Charles+Lindbergh

Charles Lindbergh



Charles Lindbergh was an American aviator during the 1920s. He is most recongized by his nonstop flight across the Atlantic. Throught his years as a pilot he earned multiple titles, such as the distinguished flying cross and the medal of honor. [] //Charles Lindbergh An American Aviator//.

=Early Life of Charles Lindbergh=

Charles Lindbergh was born Feb. 4, 1902. in Detroit he grew up with his parents, Charles Agustus Lindbergh Sr. and Evangaline Lodge Land. Lindbergh's father was a U.S Congressman in Minnesota from 1901-1917. Early in his childhood he had a great mechanical ability. At 18 years old he was accepted to the University of Wisconsin to study engineering. However Lindberg became more intrested in the young feild of aviation. After two years of school he left to become a barnstormer, a daredevil pilot who preformed at fairs.

=Enlistment in the United States Army=

In 1924 Lindberg joined the United States Army so that he could train to become an Army Air Service Reserve pilot. In 1925 he graduated from the Army's flight training school at Brooks and Kelly feilds, near San Antonio, as the best pilot in the class. After his training was completed he recieved a job offer at the Robertson Aircraft Corparation of St. Louis to fly mail in between St. Louis and Chicago. He was respected as a cautious and capable pilot.

=Flight across the Atlantic=

In 1919 a New York hotel owner offered a prize of $25,000 to the first aviator to fly nonstop from New York to Paris. Named the Orteig prize, after the hotel owners name, Raymond Orteig. Several pilots had been either killed or wounded attempting to claim the prize. By 1927 the challenged had not been completed. On May 20th 1927 Lindberg took of from New York City. He landed in Paris on May 21st, completeting the Orteig challenge. The flight was 33 1/2 hours long and covered a distance of 3,600 miles.

=Kidnapping of his son, Charles Lindbergh Jr.= On march 1, 1932, Charles Lindberghh Junior was kidnapped from the second floor nursery of the Lindbergh home. Almost an hour after the kidnapping, the baby was discovered to be missing. A ransom demanding $50,000 was found on the windowseal. Later on, a second ransom note was given to the family, this time they had Increases the amout to $70,000. they later recieved many more ransom notes a total of 13 notes by the end. The Lindbergh baby was found dead in the month of april, 1932. After extensive investigation, involving the police and handwriting experts, Bruno Richard Hauptmann was found to be the kidnapper and murderer of the Lindbergh baby.

=Historical Significance=

In the 1920's, Charles Lindbergh was a hero to American people of all ages. many children looked up to him because of his flying skills and dare devil stunts. Before his transatlantic flight, it was thought to be impossible to fly across an entire ocean in one contiunous trip.

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