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[[Image:Lindbergh.jpg‎ |right|250px|thumb|Charles Lindbergh]]

[[Image:Lindbergh.jpg‎ |right|250px|thumb|Charles Lindbergh]]

'''Charles Lindbergh''' was an aviation pioneer.  In 1927 he became the first to fly solo, non-stop, from [[New York]] to [[Paris]]. This feat created a sensation and he was welcomed by enormous crowds in France and, on his return, in New York. He was known as "Lucky Lindy" and inspired a dance, the "Lindy Hop."

'''Charles Lindbergh''' (1902-1974) was an aviation pioneer.  In 1927 he became the first to fly solo, non-stop, from [[New York]] to [[Paris]]. This feat created a sensation and he was welcomed by enormous crowds in France and, on his return, in New York. He was known as "Lucky Lindy" and inspired a dance, the "Lindy Hop."

==The flight==

==The flight==

Lindbergh was bold in using a single-engine plane and in flying solo. He argued that aircraft engines were now reliable enough to be counted on, and that the loss of a single engine in a multi-engine aircraft would be so serious that having several engines increased, rather than reduced, the risk. Bolder, perhaps, was his decision to fly alone, meaning that he needed to remain awake for 33 hours.  

Lindbergh was bold in using a single-engine plane and in flying solo. He argued that aircraft engines were now reliable enough to be counted on, and that the loss of a single engine in a multi-engine aircraft would be so serious that having several engines increased, rather than reduced, the risk. Bolder, perhaps, was his decision to fly alone, meaning that he needed to remain awake for 33 hours.  

==Kidnapping==

==Kidnapping==

Lindbergh's life was touched with tragedy when his twenty-month-old baby was kidnapped, and accidentally killed, by Bruno Richard Hauptmann.  The Lindberghs left the country and settled in France.

In 1929 Lindbergh married Anne Morrow (1906-2001), daughter of a wealthy diplomat; they had six children and she became a famousauthor in her own right. In 1932 their first son was kidnapped, and accidentally killed, by Bruno Richard Hauptmann.  The Lindberghs left the country and settled in France.

==World War II==

==World War II==

Lindbergh visited Germany in 1938 on a mission for the U.S. Air Corps. he studied and was impressed by the "Luftwaffe", the German air force, warning Americans it had the best equipment in the world. He accepted a medal from [[Hermann Goering]] for his services to aviation. He attracted criticism and some regarded him as a [[Nazi]] sympathizer, a charge he strongly denied and which historians generally reject.  Lindbergh strongly opposed U.S. entry into the [[Second World War]], and suggested that if the U.S. did enter, it should be on the side of Germany.

Lindbergh visited Germany in 1938 on a mission for the U.S. Air Corps. he studied and was impressed by the "Luftwaffe", the German air force, warning Americans it had the best equipment in the world. He accepted a medal from [[Hermann Goering]] for his services to aviation. He attracted criticism and some regarded him as a [[Nazi]] sympathizer, a charge he strongly denied and which historians generally reject.  Lindbergh strongly opposed U.S. entry into the [[Second World War]], and suggested that if the U.S. did enter, it should be on the side of Germany.

[[Image:Spirit-stlouis.jpg|thumb|370px|The Spirit of St. Louis]]

[[Image:Spirit-stlouis.jpg|thumb|370px|The Spirit of St. Louis]]

Lindbergh worked as a civilian consultant to aviation companies, particularly Pan American Airways. He flew all over the world scouting possible routes that Pan Am could fly. In later years, he served on the Board of Directors of the Lockheed Corporation.

 

Lindbergh was an outspoken aopponent of President [[Franklin D. Roosevelt]], who used the Internal Revenue Service and the FBI to spy on him, and refused to allow him to play any role in the war. Nevertheless Lindbergh worked as a civilian consultant to aviation companies during the war and even flew combat missions. He worked for Pan American Airways, scouting possible routes all over the world that Pan Am could fly. In later years, he served on the Board of Directors of the Lockheed Corporation.

Lindbergh wrote two books about his flight: ''We'' and ''The [[Spirit of St. Louis]].''

Lindbergh wrote two books about his flight: ''We'' and ''The [[Spirit of St. Louis]].''