Charles Lindbergh

Although known primarily for his solo flight across the Atlantic Ocean in 1927, which took 33 1/2 hours, most are unaware that he is a Medal of Honor winner as well for that historic flight. He was also awarded the French Legion of Honor as well for that long flight delivering mail from New York City to Paris, France.

What is probably not so well known about Charles was the refusal of President Roosevelt to accept him in the armed forces during WW2. His previous stances against getting involved in the European conflict had earned him some political enemies in the military and State Department.

This did not keep him from getting involved in the Pacific theatre of war, however. He was used as a consultant and came up with innovative solutions to allow the Corsair to carry bombs. What is certainly not well known, is that as a consultant for the P-38 Lightning fighter plane, he persuaded fellow pilots to let him fly a combat mission in which he shot down a Japanese fighter.

He also allowed the P-38 to extend its range to twice what it could before by modifying the engine air fuel ratios. This modification was instrumental in the shooting down of Admiral Isoroku Yamamoto’s plane in Operation Vengeance in which several P-38s with the extended range targeted the Admiral’s plane for destruction.

Charles Lindbergh used his knowledge, ingenuity, and valor to aid the U.S. in the Pacific in very difficult conditions.