The FReeper Foxhole Profiles Charles Lindbergh - Oct. 25th, 2004

www.charleslindbergh.com ^

[SAMWolf]

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Charles Augustus Lindbergh (1902-1974)

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Charles Augustus Lindbergh, an American aviator, made the first solo nonstop flight across the Atlantic Ocean on May 20-21, 1927. Other pilots had crossed the Atlantic before him. But Lindbergh was the first person to do it alone nonstop.

Lindbergh's feat gained him immediate, international fame. The press named him "Lucky Lindy" and the "Lone Eagle." Americans and Europeans idolized the shy, slim young man and showered him with honors.

Charles Augustus Lindbergh and Charles Augustus Lindbergh, Sr

Before Japan attacked Pearl Harbor in 1941, Lindbergh campaigned against voluntary American involvement in World War II. Many Americans criticized him for his noninvolvement beliefs. After the war, he avoided publicity until the late 1960's, when he spoke out for the conservation of natural resources. Lindbergh served as an adviser in the aviation industry from the days of wood and wire airplanes to supersonic jets.

Born on Feb. 4, 1902, in Detroit



Charles Augustus Lindbergh was born on Feb. 4, 1902, in Detroit. He grew up on a farm near Little Falls, Minn. He was the son of Charles Augustus Lindbergh, Sr., a lawyer, and his wife, Evangeline Lodge Land. Lindbergh's father served as a U.S. congressman from Minnesota from 1907 to 1917.

In childhood, Lindbergh showed exceptional mechanical ability. At the age of 18 years, he entered the University of Wisconsin to study engineering. However, Lindbergh was more interested in the exciting, young field of aviation than he was in school. After two years, he left school to become a barnstormer, a pilot who performed daredevil stunts at fairs.

Enlisted in the United States Army


Second Lieutenant Lindbergh, Kelly Field, Texas, 1925.

In 1924, Lindbergh enlisted in the United States Army so that he could be trained as an Army Air Service Reserve pilot. In 1925, he graduated from the Army's flight-training school at Brooks and Kelly fields, near San Antonio, as the best pilot in his class. After Lindbergh completed his Army training, the Robertson Aircraft Corporation of St. Louis hired him to fly the mail between St. Louis and Chicago. He gained a reputation as a cautious and capable pilot.

Orteig Prize

In 1919, a New York City hotel owner named Raymond Orteig offered $25,000 to the first aviator to fly nonstop from New York to Paris. Several pilots were killed or injured while competing for the Orteig prize. By 1927, it had still not been won. Lindbergh believed he could win it if he had the right airplane. He persuaded nine St. Louis businessmen to help him finance the cost of a plane. Lindbergh chose Ryan Aeronautical Company of San Diego to manufacture a special plane, which he helped design. He named the plane the Spirit of St. Louis. On May 10-11, 1927, Lindbergh tested the plane by flying from San Diego to New York City, with an overnight stop in St. Louis. The flight took 20 hours 21 minutes, a transcontinental record.

May 20, 1927


In 1921, Charles Lindbergh captured the world's imagination with his solo flight across the Atlantic.
Here, he is shown taking off from Roosevelt Field, Long Island, New York; in his Ryan built aircraft.

On May 20, Lindbergh took off in the Spirit of St. Louis from Roosevelt Field, near New York City, at 7:52 A.M. He landed at Le Bourget Field, near Paris, on May 21 at 10:21 P.M. Paris time (5:21 P.M. New York time). Thousands of cheering people had gathered to meet him. He had flown more than 3,600 miles (5,790 kilometers) in 33 1/2 hours.

Lindbergh's heroic flight thrilled people throughout the world. He was honored with awards, celebrations, and parades. President Calvin Coolidge gave Lindbergh the Congressional Medal of Honor and the Distinguished Flying Cross.

After the flight


Lindbergh and the Spirit of St. Louis visited Fargo, ND on Friday, August 26, 1927. Murray Baldwin (President of the Fargo Aeronautic Club), Lindbergh, Fargo Mayor J.H. Dahl

In 1927, Lindbergh published We, a book about his transatlantic flight. The title referred to Lindbergh and his plane. Lindbergh flew throughout the United States to encourage air-mindedness on behalf of the Daniel Guggenheim Fund for the Promotion of Aeronautics. Lindbergh learned about the pioneer rocket research of Robert H. Goddard, a Clark University physics professor. Lindbergh persuaded the Guggenheim family to support Goddard's experiments, which later led to the development of missiles, satellites, and space travel. Lindbergh also worked for several airlines as a technical adviser.

Guggenheim Tour

Before Charles Lindbergh left for Paris, Harry Guggenheim, a North Shore multimillionaire and aviation enthusiast, visited him at Curtiss Field. "When you get back from your flight, look me up," said Guggenheim, who later admitted he didn't think there was much chance Lindbergh would survive the trip.

Lindbergh remembered and did call upon his return. It was the beginning of a friendship that would have a profound impact on the development of aviation in the United States. The two decided Lindbergh would make a three-month tour of the United States, paid for by a fund Harry and his father, Daniel, had set up earlier to encourage aviation-related research.



Daniel Guggenheim Fund sponsored Lindbergh on a three month nation-wide tour. Flying the "Spirit of St. Louis," he touched down in 49 states, visited 92 cities, gave 147 speeches, and rode 1,290 miles in parades.

"Lindbergh was seen by literally millions of people as he flew around the country," said Richard P. Hallion, historian for the Air Force and the author of a book on the Guggenheims. "Airmail usage exploded overnight as a result," and the public began to view airplanes as a viable means of travel.

In addition, Lindbergh spent a month at Guggenheim's Sands Point mansion, Falaise, while writing "We," his best-selling 1927 account of his trip.

He met Anne Spencer Morrow


Charles Lindbergh and his wife around 1927

At the request of the U.S. government, Lindbergh flew to various Latin-American countries in December 1927 as a symbol of American good will. While in Mexico, he met Anne Spencer Morrow, the daughter of Dwight W. Morrow, the American ambassador there. Lindbergh married Anne Morrow in 1929. He taught her to fly, and they went on many flying expeditions together throughout the world, charting new routes for various airlines. Anne Morrow Lindbergh also became famous for her poetry and other writings.

Lindbergh invented an artificial heart

Lindbergh invented an "artificial heart" between 1931 and 1935. He developed it for Alexis Carrel, a French surgeon and biologist whose research included experiments in keeping organs alive outside the body. Lindbergh's device could pump the substances necessary for life throughout the tissues of an organ.

Charles Augustus, Jr. kidnapping


Charles Lindbergh, Jr.

On March 1, 1932, the Lindberghs' 20-month-old son, Charles Augustus, Jr., was kidnapped from the family home in New Jersey. About ten weeks later, his body was found. In 1934, police arrested a carpenter, Bruno Richard Hauptmann, and charged him with the murder. Hauptmann was convicted of the crime. He was executed in 1936.

The press sensationalized the tragedy. Reporters, photographers, and curious onlookers pestered the Lindberghs constantly. In 1935, after the Hauptmann trial, Lindbergh, his wife, and their 3-year-old son, Jon, moved to Europe in search of privacy and safety.



The Lindbergh kidnapping led Congress to pass the "Lindbergh law." This law makes kidnapping a federal offense if the victim is taken across state lines or if the mail service is used for ransom demands.

German Medal of Honor

While in Europe, Lindbergh was invited by the governments of France and Germany to tour the aircraft industries of their countries. Lindbergh was especially impressed with the highly advanced aircraft industry of Nazi Germany. In 1938, Hermann Goering, a high Nazi official, presented Lindbergh with a German medal of honor. Lindbergh's acceptance of the medal caused an outcry in the United States among critics of Nazism.

Opposed voluntary American entry into World War II


Charles Lindbergh speaking at an American First Rally

Lindbergh and his family returned to the United States in 1939. In 1941, he joined the America First Committee, an organization that opposed voluntary American entry into World War II. Lindbergh became a leading spokesman for the committee. He criticized President Franklin D. Roosevelt's foreign policies. He also charged that British, Jewish, and pro-Roosevelt groups were leading America into war. Lindbergh resigned his commission in the Army Air Corps after Roosevelt publicly denounced him. Some Americans accused Lindbergh of being a Nazi sympathizer because he refused to return the medal he had accepted.

After the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor on Dec. 7, 1941, Lindbergh stopped his noninvolvement activity. He tried to reenlist, but his request was refused. He then served as a technical adviser and test pilot for the Ford Motor Company and United Aircraft Corporation (now United Technologies Corporation).

50 combat missions



In April 1944, Lindbergh went to the Pacific war area as an adviser to the United States Army and Navy. Although he was a civilian, he flew about 50 combat missions. Lindbergh also developed cruise control techniques that increased the capabilities of American fighter planes.

Withdrew from public attention

After the War, Lindbergh withdrew from public attention. He worked as a consultant to the chief of staff of the U.S. Air Force. President Dwight D. Eisenhower restored Lindbergh's commission and appointed him a brigadier general in the Air Force in 1954. Pan American World Airways also hired Lindbergh as a consultant. He advised the airline on its purchase of jet transports and eventually helped design the Boeing 747 jet. In 1953, Lindbergh published The Spirit of St. Louis, an expanded account of his 1927 transatlantic flight. The book won a Pulitzer Prize in 1954.

Conservation movement


Joseph Wood Krutch, Mrs. Bechtel, Charles Lindbergh, and Kenneth Bechtel on 1973 expedition —photo by George Lindsay

Lindbergh traveled widely and developed an interest in the cultures of peoples in Africa and the Philippines. In the late 1960's, he ended his years of silence to speak out for the conservation movement. He especially campaigned for the protection of humpback and blue whales, two species of whales in danger of extinction. Lindbergh opposed the development of supersonic transport planes because he feared the effects the planes might have on the earth's atmosphere.

Died of cancer on Aug. 26, 1974

Lindbergh died of cancer on Aug. 26, 1974, in his home on the Hawaiian island of Maui. After his death, he was buried on the beautiful grounds of the Palapala Ho'omau Church. The Autobiography of Values, a collection of Lindbergh's writings, was published in 1978.

[SAMWolf]

7:52 A.M., May 20, 1927

At 7:52 A.M., May 20, 1927 Charles Lindbergh gunned the engine of the "Spirit of St Louis" and aimed her down the dirt runway of Roosevelt Field, Long Island. Heavily laden with fuel, the plane bounced down the muddy field, gradually became airborne and barely cleared the telephone wires at the field's edge. The crowd of 500 thought they had witnessed a miracle. Thirty-three and one half-hours and 3,500 miles later he landed in Paris, the first to fly the Atlantic alone.

"Spirit of St. Louis" was named in honor of Lindbergh's supporters in St. Louis, Missouri, who paid for the aircraft. "NYP" is an acronym for "New York-Paris," the object of the flight.

Working as a mail pilot a year earlier he heard of the $25,000 prize for the first flight between New York and Paris. Backed by a group of St. Louis businessmen, Lindbergh supervised the building of his special plane and set out after the prize. Other teams were attempting the feat - some had met disaster. Lindbergh equipped himself with four sandwiches, two canteens of water and 451 gallons of gas. Midway through the flight "sleet began to cling to the plane. That worried me a great deal and I debated whether I should keep on or go back. I decided I must not think any more about going back."

On the evening of May 21, he crossed the coast of France, followed the Seine River to Paris and touched down at Le Bourget Field at 10:22P.M. The waiting crowd of 100,000 rushed the plane. "I saw there was danger of killing people with my propeller and I quickly came to a stop." He became an instant hero, "the Lone Eagle." New York City gave him the largest ticker tape parade ever, the president awarded him the Distinguished Flying Cross. His feat electrified the nation and inspired enthusiastic interest in aviation.

Takeoff


Charles Lindbergh working on "Spirit of St. Louis."

Bad weather and the prospect that his transatlantic flight would be delayed for a number of days greeted Lindbergh upon his arrival in New York. However, on May 19th, a favorable weather report predicted a break in the rain prompting Lindbergh to make his attempt the next day. He arrived at the airfield before dawn the next morning, prepared his plane for flight and began his historic journey:

"About 7:40 A.M. the motor was started and at 7:52 I took off on the flight for Paris. The field was a little soft due to the rain during the night and the heavily loaded plane gathered speed very slowly. After passing the halfway mark, however, it was apparent that I would be able to clear the obstructions at the end. I passed over a tractor by about fifteen feet and a telephone line by about twenty, with a fair reserve of flying speed. I believe that the ship would have taken off from a hard field with at least five hundred pounds more weight. I turned slightly to the right to avoid some high trees on a hill directly ahead, but by the time I had gone a few hundred yards I had sufficient altitude to clear all obstructions and throttled the engine down to 1750 R.P.M. I took up a compass course at once and soon reached Long Island Sound where the Curtiss Oriole with its photographer, which had been escorting me, turned back."

Darkness



Lindbergh continued his flight over Cape Cod and Nova Scotia and headed for the open Atlantic as darkness fell:

"Darkness set in about 8:15 and a thin, low fog formed over the sea through which the white bergs showed up with surprising clearness. This fog became thicker and increased in height until within two hours I was just skimming the top of storm clouds at about ten thousand feet. Even at this altitude there was a thick haze through which only the stars directly overhead could be seen. There was no moon and it was very dark. The tops of some of the storm clouds were several thousand feet above me and at one time, when I attempted to fly through one of the larger clouds, sleet started to collect on the plane and I was forced to turn around and get back into clear air immediately and then fly around any clouds which I could not get over."

Ireland

Lindbergh continued his course, at times skimming only 10 feet above the waves as he tried to find a way around the fog and maintain his course. The appearance of fishing boats below alerted him that he was nearing land:

"The first indication of my approach to the European Coast was a small fishing boat which I first noticed a few miles ahead and slightly to the south of my course. There were several of these fishing boats grouped within a few miles of each other.

I flew over the first boat without seeing any signs of life. As I circled over the second, however, a man's face appeared, looking out of the cabin window.

I have carried on short conversations with people on the ground by flying low with throttled engine, and shouting a question, and receiving the answer by some signal. When I saw this fisherman I decided to try to get him to point towards land. I had no sooner made the decision than the futility of the effort became apparent. In all likelihood he could not speak English, and even if he could he would undoubtedly be far too astounded to answer. However, I circled again and closing the throttle as the plane passed within a few feet of the boat I shouted, "Which way is Ireland?" Of course the attempt was useless, and I continued on my course.

Less than an hour later a rugged and semi-mountainous coastline appeared to the northeast. I was flying less than two hundred feet from the water when I sighted it. The shore was fairly distinct and not over ten or fifteen miles away. A light haze coupled with numerous storm areas had prevented my seeing it from a long distance.

The coastline came down from the north and curved towards the east. I had very little doubt that it was the southwestern end of Ireland, but in order to make sure I changed my course towards the nearest point of land.

I located Cape Valencia and Dingle Bay, then resumed my compass course towards Paris."

Landing

Lindbergh flew over Ireland and then England at an altitude of about 1500 feet as he headed towards France. The weather cleared and flying conditions became almost perfect. The coast of France and the City of Cherbourg passed beneath his wings as darkness fell a second time during his flight.

"The sun went down shortly after passing Cherbourg and soon the beacons along the Paris-London airway became visible.

Spirit of St. Louis in Paris

I first saw the lights of Paris a little before 10 P.M., or 5 P.M., New York time, and a few minutes later I was circling the Eiffel Tower at an attitude of about four thousand feet.

The lights of Le Bourget were plainly visible, but appeared to be very close to Paris. I had understood that the field was farther from the city, so continued out to the northeast into the country for four or five miles to make sure that there was not another field farther out which might be Le Bourget. Then I returned and spiralled (sic) down closer to the lights. Presently I could make out long lines of hangars, and the roads appeared to be jammed with cars.

I flew low over the field once, then circled around into the wind and landed."

But suddenly, a hysterical, ecstatic crowd broke through the restraining ropes and stampeded toward him, cheering and shouting. As he opened the door, he was lifted down and hoisted onto the shoulders of the police, who carried him through the surging crowd, cries of "Vive" ringing through the night. He had conquered the Atlantic alone, covering 3,610 miles in 33 1/2 hours. He had won the Orteig prize!

Time "Man of the Year" 1927

From the balcony of the American Embassy the following morning, he responded briefly and modestly to the persistent calls of the great crowd which had gathered. For hours after he retreated back inside, they shouted, clapped, and waved their hats and handkerchiefs. In the days that followed, his fame as a hero grew to unbelievable proportions as he took Europe by storm. The President of France pinned the Legion of Honor upon the lapel of his borrowed suit and thousands of messages poured in upon him.

It was as if everyone saw in him something that they sought in themselves - a spirit of adventure and achievement in life. Somehow he represented the symbol of hope in a weary world, for there was something unique about his integrity, courage, and indifference to honors. "He had started with no purpose but to arrive. He remained with no desire but to serve. He sought nothing, he was offered all."

Returning Home

When he came home to America aboard the USS Memphis, a majestic convoy of warships and aircraft escorted him up the Chesapeake and Potomac to Washington. President Coolidge welcomed him home and bestowed the Distinguished Flying Cross upon him. His New York reception was the wildest in the city's history as 4 million people lined the parade route and Mayor Jimmy Walker pinned New York's Medal of Valor upon him. Finally, when it was all over, he turned and flew to St. Louis for a rest and to contemplate. His epic flight would become the one singular event which electrified the world and changed the whole course of history.

Lindbergh parade in New York City on June 13, 1927. An estimated three to four million people turned out for the pageant to mark Lindbergh's triumphant return

It was now that the Daniel Guggenheim Fund sponsored him on a three month nation-wide tour. Flying the "Spirit of St. Louis," he touched down in 49 states, visited 92 cities, gave 147 speeches, and rode 1,290 miles in parades. Tired, but satisfied with the job he had done in promoting aviation, he returned to New York. He made a good will tour at the request of Ambassador Dwight Morrow. It was here that he first met Anne Morrow, daughter of the Ambassador, a meeting that would blossom into romance. After Mexico, he visited twelve other Central American and West Indies countries, conveying goodwill all along the 9,000 mile flight tour.

On March 21,1929, President Coolidge presented him with the nation's highest honor, the Congressional Medal of Honor. Throughout the rest of his life he would continue to serve America as an advisor on aviation. He resigned his commission as a Colonel in the reserves an April 29, 1941, but he served in the Pacific theater during World War II as a technical advisor. He taught American fighter pilots how to get increased range from their planes - as much as fifty percent more. He flew several combat missions in P-38 fighters and on at least one sortie shot down a Japanese plane. After the war, he continued to serve his country in many ways and on April 7, 1954, he was appointed a Brigadier General in the Air Force Reserves.

[SAMWolf]

The Spirit of St. Louis
Spirit of St. Louis name

"Spirit of St. Louis" was named in honor of Lindbergh's supporters in St. Louis, Missouri, who paid for the aircraft. "NYP" is an acronym for "New York-Paris," the object of the flight.



Although the plan was to modify a standard model Ryan M-2, it was quickly determined that modification was less practical than redesign. Colonel Lindbergh's was an active participant in the design of the aircraft. In 1919 Raymond Orteig, a Frenchman who owned the Brevoort and Lafayette hotels in New York City, made the fledgling flying world an extraordinary offer. Enthralled by tales of pioneer aviators, Orteig put up a purse of $25,000 to the first aviator to fly nonstop from Paris to New York or New York to Paris. Orteig said his offer would be good for five years. Five years came and went. No one accomplished the feat. No one even tried. In 1926, Orteig extended the term of his offer another five years. This time around aviation technology had advanced to a point where some thought it might actually be possible to fly across the vast Atlantic. Charles A. Lindbergh was one of them.

Why shouldn't I fly from New York to Paris?



As a youth, Lindbergh studied with fascination the World War I flying exploits of French ace Rene Fonck who had shot down 75 German planes in the war. In September 1926, Fonck set his sights on crossing the Atlantic from New York to Paris and claiming Orteig's bounty. It was not to be. Fonck's plane, a silver biplane with a luxurious cabin, burst into flames before it even left the ground. Fonck survived the crash, but two crew members were killed. In 1926 Charles Lindbergh had not yet achieved the level of acclaim of his more illustrious flying counterparts. He had, however, gained a reputation as a talented flyer. His experience as a daredevil barnstormer, expert mechanic, and intrepid airmail pilot made many within the relatively small community of flyers take notice. As important, Lindbergh was full of the confidence necessary to undertake such a bold adventure. "Why shouldn't I fly from New York to Paris? ...I have more than four years of aviation behind me, and close to two thousand hours in the air. I've barnstormed over half of the forty-eight states. ...Why am I not qualified for such a flight?" he later wrote in his autobiographical book, "The Spirit of St. Louis." Lindbergh convinced himself that he was qualified for such a flight, and set his sights upon convincing others.

A budget of $15,000

Lindbergh's reputation as an ace pilot was unassailable in St. Louis. He had pioneered the airmail routes between that city and Chicago. Harry Knight, president of the St. Louis Flying Club, had great respect for Lindbergh. So much so that Knight chose Lindbergh as his personal flight instructor. Lindbergh, in turn, came to Knight when seeking backers for his proposed flight. Knight put Lindbergh in contact with the head of the St. Louis Chamber of Commerce, Harold Bixby. Meeting with Bixby, Lindbergh predicted great things for St. Louis if the city were to put its support behind such an historic flight. Painting a picture of St. Louis as an aviation hub, Lindbergh convinced Bixby to sponsor his flight. A budget of $15,000 was agreed upon.

A single-engine plane



With his backers entrusting in him their full confidence, Lindbergh set off to find the right plane. His notion of what constituted the right plane for such a flight put him at odds with the prevailing ideas of the day. While other aviators were placing their faith in the increased power and purported safety of multi-engine planes, Lindbergh determined that multiple engines increased, rather than decreased, the odds of failure. "I'm not sure three engines would really add much to safety on a flight like that. There'd be three times the chance of engine failure," he later recorded. For his transatlantic attempt, he sought out a single-engine plane. And he would be flying alone. His equation was simple: less weight (one engine, one pilot) would increase fuel efficiency and allow for a longer flying range. After failing to convince several airplane manufacturers of the rightness of his thinking, Lindbergh was told of a single-engine plane owned by the Columbia Aircraft Corporation of New York that could be his for $15,000. That sum excluded an engine. Still, Lindbergh wanted the plane. He walked away from the deal, however, when Columbia Aircraft Corporation president Charles Levine insisted on choosing the pilot and crew. Nineteen-twenty-six had turned into 1927, and Lindbergh was running out of time. Other aviators were progressing with tests and flight plans, and Lindbergh still didn't even have a plane.

Ryan Airlines Corporation


Charles Lindbergh loads the first sack of mail aboard a Robertson Aircraft Corporation DH 4 for the inaugural route of the St. Louis to Chicago contract airmail service in April, 1926.

In February, 1927, Lindbergh's luck improved. Less than 24 hours after hearing of Lindbergh's search for a single-engine plane, the Ryan Airlines Corporation of San Diego, California offered to build such a plane for $6,000. Again, excluding the engine. Ryan, led by company president Frank Mahoney, would need three months to manufacturer Lindbergh's "Spirit of St. Louis." Upon arriving at the Ryan headquarters to meet with Mahoney and chief engineer and designer Donald Hall, Lindbergh was unimpressed with what he saw. Ryan Airlines was housed in a broken down building that used to be a fish cannery. A discouraging stench filled the air. After meeting with Mahoney and Hall, however, Lindbergh's spirits were much improved. The men voiced full confidence in Lindbergh's choice of a single-engine plane and Lindbergh was won over by their apparent skill and dedication, even after he informed them that the plane would have to be completed in two months, not three. From that moment on, Donald Hall practically lived at Ryan Airlines. His commitment was matched by that of his staff, as voluntary overtime became the norm. These men sensed they were becoming part of something historic.

Designed with one thought


Harry Guggenheim on the left of Charles Lindbergh (June 1927)

"The Spirit of St. Louis" was designed with one thought in mind: to get to Paris. Extra fuels tanks were added and the wing span increased to accommodate the additional weight. The plane would have a maximum range of 4,000 miles, more than enough to reach Paris. One of the more innovative design decisions involved placing the main fuel tank in front of, rather than behind, the pilot's seat. Lindbergh didn't want to be caught between the tank and the engine if the plane was forced to land. This configuration also meant that Lindbergh would not be able to see directly ahead as he flew. It didn't seem to trouble him much. "There's not much need to see ahead in normal flight," Lindbergh told Donald Hall. "I won't be following any airways. When I'm near a flying field, I can watch the sky ahead by making shallow banks. All I need is a window on each side to see through..." If needed, Lindbergh would use a periscope attached to the plane's left side to see what was in front of him. In his efforts to pare down the plane's weight, Lindbergh considered every detail. Any item considered too heavy or unnecessary was left behind. These included a radio, parachute, gas gauges, and navigation lights. Lindbergh designed for himself special lightweight boots for the flight, and went so far as to cut his maps down to include only those reference points he would need. Every ounce mattered. Instead of a heavy leather pilot's seat, Lindbergh would be perched in a far lighter wicker chair.

Completion on April 28, 1927


Harry F. Guggenheim, Dr. Robert H. Goddard, and Charles A. Lindbergh at a launching tower near Roswell.

Upon its completion on April 28, 1927, the "Spirit of St. Louis" weighed in at 2,150 lbs. when empty. It stood 9 feet, 8 inches high, was 27 feet, 8 inches long, and had a 46-foot wingspan. The plane was powered by a 220-horsepower, air-cooled, 9-cylinder Wright J-5C "Whirlwind" engine that was estimated to be able to perform flawlessly for over 9,000 hours. The engine was outfitted with a special mechanism designed to keep it greased during the entire transatlantic flight.

May 1927



Two days before Lindbergh's scheduled May 10, 1927 departure from San Diego, news broke that Frenchmen Charles Nungesser and Francois Coli had taken off from Paris bound for New York. It appeared as if all of Lindbergh's and Ryan Airlines' efforts had been in vain. However, despite a radio report claiming that Nungesser and Coli had been spotted over the Atlantic, the two were never seen again. Lindbergh's chance for glory was still within reach. "Lucky Lindy" and his "Spirit of St. Louis" landed at Curtiss Field on Long Island, New York, on May 12, 1927. En route, pilot and plane had already broken the existing record for the fastest transcontinental flight. Eight days later, Lindbergh and his silver plane were poised to set new records as they took off from Roosevelt Field. Fighting fog, icing, and sleep deprivation, Lindbergh landed safely at Le Bourget Field in Paris at 10:22pm on May 20, 1927. "The Spirit of St. Louis" had carried him over 3,600 miles in 33.5 hours. A new aviation hero was born, and the "Spirit of St. Louis" attained legendary status.

Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum

Today, Lindbergh's "Spirit of St. Louis" is housed in the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum in Washington, D.C. It is one of the museum's most popular attractions.

Design Features:



The "Spirit of St. Louis" was designed by Donald Hall under the direct supervision of Charles Lindbergh. It is a highly modified version of a conventional Ryan M-2 strut-braced monoplane, powered by a reliable Wright J-5C engine. Because the fuel tanks were located ahead of the cockpit for safety in case of an accident, Lindbergh could not see directly ahead, except by using a periscope on the left side or by turning the airplane and looking out a side window. The two tubes beneath the fuselage are flare dispensers that were installed for Lindbergh's flights to Latin America and the Caribbean.

• Wingspan: 14 m (46 ft)
• Length: 8 m (27 ft 8 in)
• Height: 3 m (9 ft 10 in)
• Weight, gross: 2,330 kg (5,135 lb)
• Weight, empty: 975 kg (2,150 lb)
• Engine: Wright Whirlwind J-5C, 223hp
• Manufacturer: Ryan Airlines Co., San Diego, Calif., 1927

Emergency Equipment Carried in the Spirit of St. Louis

The following emergency equipment was carried in the the Spirit of St. Louis on the flights between San Diego and Paris.

• 1 air raft, with pump and repair kit
• 1 canteen of water—4 quarts
• 1 Armbrust cup
• 5 cans of Army emergency rations
• 1 hunting knife
• 1 ball of cord
• 1 ball of string
• 1 large needle
• 1 flashlight
• 4 red flares, sealed in rubber tubes
• 1 match safe with matches
• 1 hack-saw blade

Additional Sources:

www.oldgloryprints.com
www.americaslibrary.gov
lsm.crt.state.la.us
www.time.com
originaldo.com
www.cradleofaviation.org
www.georgeglazer.com

[SAMWolf]

'The life of an aviator seemed to me ideal. It involved skill. It brought adventure. It made use of the latest developments of science. Mechanical engineers were fettered to factories and drafting boards while pilots have the freedom of wind with the expanse of sky. There were times in an aeroplane when it seemed I had escaped mortality to look down on earth like a God.'

-- Charles A. Lindbergh, 1927

'The Spirit of St. Louis is a wonderful plane. It’s like a living creature, gliding along smoothly, happily, as though a successful flight means as much to it as to me, as though we shared our experiences together, each feeling beauty, life, and death as keenly, each dependent on the other’s loyalty. We have made this flight across the ocean, not I or it.'

-- Charles A. Lindbergh, 1927

[SAMWolf]

Here are the recommended holiday mailing dates for military mail this year:

For military mail addressed TO APO and FPO addresses, the mailing dates are:

• Parcel Post - November 13
• Space Available - November 27
• Parcel Airlift - December 4
• Priority Mail, First Class cards and letters - Mailing date is December 11 to all locations
  • EXCEPT for locations starting with ZIP 093. For all locations starting with ZIP 093 the mailing date is December 6.
• Express Mail - December 20 to locations where Express Mail service is available. Check with your local post office to determine which APO/FPO addresses can receive Express Mail. Note: This service is not available to ships.

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For military mail FROM APO and FPO addresses, the mailing dates are:

• Space Available - November 20
• Parcel Airlift - December 4
• Priority Mail, First Class cards and letters - December 11
• Express Mail - December 18 from APO/FPO addresses where Express Mail can be accepted. Check with your local military post office to determine if they can accept Express Mail. Note: This service is not available from ships.

Thanks for the information StayAtHomeMother

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Veterans for Constitution Restoration is a non-profit, non-partisan educational and grassroots activist organization. The primary area of concern to all VetsCoR members is that our national and local educational systems fall short in teaching students and all American citizens the history and underlying principles on which our Constitutional republic-based system of self-government was founded. VetsCoR members are also very concerned that the Federal government long ago over-stepped its limited authority as clearly specified in the United States Constitution, as well as the Founding Fathers' supporting letters, essays, and other public documents.

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Actively seeking volunteers to provide this valuable service to Veterans and their families.

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UPDATED THROUGH APRIL 2004



The FReeper Foxhole. America's History. America's Soul

Click on Hagar for
"The FReeper Foxhole Compiled List of Daily Threads"

[snippy_about_it]

"FALL IN" to the FReeper Foxhole!



Good Monday Morning Everyone.


If you want to be added to our ping list, let us know.

If you'd like to drop us a note you can write to:

The Foxhole
19093 S. Beavercreek Rd. #188
Oregon City, OR 97045

[alfa6]

Lucky Lindy Bump for the Freeper Foxhole

Pics when I get home in the AM

Regards

alfa6 ;>}

[snippy_about_it]

Have a good night's work. :-)

[snippy_about_it]

Well, Lindbergh did some great things but I'm afraid if he were around today he'd be voting for Kerry. :-(

Good thread Sam.

[snippy_about_it]

The start of another busy week comes in a few hours. Good night Sam.

[SAMWolf]

Morning alfa6.

How much longer till you go back to days?

[SAMWolf]

Yeah, sadly I have to agree with you.

Night Snippy.

[alfa6]

Because we are in a maint shutdown I will be back on days Tuesday. That's the good news, the bad news is that I will proably be lucky to get 1 or 2 days a week off for the rest of the year. Usually I get 3 days off one week and 4 days off the other week.

Oh well I can pay some bills hopefully.

Regards

alfa6 ;>}

[SAMWolf]

With your project and the Holidays coming up , some extra cash is a good idea. :-)

[E.G.C.]

Good morning, Snippy and everyone at the Freeper Foxhole.

[Aeronaut]

Good morning Snippy.

[The Mayor]

October 25, 2004

What Are You Living For?

Read: 2 Timothy 4:6-18

I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. —2 Timothy 4:7

Bible In One Year: Jeremiah 6-8; 1 Timothy 5

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Many people living in their twilight years suddenly realize how empty and pointless their lives have been. They've made some successful business deals and had some fun, but in terms of satisfying friendships or lasting accomplishments, their lives have been zero. They have climbed the ladder of success, only to discover that all the while it had been leaning against the wrong wall.

As the apostle Paul looked back on his ministry, he saw that it had been rewarding but not easy. Measured by the world's yardstick of success, his life seems almost insignificant.

Paul wrote his second letter to Timothy while languishing in a cold, damp dungeon awaiting execution. In a matter of weeks, the apostle would stand before Nero, the half-insane emperor of Rome, and his life would end. But he knew that after his death he would receive the crown of life from the King of kings. And we now know that the influence of his life changed the course of history itself.

An ancient historian would have written volumes about the splendor of Nero and probably never even mentioned Paul. Yet today we name our dogs Nero and our sons Paul. I guess what we live for is pretty important after all.

By the way, what are you living for? —Haddon Robinson

One life to live for Christ my Lord,
One life to do my part,
One life in which to give my all
With fervency of heart. —Brandt

There are no losers with Jesus and no winners with the devil.

[Valin]

On This Day In History


Birthdates which occurred on October 25:
1360 Louis, founder of house of Anjou
1759 Baron Grenville (Whig) British PM (1806-07)
1800 Thomas Babington Macaulay England, poet/historian (Ivry, Naaseby)
1819 Zachariah Cantey Deas Brig General (Confederate Army), died in 1882
1825 Johann Strauss (the younger) composer (Waltz King)
1838 Georges Bizet France, composer (Carmen)
1843 Gleb Uspensky Russia, author (Power of the Soil)
1869 John Heisman pioneering football coach/trophy namesake
1877 Henry Norris Russell astronomer (Hertzsprung-Russell diagram)
1881 Pablo Picasso Spain, artist (3 Dancers, Guernica)
1888 Richard E Byrd Virginia, admiral/polar explorer (1926)
1902 Henry Steele Commager Pitts Pa, historian (Atlas of the Civil War)
1912 Jack Kent Cooke NFL team owner (Washington Redskins)
1912 Minnie Pearl [Sarah Ophelia Colley] Tenn, (Grand Old Opry, Hee-Haw)
1924 Billy Barty Millsboro Pa, 3'9" actor (Under the Rainbow, Foul Play)
1925 Yakov Rylskly USSR, sabre team (Olympic-bronze-1956)
1926 Galina Vishnevskaya Russia, soprano (Madama Butterfly)
1927 Franklin "Bud" Held javelin world champ (1949, 51, 53-55)
1928 Jeanne Cooper Minneapolis, actress (Kay-Young & Restless)
1928 Marion Ross Albert Lea Mn, actress (Marion-Happy Days, Brooklyn Bridge)
1928 Anthony Franciosa NYC, actor (Long Hot Summer, Name of Game, Death Wish 3)
1935 Russell "Rusty" L Schweickart Neptune NJ, astronaut (Apollo 9)
1940 Bob Knight college basketball coach (Indiana, Olympic-gold-1984)
1941 Anne Tyler American writer (Accidental Tourist)
1941 Helen Reddy Melbourne Australia, singer (I Am Woman)
1950 John Matuszak Milwaukee Wisc, NFLer (Raiders)/actor (Hollywood Beat)
1960 Scott Anthony Haneline Indianapolis, murderer (FBI Most Wanted List)
1967 Julia Roberts Smyma Georgia, actress (Mystic Pizza, Pretty Woman)

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Deaths which occurred on October 25:
0304 Marcellinus bishop of Rome, dies
1047 Magnus I Godhi, king of Norway/Denmark (1035-47), dies
1154 King Steven of England (1135-54), dies
1400 Geofrey Chaucer author, dies in London
1760 George II (August) king of Great-Britain (1727-60), dies at 76
1892 Caroline Harrison Pres Benjamin Harrison's wife, dies at 60
1920 Alexander king of Greece (1917-20), dies after ape bite at 27
1957 Lord Dunsany [Edward J M D Plunkett], author (The King of Elfland's Daughter), dies at 79
1957 Umberto "Albert" Anastasia, US gangster, dies while taking a shave in Manhattan hotel at 55
1959 Bob Murphy TV host (RFD America), dies at 42
1961 Peter(turn that damn thing down) Jensen co-inventer (loud speaker), dies at 75
1973 Abebe Bikila Ethiopian marathoner (Oly-gold 1960, 64), dies at 46
1981 Ariel Durant, US author (Story of Civilization), dies at 83
1986 Forrest Tucker actor (O'Rourke-F Troop, Dusty Trail), dies at 67
1987 Cecil Brown news correspondant (CBS), dies at 80
1989 Mary McCarthy author (The Group), dies, at 77
1991 Bill Graham rock concert promoter (Filmore), dies at 60
1993 Vincent Price, actor (Raven, Fly), dies of lung cancer at 82

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Reported: MISSING in ACTION

1966 GREEN ROBERT B.---LAMPASAS TX.
1966 LEVAN ALVIN L.---CATAWISSA PA.
1967 HORINEK RAMON A.---ATWOOD .KS
[03/14/73 RELEASED BY DRV, ALIVE AND WELL 98]
1967 KROMMENHOEK JEFFREY M.---SIOUX CITY IA.
1967 SMITH RICHARD EUGENE---MARKS MS.
[03/14/73 RELEASED BY DRV, ALIVE AND WELL 98]
1968 THOMPSON BENJAMIN A.---SARALAND AL.
["LOST IN RIVER, PROB DROWNED"]

POW / MIA Data & Bios supplied by
the P.O.W. NETWORK. Skidmore, MO. USA.

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On this day...
0625 Boniface V ends his reign as Catholic Pope
1147 Battle at Doryleum: Arabs beat Konrad III's crusaders
1415 Battle of Agincourt, Welsh longbow defeats the armored knight
1671 Giovanni Cassini discovers Iapetus, satellite of Saturn
1760 George III ascends the British throne
1764 John Adams marries Abigail Smith (marriage lasts 54 years)
1812 US frigate United States captures British vessel Macedonian
1825 The Erie Canal, America's first man-made waterway, was opened, linking the Great Lakes and the Atlantic Ocean.
1854 The Light Brigade charges (Battle of Balaklava) (Crimean War)
1861 Battle of Wilson's Creek, MI (Springfield)
1864 Battle of Marais Des Cygnes River, Kansas (Mine Creek)
1870 Pimlico Race Course opens in Baltimore
1870 Postcards 1st used in US
1891 1st International 6 day bike race (NY MSG) ends
1900 England annexes Transvaal
1903 Senate begins investigating Teapot Dome scandals of Harding admin
1918 Canadian steamship "Princess Sophia" hit a reef off Alaska, 398 die
1924 1st appearance of Little Orphan Annie comic strip
1929 Former Interior Sec Albert Fall convicted of accepting $100,000 bribe.(Teapot Dome scandal)
1935 Hurricane-produced floods kill 2,000 in Jeremie & Jacmel Haiti
1941 16,000 Jews massacred in Odessa Ukraine
1942 3rd day of battle at El Alamein: British offensive
1942 Battle of Henderson Field Guadalcanal begins
1944 Japanese navy defeated at battle of Leyte Gulf
1944 First kamikaze attack of the war begins
1945 Japanese surrender Taiwan to Gen Chiang Kai-shek
1946 1st trial against nazi war criminals (Neurenberg)
1951 Peace talks aimed at ending Korean War resumed in Panmunjom
1953 Cleveland Browns' QB Otto Graham sets club record with 4 fumbles
1960 1st electronic wrist watch placed on sale, NYC
1962 110th member of the UN admitted (Uganda)
1962 American author John Steinbeck awarded Nobel Prize in literature
1962 Amb Stevenson demands USSR Amb Zorin answer regarding Cuban missile bases saying "I am prepared to wait for my answer until hell freezes over"
1963 Anti-Kennedy "WANTED FOR TREASON" pamphlets scattered in Dallas
1964 Viking Jim Marshall runs 66 yards in the wrong direction for a safety
1965 Rolling Stones release "Get Off of My Cloud"
1968 Chicago recognizes Jean Baptiste Pointe de Sable as its 1st settler
1971 Roy Disney dedicates Walt Disney World
1971 UN General Assembly admits Mainland China & expels Taiwan
1972 Eddy Merckx (Belgium) covers 30 miles, 1,258 yards in 1 hr
1973 Chris Wills wins 1st National hang-gliding championship
1974 Wings release "Junior's Farm"
1975 USSR's Venera 10 makes day-side Venus landing
1976 5th Enterprise, approach & lands test (ALT) flight
1976 Gov Wallace grants full pardon to Clarence Norris, last known survivor of 9 Scottsboro Boys who were convicted in 1931 rape
1978 Israeli Cabinet approves "in principle," a draft compromise peace
1983 US invades Grenada,
1985 Kosmos 1700 communications satellite placed in geostationary orbit
1986 International Red Cross ousted from South Africa
1986 Michael Sergio parachutes into Shea Stadium during game 6 of WS
1987 Minnesota Twins win their 1st World Series championship beating St Louis Cards, 4 games to 3 in 84th World Series
1988 ABC News reports on potbellied pygmy pigs popularity as pets
1990 Evander Hollyfield KOs James "Buster" Douglas for HW boxing title
1990 NY Daily News goes on strike (lasts through March, 1991)
1996 Federal judge Richard Matsch granted Oklahoma City bombing defendants Timothy McVeigh and Terry Nichols separate trials.
2000 Russian divers find and remove the first bodies from the wreckage of the nuclear submarine Kursk, which sank on Aug. 12 with the loss of all 118 sailors aboard.

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Holidays
Note: Some Holidays are only applicable on a given "day of the week"

Taiwan : Restoration Day (1945)
Virgin Islands : Thanksgiving Day
US : Mother-in-Law's Day (Sunday)
US some states : Veterans Day
National Magic Week Begins
National Wine Festival Month

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Religious Observances
Ang : Commemoration of St Crispin (Ang)
Christian : Feast of St Gaudentius, bishop of Brescia
Christ : Commemoration of SS Chrysanthus & Daria, martyrs (3rd cen)

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Religious History
1147 The armies of the Second Crusade (1147-49) were destroyed by the Saracens at Dorylaeum (in modern Turkey). The Crusaders went on with fruitless campaigns against Damascus, Syria.
1564 Birth of Hans Leo Hassler, sacred composer. The first notable German musician educated in Italy, Hassler left a rich musical legacy, including the hymn tune PASSION CHORALE, to which the Church now sings, "O Sacred Head, Now Wounded."
1800 Birth of Jacque Paul Migne, French theological publisher. Establishing his own press in 1836, Migne published a voluminous collection of writings by the ancient Greek and Latin fathers (161 vols: "Patrologia Graecae"; 221 vols: "Patrologia Latinae") during his remaining 39 years.
1921 Franklin Small, 48, and a group of dissatisfied members of the Pentecostal Assemblies of Canada, obtained a Dominion charter to establish the Apostolic Church of Pentecost of Canada. In 1953, this group merged with the Evangelical Churches of Pentecost, whose major congregations are located today in the Canadian prairie provinces.
1941 The first Youth For Christ rally was held at Bryant's Alliance Tabernacle in New York City. An international evangelical youth organization, YFC has no single founder, but rather emerged out of weekly rallies held for the youth of New York City during the 1930s.

Source: William D. Blake. ALMANAC OF THE CHRISTIAN CHURCH. Minneapolis: Bethany House, 1987.

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Thought for the day :
"Wisdom is knowing what to do next; virtue is doing it."

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Childrens Impression of Love...
CONCERNING WHY LOVERS OFTEN HOLD HANDS

"They want to make sure their rings don't fall off because they paid good money for them." (Dave, 8)

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Signs Your Cat is Overweight...
He only catches mice that get trapped in his gravitational pull.

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Handy Latin Phrases...
Vescere bracis meis.

Eat my shorts

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Redefining the English language
Esplanade (v.)
To attempt an explanation while drunk.

[Soaring Feather]

Good morning everyone.

[The Mayor]

Mornin Feather!

[GailA]

Good morning.