DNA tests say Lindbergh fathered three children in Germany

AFP ^ | November 29, 2003

[Paladin2b]

MUNICH, Germany (AFP) - DNA tests have confirmed that all-American hero and aviator Charles Lindbergh fathered three illegitimate children in Germany, their spokesman said.

In a statement, he said the tests supported their assertions that Lindbergh, who won instant celebrity for making the first solo, non-stop transatlantic flight in 1927, was their father.

The probes, examined by a Munich university medical centre, compared their DNA with a sample from a member of Lindbergh's family.

The result, handed in writing to the three last week, showed a probability of paternity of more than 99 percent."They never had any doubt about the question," the spokesman Anton Schwenk told AFP when asked about their reaction.

He said they had since made contact with Lindbergh's US family.

Astrid Bouteuil, now 43, and brothers Dyrk and David Hesshaimer, 45 and 36 respectively, told the German Sueddeutsche Zeitung daily in August that they only learned their father's identity after his death in 1974.

According to them, quoting a clutch of letters he wrote, Lindbergh fell in love with a 31-year-old Munich hat maker, Brigitte Hesshaimer, during a visit to Germany in 1957 and continued to see her until his death.

The children were born between 1958 and 1967. They were listed in official records as "father unknown," but they say he visited them often and supported them financially.

They said they only felt able to come forward after their mother died two years ago.

The spokesman said the children would not be making any comment.

A book and a television documentary are currently in production in Germany about the affair.

Traditionally, Lindbergh has been portrayed as a happily married family man with five children. The claims that he fathered illegitimate children were met with deep scepticism in the United States.

Schwenk said, however, that Bouteuil and the Hesshaimers had met in Europe with members of Lindbergh's US family since August. "The establishment of family relations will grow naturally," he added. "The gap of so many years cannot be bridged in a few hours." Later in August, the German news magazine Focus claimed that Lindbergh had another two illegitimate children in Germany -- the fruits of a relationship with Hesshaimer's sister Marietta. It said Marietta was now living in Switzerland in a house built for her by the aviator.

[Paladin2b]

Hmmmm...so the Lone Eagle had more than one nest...

[cyborg]

More like three extra eggs in the nest

[Cicero]

That last business about the sister is pretty strange.

[Paladin2b]

By the way, there's a photo of the three in the link...no doubt about it, they're his.

[HighWheeler]

Are there ANY democrat, Communist-loving humans on Earth that know what marital vows mean?

[HighWheeler]

[Lijahsbubbe]

Gee thanks, Dad.

[Cicero]

As I recall, Lindbergh was accused of being more of a Nazi-lover than a Commie-lover.

[longjack]

Here's a link to the thread on FR when the story broke in August.

German Paper Reporting That Charles Lindbergh Led a Double Life.

longjack

[onedoug]

He believed in the "utility" of commercial aviation.

[The Great RJ]

Wonder when we are going to see Bill Clinton's bastards start popping up? Probably several in England and maybe a few in Moscow.

[Wormwood]

I must be on scandal overload, since I thought the article said 'Limbaugh fathered three children in Germany"

Okay, time for a walk.

[aculeus]

This news ruins the Lindbergh biographies.

Sorry, folks, you missed a big part of the story.

[Gatún(CraigIsaMangoTreeLawyer)]

These "extra" children can now claim U.S. citizenship if they wish.

[nothingnew]

I've never seen a guy wear his tie outside his buttoned sport coat...thanks.

FMCDH

[nothingnew]

And who's the babe?...Is that JamieLeeCurtis in "TrueLies" or "A Fish Named Wanda"?

FMCDH

[VOA]

According to them, quoting a clutch of letters he wrote, Lindbergh fell in love with
a 31-year-old Munich hat maker, Brigitte Hesshaimer, during a visit to
Germany in 1957 and continued to see her until his death.

Youngish, attractive female and an older, famous, rich (relatively) and powerful male
find a mutually beneficial arrangement.
This is news?

As Dr. Fraiser Crane (Kelsey Grammer) once told a matronly caller complaining about
the older guy-younger woman thing:
"Madame, I don't make the rules. I just enjoy them."

[stands2reason]

I read once that his father (or his father's father?) had changed his named to "Lindbergh" from "Mansen."


Charles Lindbergh could have been Charles Mansen.

[eddie willers]

I guess that gives new meaning to "Lucky" Lindy.

[Consort]

He was probably suffering from prop lag and didn't know what he was doing.