Lindberg Flyer 1937

Gallery Article by Harry Quirk on Jan 8 2010

Silly Week 2010

 

The year is 1937. Charles Lindberg is still very bitter over his failed 1927 attempt to be the first person to fly solo across the Atlantic Ocean. In the spring of 1927 Lindberg was forced to abandon his attempt when his financial supporters suddenly withdrew from the venture. Fame and fortune were to go to Lindberg's arch rival when Wiley Post accomplished the feat in June of that year. It was Lindberg's belief that Wiley Post was in some way responsible for his sudden change of fortune.

During the 1930s Lindberg noted the huge advances  Germany was making in the field of aviation. When Hitler came to power in 1933 Lindberg crated up his old Ryan Flyer, put it on a ship and headed to Germany.

Click on images below to see larger images

  

  

By 1937 Lindberg's anger against the U.S. had reached a fever pitch. With the clandestine support of the German government Charles Lindberg decided to seek revenge. He began to upgrade his old Ryan flyer. The undercarriage, which had been damaged during transit to Germany was replaced with that of a Ju 87. His plane was modified to carry one 550KG bomb which he intended to drop on midtown Manhattan. He added three MP18 machine guns for defensive purposes and had his plane painted in the Luftwaffe splinter  scheme. He rechristened his ship the "Spirit of Berlin" and ferried his plane to Paris where he would attempt an ocean crossing in an east to west direction.

On May 20th 1937 Charles Lindberg lifted off from LeBourget field near Paris on his mission of vengeance. Because of weigh considerations he carried no radio or life preserving gear.
Charles Lindberg was never seen again.
Several ships sailing in the vicinity of Lindberg's route reported hearing an aircraft fly over on an east to west heading. No trace of Lindberg or his plane was ever found. It is believed that he crashed in the Atlantic Ocean somewhere east of New York city in deep water off the continental shelf. Throughout World War II Germany denied any knowledge of Lindberg's whereabouts. It was not until after the war when the German archives were opened that the fate of Charles Lindberg was revealed.
Harry Quirk

Photos and text © by Harry Quirk