Sept. 4, 1922. Lt. James H. Doolittle makes the first transcontinental crossing in an aircraft in a single day- 2,163 miles in 21 hours, 20 minutes. The first transcontinental flight across the U.S. within a single day (24-hour period) was made by Lt.

Jimmy Doolittle on September 4, 1922. Flying a D.H.4B, Doolittle took off from Pablo Beach, Florida and landed at Rockwell Field near san Diego, California covering a distance of 2,163 miles in 21 hours, 20 minutes flying time. He made one refueling stop at Kelly Field near San Antonio, Texas.