Charles Augustus Lindbergh (February 4, 1902 – August 26, 1974)
(nicknamed "Lucky Lindy" and "The Lone Eagle") was an American aviator, author,
inventor and explorer.
Charles Lindbergh (1902-1974) was born on February
4, 1902 in Detroit Michigan. His parents were Evangaline Land Lindbergh, and
Charles Lindbergh. He had no brothers or sisters. Young Charles grew up in
Little Falls Minnesota and in Washington DC. His father was a politician. His
parents had separated, so he only saw his father when he went to visit him in
Washington DC.
Charles did not like school, or any other formal
education. He did not like the idea of other people telling him what he should
learn. Lindbergh went to the University of Wisconsin to study mechanical
engineering, but left two years later to go to flight school. He married Anne
Morrow, and later had one child, named Charles. Lindbergh became a technical
advisor to Trans Continental Air Transport, and Pan American Airways.
Charles Lindbergh was famous for being the first
person to solo across the Atlantic Ocean in an airplane non-stop. The aircraft
was paid for by a group of St. Louis businessmen. (That is why it was called The
Spirit of St. Louis.) Many airplane companies rejected his request to build an
airplane for such a risky venture. He finally found a small company called Ryan
Aircraft that was excited about the challenge. He worked with them for two
months, helping to design and build the airplane. Later, after Charles and Anne
had their child, the baby was kidnapped and held for ransom. After many weeks,
the baby's body was discovered in the woods by a small town near their house.
Many
citizens wrote to FBI Director J. Edgar Hoover indicating their mistrust of
Lindbergh and questioning his loyalty to the United States. This file consists
of the letters sent to the Director, and various newspaper articles that were
written about Mr. Lindbergh.