Who was Charles Lindberg...??

[DandyDon]

Anyone under 30 know what he became known for? Under 40, name two things? Can anyone name four things?

I was chatting with my 20 year old waitress when I mentioned him being in a news story, and she said "Who?" I think 2 out of 4 had heard the name, but none knew why?!

ldguy: Older, wiser, or sillier...?

don

 

[mwilding]

He invented the Lindbergh baby while joining the mile high club, right?

 

[WileEDiver]

Don't forget the dance he created.

 

[pipedope]

but I am over 40 and am not going to get into the contest.

 

[DA Aquamaster]

The easy one:

1) Air mail pilot who was the first to fly the Atlantic solo in 1927.

The less easy ones:

2) He pioneered most of Pan American Airlines routes in South America and the Pacific. His Wife, Ann Morrow Lindberg wrote a couple of really excellent books about the trips as she accompanied Mr. Lindberg on them.

3) He had a pro German stance prior to WWII that eventually resulted in his resigning his commission just before WWII. It was an opinion that was widely held in America at the time but it was not politically correct and angered Pres. Roosevelt. It also prompted J Edgar Hoover to initiate an FBI investigation.

4) Once war was declared he was fully supportive and served as a consultant and as a Technical Representative for Ford Motor Company and United Aircraft during WWII. He was instrumental in developing long range flying techniques for pilots in the Pacific flying P-38's. He actually flew combat missions and shot down a Zero.

5) He was appointed as a brigadier general in the Air Force Reserve in the mid 50's by Pres. Eisenhower and served as an aviation consultant until his death in 1974.

 

[IslandHopper]

From your list, he would qualify as an Inventor and Aviator...

The previous post sums a lot of it up.
His inventions (the ones I am aware of) were all related to aviation though, so ...

1927 was the year he flew from Long Island to France non-stop... It took about 32 hours if memory serves me correctly.

He was living on Maui when he died .


Now... how many of you familiar with Lindberg also know who Eddie Rickenbacker is ?

 

[Otter]

What about his cheese?

 

[nauifins73]

Like pipedope I'm not going to play either - I know what you are looking for but I'm not about to judge anyone's life I have my own to be concerned with.

Becky

 

[PhotoTJ]

Eddie Rickenbacker?

Well, he owned the Indianapolis Speedway, raced Dusenbergs professionally, had a car named after him that was too advanced for it's time, was the American Ace of Ace's in WWI, with 26 kills, was commander of the "Hat-In-The-Ring" squadron, won the Congressional Medal of Honor, was lost at sea for 24 days, started Eastern Air lines, and has a military decoration named for him, as well as at least two resturants. (I've had dinner at two, I'm sure there are more.) atriot:

He was a badass!

 

[DA Aquamaster]

All correct except for one minor point... He was president of Eastern airlines but did not start it.

He did start Florida Airways in 1926. However this airline qucikly failed ad when it did he was hired as a vice president of the General Aviation corporation and later was a VP at North American Aviation where he served as the general manager of their subsidiary Eastern Air Transort.

Eastern Air Transport had been started in 1930 and was renamed Eastern Airlines in 1934 to get around the Airmail act of 1934 that prevented the old company from bidding on mail contracts due to its previous participation in the what was known as the spoils conference - the big scandal that let to FDR suspending the airmail contracts and letting the Air Corp kill off numerous under trained pilots attmepting to deliver the mail in bad weather.

Eddie Rickenbacker did not become president of Eastern Airlines until 1938 when he and several business partners bought the airline which is probably a good thing for his reputation all things considered. He remained president until 1954 when he became chairman of the board, a position he held until his retirement in 1963.

Eddie Rickenbacker also held the world speed record of 134 mph at one point.