Lindbergh, Charles A. (Charles Augustus), 1902-1974 Search this
Extent:
0.71 Cubic feet ((1 box))
Type:
Collection descriptions
Archival materials
Scrapbooks
Date:
bulk 1927-1928
Scope and Contents:
This 16 by 22 inch scrapbook was originally a sample book for the Globe Tailoring Company; the samples were removed from the book which was then used as a scrapbook. The scrapbook consists of newspaper articles, mostly focusing on Charles Lindbergh's New York to Paris flight, as well as his subsequent Guggenheim US Good Will Tour. At the end to the scrapbook there are articles relating to the other contestants' flight attempts for the Raymond Orteig Prize, including Richard Byrd and Floyd Bennett, as well as a few articles referencing the crew and flight of the Junkers W 33 b Bremen, the first successful transatlantic flight from east to west, April 12-13, 1928.
Biographical / Historical:
Charles Augustus Lindbergh (1902-1974), was born in Detroit, Michigan, on February 4, 1902. He began his flying career in 1922, studying aeronautics with the Nebraska Aircraft Corporation. In 1924 he enrolled as a flying cadet in the Army Air Service at Brooks Field, Texas and in 1926 became a airmail pilot, flying the route from St. Louis to Chicago. In 1927 he obtained backing to compete for the Raymond Orteig prize of {dollar}25,000 offered for the first nonstop flight between New York and Paris. Lindbergh took off on May 20, 1927, flying alone in the Spirit of St. Louis. Thirty-three hours thirty minutes later, he landed at LeBourget Field near Paris, where over 100,000 people had gathered to give him an enthusiastic welcome. After the flight Lindbergh flew to various countries as part of a good will tour. During this time he met Anne Spencer Morrow, who he married in 1929. Beyond his accomplishments in aviation, Lindbergh also worked on the invention of an artificial heart between 1931 and 1935 with the French surgeon Alexis Carrel. Lindbergh's personal life was marked by tragedy when the Lindberghs' 20-month-old son, Charles Augustus, Jr., was kidnapped and murdered. Charles Lindbergh was to later to encounter criticism stemming from his isolationist views and membership in America First Committee before War World II. During the war he was sent to the Pacific as an advisor to the US Army and Navy. After the Allied victory, Lindbergh worked as a aviation consultant for Pan American World Airways. In 1953 he wrote the Pulitzer Prize-winning The Spirit of St. Louis. His later years were spent in conservation work.
Provenance:
NASM Aeronautics Department, Transfer, 2015
Restrictions:
No restrictions on access.
Rights:
Material is subject to Smithsonian Terms of Use. Should you wish to use NASM material in any medium, please submit an Application for Permission to Reproduce NASM Material, available at Permissions Requests
Lindbergh, Charles A. (Charles Augustus), 1902-1974 Search this
Extent:
.23 Cubic feet ((1 box))
Type:
Collection descriptions
Archival materials
Transcripts
Audiocassettes
Date:
1967
Summary:
Reproduction recording of an interview in April 1967 with Donald A. Hall, an engineer and designer of the Ryan NYP Spirit of St. Louis.
Scope and Contents:
This collection consists of an audio reproduction recording on cassette tape of an interview conducted by telephone with Donald A. Hall in 1967. The interviewer is Thomas Leech who was working on behalf of the San Diego Section of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA). During the interview, Hall discusses his career, working with Charles Augustus Lindbergh, the design of the Ryan NYP Spirit of St. Louis, reaction to Lindbergh's New York to Paris flight, his involvement with AIAA, and his family.
Additionally, this collection contains an abridged transcript prepared by Thomas Leech in 2003 and a photocopy of the May 1967 issue of The AIAA Tabloid featuring an article on Donald A. Hall.
Also on the reverse side of the cassette tape is a recording of a speech by C. Northcote Parkinson to the General Dynamics Convair Management Club, circa 1968.
Biographical / Historical:
Donald A. Hall was an engineer who is best known as the designer of the Ryan NYP Spirit of St. Louis. Hall was born in Brooklyn, New York in 1898. In 1917, Hall graduated from the Pratt Institute with a certificate in mechanical engineering. Hall worked for Curtiss Aeroplane and Motor Company beginning in 1919 before going to Douglas Aircraft in 1924. Hall later accepted the job of chief, and only full-time, engineer at Ryan Airlines where he started on January 31, 1927. A telegram arrived four days later asking if Ryan could build an airplane capable of flying nonstop from New York to Paris, France. Hall reviewed the request and replied affirmatively and on February 21, 1927, Charles Augustus Lindbergh arrived at Ryan to discuss the aircraft. After reviewing Hall's preliminary design work, a contract was finalized between Ryan and Lindbergh on February 25, 1927. The aircraft Hall designed, the Ryan NYP Spirit of St. Louis was built and ready for flight testing on April 28, 1927, a process that took place in under two weeks. On May 21, 1927, Lindbergh completed the first solo nonstop transatlantic flight in history flying in the Spirit of St. Louis.
Later, Hall designed the Ryan X-1 Doodle Bug (Mahoney-Ryan Special). After Ryan relocated to St. Louis, Missouri, Hall stayed in San Diego, California and founded his own company, Hall Aeronautical Development Company. After the Great Depression hit, Hall was forced to close his company due to financial concerns and went to work for Consolidated in 1936. During his time with the company, Hall worked as a consultant to I. M. Laddon on the design of the Consolidated B-24 Liberator. In 1949, Hall went to work for the U.S. Navy at Naval Air Station North Island where he was an engineer before being promoted to head of the helicopter branch and later head of the structures branch before retiring in 1963. Donald A. Hall died in 1968.
Provenance:
Thomas Leech, Gift, 2010, NASM.2010.0039
Restrictions:
No restrictions on access.
Rights:
Material is subject to Smithsonian Terms of Use. Should you wish to use NASM material in any medium, please submit an Application for Permission to Reproduce NASM Material, available at Permissions Requests
