man in Havana in Cuba in April 1959, O’Hara often spent her evenings in conversation at the Capri Hotel with revolutionary leader Che Guevara. Speaking of her time in Cuba; “Che would talk about Ireland and all the guerilla warfare that had taken place there. He knew every battle in Ireland and all of its history. And I finally asked, “Che, you know so much about Ireland and talk constantly about it. How do you know so much?” He said, “Well, my grandmother’s name was Lynch and I learned everything I know about Ireland at her knee.” He was Che Guevara Lynch!
AVIATION CAREER
After first meeting on a flight to Ireland in 1947, twenty-one years later on March 12th 1968, O’Hara married her third husband, Charles F. Blair Jr. who was a renowned pioneer in transatlantic aviation, had served with the Naval Transport Service, piloting flying boats to Foynes, Ireland, and flew the first passenger and mail nonstop flight from Foynes to New York.
From 1942 to 1945, Blair flew flying boats for the Naval Transport Service to Foynes, County Limerick. Foynes’ sheltered inlet made it the last port of call on Ireland’s western shore, transforming it into one of Europe’s largest civilian airports during World War II.
He was a former brigadier general in the United States Air Force and the chief pilot at Pan Am.
Blair was renowned for his aviation records. On one return trip from Ireland, he flew a Sikorsky VS-44, bypassed his refuelling stop in Newfoundland, and continued to New York, arriving after 25 hours and 45 minutes in the air.
ANTILLES AIR BOATS
In 1963, Blair founded Antilles Air Boats, offering transport services between St. Thomas and St. Croix in the US Virgin Islands and San Juan, Puerto Rico. The airline quickly expanded its fleet of World War II-era propeller floatplanes that were perfectly suited for the short water hops it specialised in.
In 1967, the airline acquired the last Sikorsky VS-44 “Excambian” and operated it until it was damaged in 1969. In 1974, it purchased two Sandringham IV flying boats from Ansett Flying Boat Services.
SOUTHERN CROSS LANDS IN FOYNES
There was great excitement on July 8th 1976 when RTÉ News reported that Captain Charles Blair, accompanied by his wife, actress Maureen O’Hara, piloted their Southern Cross seaplane to land at Foynes Harbour, County Limerick.
This marked the first flying boat arrival in Foynes in thirty-one years since Blair flew the last seaplane out in 1945. The white and silver Sandringham IV (VP-LVE) aircraft built by Short and Harland Ltd at Belfast Harbour had travelled from the Virgin Islands to Ireland in over 25 hours, with stopovers in Boston and Newfoundland.
Upon arrival, they were warmly welcomed at the Foynes Yacht Club. Throughout the summer of 1976 Aer Arann operated tourist flights in the Short Sandringham IV connecting the flying boat bases at Foynes, Lough Derg (Killaloe), and the Aran Islands as part of a new tourism initiative.
AIRLINE CEO
On September 2nd 1978, Charles F. Blair Jr., was killed in a crash while piloting Flight 941. The Grumman Goose aircraft was traveling from Christiansted to Charlotte Amalie when it experienced engine failure. Blair attempted to ditch the aircraft, but it crashed during the emergency landing, resulting in the deaths of four people, including himself.
Maureen O’Hara took over management of Antilles Air Boats, becoming the first woman CEO and president of a scheduled U.S.-based airline. In 1981, after expanding the fleet to twenty-seven aircraft, O’Hara sold the airline to Air Resorts and retired.
FOYNES FLYING BOAT MUSEUM
After retiring from aviation, Maureen O’Hara remained actively involved in the sector. On July 8th 1989, she cut the ribbon to open the Foynes Flying Boat and Maritime Museum in Foynes, County Limerick, which features several displays honouring her husband, Charles Blair Jr. In 2006, O’Hara presided over the museum’s grand reopening and expansion and was appointed as the museum’s patron.
Maureen O’Hara donated her late husband Charles Blair Jr.’s seaplane, the Sikorsky VS-44A Excambian, to the American New England Air Museum. Restored over eight years by former pilots and mechanics in his honour, it remains the only surviving example of its type. Additionally, Blair’s Short Sandringham IV Flying Boat Southern Cross has since 1984 been the centrepiece of Southampton’s Hall of Aviation in England.
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DEATH OF AN ICON
After appearing in 60 films, Maureen O’Hara ended her career in aviation as the first woman CEO and president of a scheduled American airline. Her autobiography, ‘Tis Herself, was published in 2004, became a bestseller. The following year she suffered a stroke and moved to Glengariff, County Kerry, and later to her grandson’s home in Boise, Idaho, where she died in her sleep on October 24th 2015 at age 95.
Maureen O’Hara Hollywood icon & aviation pioneer is buried at Arlington National Cemetery beside her aviator husband, Charles Blair.
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Sources of Information and Photo Credits:
Antilles Air Boats history from Americas, US Virgin Islands – Airline History
Antillesairboats.com
Antillies Air Boats – Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives
Bill Sheridan
EPIC: The Irish Immigration Museum
Foynes Flying Boat Museum
Fritz Henle
Irish History Compressed
Key Aero – Adrian M. Bach Collection
Poole Flying Boats Celebration
RTE Archives
SimanaitisSays.com – Grumman’s (And Maureen O’Hara’s) Goose
The Irish Times
Woman’s World Magazine
