20th biographies covers 9/17/07 2:01 pm page 8 century ... · “daredevil lindbergh.” by mid-may...

CHARLESLINDBERGHCHARLESLINDBERGH

BY ANNE SCHRAFF

20th CENTURY BIOGRAPHIES20th CENTURY BIOGRAPHIES

HE WASAMERICA’S

FIRST20TH-CENTURY

HERO

The first person to cross the Atlantic Ocean in anairplane, Charles Lindbergh focused the world’s attentionon aviation for the first time. He was a peace-loving manwho spoke out against the involvement of the U.S. inWorld War II. But, he eventually chose to fight for hiscountry. Learn about his life of fame and misfortune.

Cesar ChavezAlbert Einstein

Anne FrankMahatma Gandhi

Helen KellerMartin Luther King Jr.

Charles LindberghRosa Parks

Jackie RobinsonFranklin Delano Roosevelt

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20th Biographies Covers 9/17/07 2:01 PM Page 8

CHARLESLINDBERGH

BY ANNE SCHRAFF

Lindbergh Book 9/17/07 1:46 PM Page 1

Development: Kent Publishing Services, Inc.

Design and Production: Signature Design Group

SADDLEBACK EDUCATIONAL PUBLISHING

Three Watson Irvine, CA 92618-2767

Web site: www.sdlback.com

Photo Credits: pages 32, 52, 61, Library of Congress

Copyright © 2008 by Saddleback Educational Publishing.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproducedin any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical,including photocopying, recording, or any information storage and retrieval system, without the written permissionof the publisher.

ISBN-10: 1-59905-250-4

ISBN-13: 978-1-59905-250-2

eBook: 978-1-60291-611-1

Printed in the United States of America

1 2 3 4 5 6 10 09 08 07


T A B L E O F C O N T E N T S

Chapter 1 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4

Chapter 2 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9

Chapter 3 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15

Chapter 4 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23

Chapter 5 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .29

Chapter 6 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34

Chapter 7 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .41

Chapter 8 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45

Chapter 9 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49

Chapter 10 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 55

Bibliography . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 62

Glossary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 63

Index . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 64


Twenty-five-year-old Charles Lindberghflew a plane alone non-stop across theAtlantic Ocean. This adventure tookplace on May 21, 1927. His daringjourney from New York to Paris was thefirst flight of this kind in history. Theflight brought the world of aviationdramatically into the public eye. Airtravel was rare and unusual before this.Lindbergh launched the age ofcommercial aviation.

Charles Augustus Lindbergh was bornon February 4, 1902, in Detroit,

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C H A P T E R 1


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Michigan. His family was Swedish,English, Irish, and Scottish. His mother,Evangeline, was a schoolteacher. Hisfather, Charles, was a lawyer, realtor,and also, a member of the United StatesHouse of Representatives. Evangelinewas seventeen years younger than herhusband.

Charles was raised in Little Falls,Minnesota along the Mississippi River.The family was wealthy with a cook, amaid, and a coachman. As a baby andsmall child, Charles spent most of histime outside in the brisk Minnesotaweather. His father wanted to toughenhim up. He wanted Charles to be arugged boy.

The Lindberghs raised cattle, hogs,sheep, chickens, horses, and pigeons.Charles always had a dog. He loved dogsall his life. In 1906 when Charles wasfour, his father was elected to the United


States Congress as a Republican. He was now away from the family for long periods because he worked inWashington, D.C.

Young Charles was very shy. He had nofriends, except for his dogs. He loved tocollect things. He had collections ofstones, arrowheads, cigar bands, coins,and stamps. He was happiest when he wasalone with his dog, roaming through thewoods or having adventures.

He built a raft and poled himself downthe Mississippi in it. He also built stiltsand a garden hut behind the house. Hewas a clever boy. He noticed his motherhad a hard time getting ice from the riverfor her icebox. So, Charles built a series ofplanks and pulleys to bring chunks of icefrom the river right into the familykitchen. Charles loved animals, and hetrained a wild chipmunk to be a pet.

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One day, Charles heard the roar of anengine that was different than anythinghe had heard before. He ran to hisbedroom window to see an airplanewith two sets of wings flying over thetreetops. It was the first plane the five-year-old had ever seen. He was thrilled.The image of that little plane stayed inhis mind.

At age seven, Charles got a Savage .22caliber repeating rifle. He shot a duckfifty feet away. He was an excellentmarksman. He swam and fished, andgrew into a rugged, self-reliant boy.

Charles’s parents were not happytogether. But, they did not want to get adivorce for fear of hurting their son.Still, Charles noticed their unhappiness,and it made him sad.

Until he was eight, Charles was home-schooled by his mother. He enjoyed this


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because he loved being with his mother.She made the lessons exciting. But thenhe was sent to public school, and hehated it. He disliked the other children.He found the lessons boring. Althoughhe was bright, he did poorly.

In 1913 when Charles was eleven, hewas enrolled in a private school—Sidwell Friends School. It was betterthan public school, but still Charles didnot like it. The other children made funof his name. They called him“limburger cheese,” or just “cheese.”Charles avoided his classmates and didnot join in any games.

Sometimes Charles’s father took himto Washington to sit in on the sessionsin Congress. Charles saw the president.He was proud that his father was suchan important man, making speechesand passing laws.


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When Charles was twelve, his fathertook him to the Aeronautical Trials atFt. Myers, Virginia. Six airplanes tookoff and landed. Charles watched withgreat excitement. He made up his mindthat day that he would fly a planesomeday.

Charles also traveled to the PanamaCanal. He saw alligators, monkeys,lizards, tarantulas, coral snakes, andsharks. He was delighted to see all theexotic creatures. It was the beginning ofhis deep love for nature.

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In 1913 the Lindberghs got a Model TFord. Charles then learned to drive it.He did exercises to lengthen his legs sohe could reach the controls. Soon he wasdriving all over in the Model T as well ason a motorcycle.

Charles entered Little Falls HighSchool for a while. Then, his motherhad to go to California. AlthoughCharles had no driver’s license, he drovehis mother and himself from Minnesotato California.

They stayed in California, and Charlesentered 11th grade at Redondo UnionHigh School in Redondo Beach,California. Mother and son took motortrips all over southern California.Charles loved the ocean beaches.

In 1917 Charles and his motherreturned to Little Falls. Fifteen-year-oldCharles played a major role in running


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the farm, bookkeeping, and tending thelivestock. Most of the time, his fatherwas in Washington.

At this time, the United States wasgetting involved in World War I. Thewar was being fought between England,France, and Russia against Germanyand its allies.

Charles’s father made speeches againstAmerican involvement in the war. Hebelieved all wars were stupid and evil.He thought that a country should avoidthem at all cost. Charles heard many ofhis father’s bitter speeches against thewar. Therefore, these ideas were plantedfirmly in the boy’s mind. As Charlesgrew older, these attitudes would shapehis life.

In his last year of high school, Charlesdid well in physics and mechanicaldrawing. But he failed everything else. It


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looked like he would not be getting hishigh school diploma.

Then, the school district announcedthat because World War I was raging,food products were in desperate need.They said that any boy who went towork on a farm producing food wouldautomatically get his high schooldiploma.

So in June 1918, Charles’s work on thefarm gained him his high schooldiploma. At the time, he was raisingchickens and lambs. He was alsomending fences, cutting trees, andclearing the land. All the time, he wasdreaming of becoming a pilot as soon ashe could.

The Lindbergh farm was sold then.Charles Lindbergh enrolled at theUniversity of Wisconsin in Madison,


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Wisconsin. Charles’s parents were nolonger living together. So, his mothermoved to Madison, too, while heattended college there.

Once again, Charles Lindberghdisliked his classes and made no friends.The only activity he liked was theReserve Officers Training Corps. Hebecame a cadet. He was very good withpistols and rifles. He wrote letters tomany flying schools. He hoped to quitcollege and learn to fly.

In February 1922 he quit college andjoined the Nebraska AircraftCorporation. He worked on planes.Finally, he went on his first flight in aLincoln Standard Tourabout. He wasthrilled to be riding in the cockpit, andsoon he was a pilot. He found the actualflying and the take off easy. But he hada hard time learning to land smoothly.


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Lindbergh began doing stunts on thewings of planes. Sometimes he wouldstand on the wing. His feet would bestrapped down, and the pilot would flyloops. Lindbergh earned the name“Daredevil Lindbergh.” By mid-May1922, Lindbergh had eight hours offlying experience in a Fokker biplane.The other pilots nicknamed him “Slim”because he was tall and lanky.

Lindbergh wanted to experiencejumping from a plane with a parachute.So, in 1922 he got out of the plane at analtitude of about 2,000 feet. He crawledfrom the cockpit and crept along thewing until he jumped. The parachuteblossomed overhead as he sailed down.

Now, Lindbergh wanted his ownplane. He set about getting it.


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Charles Lindbergh saved enoughmoney to buy a 90 horsepower CurtissJenny. This plane was capable of goingseventy mph (miles per hour). Theplane cost five hundred dollars.Lindbergh flew solo in the plane. Healmost crash landed! But by the end ofthe day, he mastered the technique oflanding.

In the summer of 1922, Lindberghflew all over the United States. He took

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passengers for rides to earn money. In1926 he became an airmail pilot on theSt. Louis to Chicago mail route. He oftenflew through thick fog and treacherousweather conditions.

Now twenty-five, Lindbergh heard ofthe Orteig Prize. Raymond Orteig was aFrench businessman. He was offering$25,000 to any flier or group of flierswho could cross the Atlantic Ocean fromNew York to Paris, or Paris to New Yorknon-stop. Lindbergh was excited aboutthe offer. He believed he could do it.

Charles Lindbergh did not have enoughmoney to accomplish this goal. He didnot have a plane that could make thejourney. So, he looked for financialbackers. He spoke to a group ofinterested men in St. Louis, Missouri.They provided the money.


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Ryan Aircraft Company, a smallcompany in San Diego, California, waschosen to build the plane. The planewould be called the Spirit of St. Louis inhonor of the backers.

By mid-April 1927, a single engineRyan monoplane was wheeled out of theRyan factory. On April 28 at Dutchflats, south of San Diego, Lindberghtook the plane up. For the next twoweeks he tested the plane. He cruised at130 mph On May 10, Lindberghpiloted the Spirit of St. Louis to NewYork to make the historical flight.

On the morning of the flight,Lindbergh arrived at the hangar at 3a.m. The Spirit of St. Louis weighed5,250 pounds. It had a top speed of 130mph and a capacity of 400 gallons offuel. It had a range of 4,000 miles. Itwas 3,500 miles from New York toParis.


It was raining when Lindbergh gotinto the cockpit, buckled his seat belt,and adjusted his goggles. Men pushedon the wing struts to get the planemoving. The wheels were up briefly.Then, the Spirit splashed in a mudpuddle. Then, the plane was up forgood, and Lindbergh pulled back on thethrottle. He was on his way. It was 7:54Eastern Daylight Time, May 20, 1927.

At 9:30 a.m., the small silver planecleared Rhode Island. The AtlanticOcean lay ahead. Lindbergh was used toflying over land, guiding himself bylandmarks. Now, there would be milesof ocean waves below him.

To save weight, Lindbergh rejected aradio. All he had was a compass, asextant, and a chart. He relied on thestars overhead to guide him.

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After passing over Newfoundland,Lindbergh leveled off at 10,500 feet. Hegrew very cold. Sleet was pelting theplane. He could see that the wings wereicing over. Lindbergh dropped altitudeslowly to melt the ice. Thunderheads,like huge white mountains, lay beforehim.

He wove his little plane carefullythrough the clouds. Lindbergh wasassailed by strange feelings. He was notsure if he was asleep or awake. He had tofight to stay awake.

At the 18th hour of the flight,Lindbergh passed the point of noreturn. It would now have taken longerto go back to New York than to fly on toParis. Lindbergh had brought along fivesandwiches for the journey: two withham, two with beef, and one with egg.They were all wrapped in grease-proof


paper. But, he had no appetite. He didnot even feel thirsty.

Lindbergh stared at his instrumentpanel and was struck with confusion.He flexed his muscles, stamped his feet,and bounced in the cockpit to revivehimself. He leaned from the cockpit andlet the cold air whip him. WheneverLindbergh started to fall asleep, theplane rattled. This startled him awake.

In the 27th hour, Lindbergh sawsomething below; perhaps it was land ora boat. He dropped altitude until he wasonly fifty feet above some fishingtrawlers. He was excited to see peopleafter so many hours alone. Lindberghshouted to them and waved, but theymade no sign in return.

An hour later, Lindbergh saw manypeople below. At first he did not trust

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his own eyesight. Then, he realized hewas going across the southwest coast ofIreland. People from the village belowlooked up and waved.

In the 31st hour, he flew overCornwall, England. Then, he flewacross the French coast. He passed overCherbourg Harbor at 9:52 p.m. CharlesLindbergh saw the famous Eiffel Towerand the lights of Paris. He had made it.

The Spirit of St. Louis set down atLeBourget Airfield in Paris in thedarkness of Saturday, May 21, 1927.Charles Lindbergh had flown from NewYork to Paris in 33 and 1/2 hours. It was10:24 p.m. European time.

From out of the darkness, Lindberghheard his name being chanted. Whatthe young American pilot did not yetrealize was that his life would never be


normal again. He had no idea of theprice he would have to pay for hiscourageous deed. His personal privacywas gone. He had opened the world ofaviation to the world by crossing theAtlantic. Now, the world wanted to ownhim.

The wildly enthusiastic crowds caughtsight of the handsome, young Americanwith the shy, endearing grin. Theirreaction was near hysterical. He wascelebrated in the capitals of Europe andsurrounded by adoring fans.

Charles Lindbergh, now called “TheLone Eagle,” finally returned to theUnited States. When he arrived, therewas one of the largest parades New Yorkhad ever seen.

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Charles Lindbergh received twomillion pieces of fan mail. Fivethousand of the letters contained poetrywritten about his flight. He also receivedgifts. Streets, towns, mountains, andnewborn babies were named after him.He had become the most famous youngman on earth.

Congress voted to give him the Medalof Honor. In the summer of 1927, hemade an air tour of the United States in

C H A P T E R 4


the Spirit of St. Louis. Everywhere hewent, cheering crowds followed him.

Lindbergh already had contracts withoil and sparkplug companies andWright Aeronautical Corporation. Hewas offered thousands to endorse otherproducts. Young ladies flocked to thehandsome, unmarried Lindbergh.

Up until this point, Lindbergh hadnever even been on a date with a girl.He was shy and uncomfortable aroundthem. Soon Lindbergh became annoyedwith all the attention. A shy loner bynature, he was being grabbed andtouched by strangers.

The relentless attention made him sickof being a hero. He just wanted to getback to promoting aviation and gettingthe spotlight off himself. But it was nouse.

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Most of 1927, Lindbergh spenttalking to airline officials about settingup regular commercial airline service.He went to a dinner with PresidentCalvin Coolidge. There, he metRepublican Dwight Morrow and hisfamily, including his three daughters.One of the girls, dark haired Anne, tookspecial notice of Lindbergh. He, on theother hand, did not seem to see her atall.

Later, Lindbergh flew to Mexico andstayed with the Morrows. DwightMorrow was now ambassador toMexico. This time, Lindbergh didnotice petite Anne Morrow. She had atiny figure. She was obviously intelligentand lively.

Anne Morrow wrote in her diary afterthe dinner that she liked CharlesLindbergh. But she really did not


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believe such a celebrated hero wouldever take an interest in her. Still, shebegan reading Popular Aviation. Shetook a plane ride on the outside chancethat Lindbergh would ask her out.

On October 3, 1928, Lindberghcalled the Morrow house. He made adate with Anne. He took her for a ridein his plane, and he promised to teachher to fly.

The courtship went quickly. InFebruary 1929 Anne Morrow andCharles Lindbergh were engaged. Theywere married, May 27, 1929, inEnglewood, New Jersey.

Anne and Charles Lindbergh werevery different people. She was well read,a good writer, and a lover of music.Lindbergh had never read a book thatwas not about aviation. Anne was more


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well educated than Charles, but theywere very much in love.

Anne Lindbergh was determined toplease her husband. She flew regularlywith him, learning to work the radioand read charts. By the middle of 1929,she was a qualified navigator and radiooperator, and then a pilot.

On June 22, 1930, the Lindbergh’sfirst child, Charles Augustus LindberghIII, was born. There was incredibleinterest in the baby, like there was abouteverything related to Lindbergh.

Lindbergh began to hate the pressbecause they were always prying into hislife. It was impossible for him to movearound without news people followinghim. He also worried that all thispublicity was dangerous for the baby.His fears were justified.


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In early 1932 Anne Lindbergh wasexpecting her second child. TheLindberghs lived in Hopewell, NewJersey, on a large secluded estate.

On the evening of March 1, a Tuesday,the family was following its normalroutine. The nurse put baby Charles tobed in his crib on the second floor.Charles Lindbergh had arrived home.He was downstairs working when thenurse came running to him.

The nurse had gone to the nursery at10 p.m. and had found the crib empty.She thought Anne Lindbergh had takenthe child, but she had not. Now, thenurse told Charles Lindbergh that hisson was missing.

The Lindberghs began a frantic searchfor Charles to no avail. Then, on thewindowsill of the baby’s room, they sawan envelope. It was a ransom note. Thebaby had been kidnapped.


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A terrible nightmare had begun for theLindberghs. They paid the ransom, butthe baby was not returned. For seventy-two heartbreaking days, the policefollowed false leads. There was evenharassing mail arriving at the Lindberghhome.

Then, on May 12, 1932, a truck driverstumbled upon the body of a small childin a field. Charles Lindbergh went tothe morgue to identify the body of hisson. The child’s head had been crushed.

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The Lindberghs were devastated bythe tragedy. They were then subjected toa storm of press attention. On August16, 1932, Anne Lindbergh gave birth toher second son, Jon.

In 1934, Bruno Richard Hauptmann,was arrested for the murder of theLindbergh baby. He was a German-borncarpenter from the Bronx. It wasbelieved that he used a stepladder tokidnap the child. He then may haveaccidentally dropped Charles whileclimbing down the ladder. The babymust have been struck in the head, andhe died instantly.

In January 1935 a six week trial washeld. Charles Lindbergh attended everyday. Hauptmann was found guilty andcondemned to death.


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The kidnapping and murder ofCharles Lindbergh III had a profoundeffect on Charles Lindbergh. Everythinghe had always hated and feared aboutliving his life in the full spotlight ofpublicity had now cost him his son. Hisdarkest fears had come to pass. His famemade him subject to endless pressstories. Hauptmann had undoubtedlybeen inspired by them to kidnap thebaby.

All Charles Lindbergh wanted nowwas to take his wife and newborn sonaway from the United States. He wantedto take them to peaceful seclusionsomewhere else. On December 22,1935, the Lindberghs sailed from NewYork on a passenger ship bound forEurope.


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In 1936 Bruno Richard Hauptmannwas executed. The Lindberghs now livedin England. There, they felt cozy andsafe. The English people were morereserved. They did not approachLindbergh on the street as Americanshad done. The press kept its distance aswell.

Charles Lindbergh and his wife, Anne.


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Charles Lindbergh was then contactedby a United States Army official with arequest. Germany, under Adolf Hitler,was rearming very quickly. Her militarymight was growing so much that otherEuropean countries and the UnitedStates were worried. Many fearedanother world war could be on thehorizon.

Lindbergh was asked to go toGermany and inspect the German AirForce, the Luftwaffe. He would go as anhonored guest. But, he was asked tokeep his eyes open and report back whathe saw. The Germans, aware ofLindbergh’s fame, were delighted towelcome him.


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On July 22, 1936, Charles Lindberghwas the guest of honor in Germany. Fornine days, he toured the countrylooking at airplane factories. He wasvery impressed by the advances made byGerman aviation. He believed theLuftwaffe was an awesome force.

Lindbergh also liked the orderlysociety he found in Germany. The presswas considerate and respectful.Lindbergh was pleased with everythinghe saw in Germany.

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Lindbergh had gone to Germany tofind out if the developing war machineposed a threat to the rest of the world.He came away with the belief thatGermany was very strong. He thoughtthat it was so strong that engaging it ina war would be a terrible mistake.

In the fall of 1937, Lindberghreturned to Germany and became evenmore convinced of Germany’s greatpower. He returned to England toconvince the British to avoid conflictwith Germany.

In 1937 the Lindberghs’ third son,Land, was born. Lindbergh wasspending most of his time campaigningfor peace. In August, Lindbergh visitedRussia. He hated the communist systembeing used in Russia. He was notimpressed by Russia’s military oranything else he saw there.


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In 1938 at Munich, Britain appeasedAdolf Hitler by giving in to his demandsfor more land. Charles Lindberghthought it was the right thing to do. Hewas becoming more and more pro-German to the shock and dismay ofmany of his friends.

Hitler had been persecuting the Jewsand other minorities for some time.Brutal concentration camps were beingbuilt. Eventually, millions would diethere. Most people outside Germanybelieved Hitler was an evil man and adanger to humanity. Lindbergh did notsee any of this.

In October 1938 Hermann Goeringdecorated Charles Lindbergh with theService Cross of the German Eagle. Hewas decorated for his contribution toaviation. Goering was a Nazi leader andfounder of the savage Gestapo secretpolice.


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Lindbergh was very upset to findmany people in England preparing forwar. Lindbergh believed the Naziregime in Germany had some goodpoints. He felt Germany was justified ininvading Czechoslovakia. He alsothought Germany was an importantbarrier to the spread of communism.

Charles Lindbergh learned that peoplein the United States were also preparingfor war with Germany. He was anxiousto return home. He wanted to explainto the Americans how useless it was tofight a powerful enemy like Germany.But Lindbergh was worried about howhe would be greeted in the UnitedStates. He knew that many people werebitter about his pro-German attitude.

Lindbergh left his family in Paris andreturned alone to the United States. Hewanted to make sure it was safe beforehe brought his wife and children home.


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He landed in New York in 1939 andhad a meeting with President FranklinRoosevelt. The two men distrusted oneanother. Roosevelt believed war withGermany was inevitable. Lindberghbelieved that such a war must beavoided at all costs.

In June 1939 Lindbergh brought hisfamily home. They lived in Lloyd Neck,a secluded part of Long Island, NewYork. Lindbergh then was on temporaryactive duty as a colonel in the U. S.Army Air Corps.

In September 1939 Hitler invadedPoland. England and France went towar against Germany.

President Roosevelt was shocked thateven now Lindbergh was makingspeeches urging the United States not toget involved in the war. Lindberghbelieved Germany would defeat Britain.To Lindbergh, it did not matter to the


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United States who won. After the war,the United States could just makefriends with the winner.

Lindbergh resigned from the U.S.Army Air Corps. He made a radio addressurging neutrality for the United States.The German army was entering Paris.The Luftwaffe was bombing Britain.

In 1940 the Lindberghs’ firstdaughter, Anne, was born. Lindberghjoined the America First Committee. Itwas an organization fighting to keep theUnited States neutral.

Lindbergh spoke to the Congress. Hewanted to urge them to turn down theLend Lease Bill. The bill was for sendingwar materials to help England and othercountries fighting Germany.

In April 1941 President Roosevelt helda press conference. He said CharlesLindbergh would never be called to


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active service because of his opinionthat Germany was going to win the war.

Roosevelt compared Lindbergh tomen who had become traitors duringthe Civil War. Roosevelt had doubtsabout Lindbergh’s loyalty. The presidentordered an investigation of Lindbergh.Lindbergh was watched constantly tosee who he was talking to and what hewas doing.

In May 1941 Charles Lindberghmade a speech saying that Jewishinterests were pushing the United Statesinto the war. This brought a storm ofcriticism against Lindbergh. Many ofhis closest friends and admirers turnedagainst him.

On December 7, 1941, Japaneseplanes attacked Pearl Harbor in Hawaii.The debate about whether or not theUnited States would go to war endedwith that attack.


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Charles Lindbergh was broken-hearted by the turn of events. He foughthard to keep America at peace, but nowhe wanted to fight for his country. Heoffered his services to the army.

He was sent to Secretary of WarStimson. Stimson told Lindbergh thatPresident Roosevelt considered himunfit for service because of his pro-German sentiments. A saddenedLindbergh looked for other ways to helpwith the war effort.

C H A P T E R 7


The Lindberghs’ fourth son, Scott,was born in 1942. Around that time,Lindbergh received a call fromautomobile tycoon Henry Ford. Fordhad shared Lindbergh’s passion to keepthe United States out of the war.

Ford had a large auto factory atWillow Run in New York. Thegovernment had asked him to convertproduction there from cars to militarymaterials. Ford asked Lindbergh to helphim turn the plant into a B-24 bomberproducer. Ford wanted to do this asquickly as possible.

Charles Lindbergh worked with Ford.Soon, the Willow Run plant wasturning out B-24 bombers at anastonishing pace. Then, CharlesLindbergh found a way to join in thewar effort without President Rooseveltknowing about it.

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Lindbergh’s friends from the UnitedStates Navy conspired to sneak himinto the South Pacific war theater as acivilian technical assistant. PresidentRoosevelt was not told. It would be asecret mission.

On May 8, 1944, Lindbergh landed inthe South Pacific. All he was carryingwas a shaving razor, soap, boot polish,chocolate bars, a toothbrush, underwear,and a copy of the Bible.

Lindbergh’s job was to train otherAmerican pilots to fly the Corsair planesin combat against the Japanese in theirZero planes. Lindbergh got aboard oneof the Corsairs with a .45 automaticpistol in his gear. He was not authorizedto take part in military action. But hehad to be ready for whatever happenedin this war zone.


During the flight, the pilot flyingLindbergh’s plane strafed Japanesemilitary camps with machine gun fire.Soon, Lindbergh was firing too. He flewon dawn patrols. He also helped rescuedowned pilots over the jungle and in theopen sea.

He always asked to get into the frontlines. The Marines found out that he, acivilian technical assistant, was actuallyfiring weapons in combat. The Marineswinked at it and looked the other way.

On May 29th, Lindbergh dropped afive-hundred-pound bomb on aJapanese aircraft position. He was anexpert bombardier.

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In the weeks that followed, CharlesLindbergh flew more combat missionsthan an average combat pilot. He dive-bombed enemy positions, sank barges,and patrolled.

Just about every Japanese anti-aircraftgun in Western New Guinea had shot athim. Lindbergh logged twenty-fivecombat missions and ninety hours ofcombat time.

On July 10, 1944, he was told thatGeneral Douglas MacArthur wanted to

C H A P T E R 8


see him in Australia. During theircordial meeting, MacArthur askedLindbergh to return to New Guinea toteach pilots how to reduce fuelconsumption. This would enablecombat flights to last longer.

On July 28, 1944, Charles Lindberghjoined the 433rd Fighter Squadron as anobserver. The mission was to bomb andstrafe Japanese positions. Soon,Lindbergh’s plane was under attack.

Lindbergh fired for several seconds,watching his shells zoom through theair. But he seemed to be on a collisioncourse with a Japanese fighter plane. Asthe Japanese plane neared, Lindberghpulled back on his controls with all thestrength he had.

There was a great jolt. The two planeshad just five feet of air between them.Lindbergh had managed to avoid the

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collision by his maneuver. He watchedthe Japanese plane fall from the sky intothe sea. Lindbergh had gotten his firstenemy plane.

Lindbergh did not boast about the killor his skill in saving the plane. Hequietly said he shot in self defense andsaid little else.

Days later, Lindbergh was again incombat when a Japanese Zero dovedown. The Zero fired at the tail ofLindbergh’s plane. Lindbergh crouchedbehind the armor of the plane andexpected to die. But another Americanplane’s bullets shot down the Zero.

Friends tried to talk Lindbergh intoreturning to the States, but he insistedhis job was not yet done. He went toKwajalein and instructed fighter pilotsin long range cruising missions. Once


more he flew in combat. Lindbergh metagain with MacArthur. He complimentedLindbergh on the Zero he had gotten.

In September 1944 Lindbergh flewover the Japanese held atolls of Taroa,Maloelap, and Wotje. He carried theheaviest bomb load ever put in a F4U.On September 13th, he dropped thebomb on Wotje Island, destroying aJapanese gun position.

With the end of World War II in sight,Charles Lindbergh ended his combatmissions. He headed home. During thetime Lindbergh was flying, PresidentRoosevelt never learned that he wasfighting. After all, Lindbergh was theman he had deemed unfit to wear anAmerican uniform. But Lindbergh wasserving gallantly in the most dangerouswar zones.

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The last Lindbergh child, a daughter,Reeve, was born in the fall of 1945. TheLindberghs moved to a secludedwoodland in Scotts Cove, Connecticut.Charles Lindbergh was able to enjoy hisfive children. He read to them, inventedgames for them, and taught them tofish, sail, and hike.

He was a demanding father. He madethe children perform their chores to hissatisfaction. Anne Lindbergh was amuch gentler parent.

C H A P T E R 9


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All during the Lindbergh marriage,Charles Lindbergh was often away.Because of this, Anne Lindberghstruggled with loneliness. She wrotepoems and essays expressing some of herfeelings. She began having her articlesand poetry published in majormagazines.

Charles Lindbergh also turned towriting in the late 1940s. He wrote OfFlight and Life, published in 1948. Hedescribed some of his flying experiences.He said that he had come to understandthe horrors of Nazi Germany.

He also warned against the spread ofRussian communism which was causinggreat anxiety at the time. He urged areturn to basic spiritual truths ratherthan a complete reliance on science.

Lindbergh always had a deep pacifism


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in his heart. He flew combat missionsand bombed targets. But he was sad torealize he was taking life. With thepublication of his book, Lindbergh’spopularity grew. Even those people whowere critical of his attitude before WorldWar II had a better understanding of hisreasons.

Charles Lindbergh was awarded theWright Brothers Memorial Trophy in1949. The twenty-fifth anniversary ofLindbergh’s historic flight in the Spiritof St. Louis was in 1952. But he refusedto take part in any of thecommemorations. His strong desire forprivacy was still dominant. He did notwant the searchlight of the press to findhim again.

In 1952, Lindbergh published hissecond book, The Spirit of St. Louis. Ittold the story of the flight in 1927 and


many later events in his life. The bookbecame a best seller. It did even more torestore Lindbergh’s reputation. In 1954he was awarded the Pulitzer Prize for thebook.

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Lindbergh’s plane, the Spirit of St. Louis


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Also in 1954, President DwightEisenhower approved the restoration ofLindbergh’s military status. Lindberghwas honored for his contribution toaviation and his great combat service inthe South Pacific during World War II.He was made a Brigadier General in theUnited States Army. In the same year, hewas awarded the Daniel GuggenheimMedal for contributions to the nation.

In 1955 Anne Morrow Lindbergh alsopublished a memorable book. Duringher many years of reflection, she hadwritten down her thoughts. Theybecame Gift from the Sea. The smallbook became an even greater best sellerthan her husband’s book. It remains aclassic.

Charles Lindbergh was now workingas a troubleshooter for the UnitedStates Air Force. His vast knowledge of


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aviation was used in the development ofthe nation’s rocketry and spaceprograms.

In 1927 Charles Lindbergh had flownover the entire United States, lookingdown at the beautiful landscape. Manytimes before, he had made similarflights. But, he increasingly noticed howcivilization was moving in on nature.He became troubled by this.

Charles Lindbergh had always lovedaviation. But now he began to wonder ifthe technology he had done so much toadvance had really helped humanity.

In September 1962 the Lindberghswere warmly welcomed to the WhiteHouse by President John F. Kennedy.They spent the night in the Queen’sRoom at the White House. Lindberghwas deeply moved by the president’sgraciousness and Jacqueline Kennedy’swarmth.


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Charles Lindbergh joined the WorldWildlife Fund out of his concern forvanishing species and the damagedenvironment. He traveled all over theworld to see the effects civilization hadon the natural environment.

He visited Africa, Indonesia, andSouth America. He joined in campaignsto save specific endangered animals.These animals included the great bluewhales, the giant land tortoises, and

C H A P T E R 10


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other species. He became passionateabout saving native peoples, animals,birds, plants, and trees.

Lindbergh spent a lot time with theTasaday tribe in the Philippines. It was asmall tribe that lived on the island ofMindanao. They had become objects ofcuriosity and were threatened with theloss of their way of life.

Lindbergh landed among the Tasadaysfrom a helicopter. He spent some timeliving with them in a steepmountainside cave. These cave peoplehad not changed their way of life sincethe dawn of history, and Lindberghobserved how happy they were. Thejungle supported them. When he askedthem if they needed anything, theycould not come up with a request.

Through Lindbergh’s efforts, theTasaday area was named a national


57

reserve. It was banned from outsideinterference.

Lindbergh fell in love with Hawaii. Hebought a small house in Maui. In 1970he published another book, TheWartime Journals of Charles A.Lindbergh. The book revived some ofthe controversy of the wartime years.He said that the world was nowthreatened by dangerous communism.He stubbornly pointed out that this wasbecause of the removal of the Germanbarrier to Russian communism.

In the fall of 1973, Charles Lindbergh,who was always very healthy, sufferedfrom a rash and fever. The ailment wasat first described as shingles. But then hegot a nagging cough that would not goaway. He went to the doctor and wasdiagnosed with advanced lymphaticcancer.


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Charles Lindbergh had no fear ofdeath. Throughout his life, he had notbeen a regular churchgoer. But, in lateryears, he became interested in religion.He went to a Benedictine monastery inPennsylvania for solace in 1970. Hereturned there several times, deeplyaffected by the spirituality.

Lindbergh wanted to die at home. Inthe same way that he carefully arrangedother parts of his life, he now plannedhis funeral. He returned to Maui andhad a coffin made from eucalyptuswood. He decided he would be buriedin a drill shirt and pants.

He chose a burial site in thechurchyard. He selected the ministerwho would read during the service. Forabout ten days, Charles Lindbergh grewweaker.


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During that time he said his farewellsto his children and his wife. He doublechecked his will to make sure everythingwas in order. On the morning of August26, 1974, Charles Lindbergh died. Rev.Tincher, who presided at the briefceremony, described Lindbergh’s deathas just a new adventure.

Charles Lindbergh, as a very youngman, launched the aviation age. Hiscourageous, solo flight across theAtlantic Ocean in 1927, opened the eraof commercial aviation. Aviation hadbeen seen as a hobby of daringstuntmen. But then it was accepted as afuture means of transportation forhumanity. Throughout Lindbergh’s life,he advanced the cause of aviation. Healso contributed to the space program.


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Lindbergh’s opposition to America’sentrance into World War II was seen asvery wrong. This was especially sobecause of the enormous evil of NaziGermany. Lindbergh was a brave combatpilot in World War II. But in his heart,he despised war. He believed that in theend, it accomplished nothing.

He refused to change his position,even though it almost cost him hisreputation. Although he passionatelyopposed the war, he almost died manytimes fighting for his country. He wasfar older than most other pilots. Hecould have easily avoided the danger ofcombat.

In his later years, Charles Lindberghremained a pioneer. He pointed out thereal dangers of the destruction of theenvironment. He fought againstrampant technology and forendangered species.


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He dared to ask the question ofwhether the aeronautical world, forwhich he had given his life, had reallyhelped or hindered mankind. He left itfor others to answer the question.

Charles Lindbergh, as a young man, helped launch theaviation age.


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B I B L I O G R A P H Y

Berg, A. Scott. Lindbergh. New York: G.P. Putnams Sons, 1998.

Mosley, Leonard. Lindbergh: A Biography. Garden City: Doubledayand Co. Inc., 1976.


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G L O S S A R Y

accomplish: to achieve or complete

aeronautical: having to do with the science of flight and aircrafts

ailment: sickness; illness

appease: to settle down or please

assail: to attack or assault

atoll: a ring-shaped island or reef

avail: purpose; benefit; gain

aviation: the operation of aircrafts

backers: people who provide financial support

biplane: an airplane with two sets wings

boast: to brag

brisk: chilly; cold

cadet: a student who is in military training

campaign: to work for or spread the word of a cause

coachman: a person who drives a coach or carriage

commemoration: a celebration of an event or a person

conspire: to plan in a secretive way

controversy: a public dispute or debate

cordial: polite

decorated: given metals for military service

devastate: to destroy or ruin

endorse: to show support for something

frantic: very worried; anxious

hangar: a place where an airplane is stored

hysterical: very worried; out of control

lanky: tall and thin

livestock: animals that are raised on a farm

marksman: a person who shoots well

morgue: a place where bodies are taken

pacifism: the strong belief in peace

pelt: hitting hard

persecute: to oppress or harass because of religion, race, or beliefs

pole: to move on a raft in the water with the use of a long pole

preside: to hold a position of authority

press: the media; the people who distribute news

profound: deep; powerful

pulley: a wheel that is used to increase the force that is applied to it

regime: government; command

Republican: a political party in the United States that is generally associated with conservatism

resign: to retire a position or job

secluded: hidden; sheltered

sentiment: feeling

sextant: a tool that uses the position of stars, the sun, and the moon for navigation

startle: to surprise

strafe: to attack by airplane with machine gun fire

strut: structural supports

throttle: a lever used to control the speed of the aircraft

trawler: a fishing boat

treacherous: dangerous

troubleshooter: a problem solver

tycoon: a powerful businessperson


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I N D E X

Army Air Corps, 38, 39Cherbourg Harbor, 21communism, 35, 37, 50, 57Coolidge, Calvin, 25Curtiss Jenny, 15Eisenhower, Dwight, 53Ford, Henry, 42Germany 33, 34, 35, 36, 37,

38, 39, 40, 50, 57, 60Goering, Hermann, 36Hauptmann, Bruno Richard,

30, 31, 32Hitler, Adolf, 33, 36, 38Hopewell, New Jersey, 28Japan, 40, 43, 44, 46, 47, 48Kennedy, Jacqueline, 54Kennedy, John F., 54Lindbergh III, Charles

Augustus, 27, 28, 31Lindbergh, Anne Morrow,

25, 26, 27, 28, 30, 49, 50, 53

Lindbergh, Anne, 39Lindbergh, Charles, 5Lindbergh, Evangeline, 5Lindbergh, Jon, 30Lindbergh, Land, 35Lindbergh, Reeve, 49Little Falls High School, 10Little Falls, Minnesota, 5Luftwaffe, 33, 39

MacArthur, General Douglas, 45, 46, 48

Morrow, Dwight, 25Nazi, 36, 37, 50, 60Nebraska Aircraft

Corporation, 13New Guinea, 45, 46New York 4, 16, 17, 19, 21,

22, 31, 38Orteig Prize, 16Orteig, Raymond, 16Paris, France, 4, 16, 17, 19,

21, 37Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, 40Redondo Union High

School, 10Roosevelt, Franklin, 38, 39,

40, 41, 42, 43, 48Russia, 35Ryan Aircraft Company, 17Sidwell Friends School, 8the Spirit of St. Louis,

17, 18, 21, 24, 51, 52United States Congress, 6,

23, 39University of Wisconsin, 12Washington, D.C., 6


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