Charles Lindbergh

Charles Augustus Lindberg was born February 4, 1902 in Detroit, Michigan. He died on August 26, 1974 from cancer. Lindberg is the first person to fly solo across the Atlantic from Roosevelt Field in New York and landing in Paris 33 ? hour later (1927). His plane was named the "Spirit of St. Louis" and his autobiography written in 1953, with the same name, was a Pulitzer Prize

Lindberg became a media sensation when his son was kidnapped and found dead. Bruno Hauptmann was convicted of the crime an executed, but it has been long thought that Hauptmann was innocent.

Lindbergh was vocally against America's entry into World War II. He was a part of the America First Committee an organization that opposed voluntary American entry into WWII. He criticized Pres. Roosevelt's foreign policies and subsequently resigned his commission in the Army Air Corps. After the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor Lindbergh relented and joined the war. He flew 50 combat missions in the Pacific and developed cruise controls that increased the efficiencies of American fighter planes. Lindbergh withdrew from public life after WWII and worked as a consultant to the chief of staff of the U.S. Air Force. He also worked as a consultant to Pan American Airlines. In 1954 Lindbergh was appointed a brigadier general by Pres. Eisenhower and he received a public apology from Eisenhower.

Lindbergh campaigned for the protection of humpback and blue whales and opposed the development of supersonic transport planes. Lindbergh believed that supersonic travel would damage Earth's atmosphere.

Lindbergh is interred on the grounds of the Palapala Ho'omau Church in Maui, Hawaii.