Louis: A Narration of His Famous Takeoff Picture.
On May 12, 1927, 7:52 AM, Charles Lindberg fired up the engine of his Spirit of St. Louis and commenced down the dirt runway of Roosevelt Field in Long Island, New York. The plane bounced slightly down the muddy path as it slowly became airborne and barely cleared the telephone wires at the end of the field. The crowed of 500 that morning believed they had witnessed a miracle, as Charles Lindberg embarked on a 3,500 mile journey as the first man to fly across the Atlantic Ocean alone.
.
Only a year prior, Lindberg was making his living as a mail pilot when he heard news of a $25,000 prize for the first man to fly solo, non-stop from New York City to Paris. Intrigued by this proposal, Lindberg sought sponsorship from a group of St. Louis businessmen while supervising the construction of his special plane.
.
Lindberg was not the first to attempt this outstanding feat. This offer had been in place since 1919 and several had tried before him - some failing miserably. Upon his arrival to Long Island on May 20, 1927, Lindberg was greeted by dismal weather and the possibility of his flight being delayed several days. However a favorable forecast on the morning of the 19th persuaded him to persevere. As he embarked on his mission some 48 hours later, Lindberg was equipped with only four sandwiches, two canteens of water and 451 gallons of gas.
By the time darkness fell, Lindberg was cruising comfortably over Cape Cod and Nova Scotia, heading for the open Atlantic. Not long afterward, he reported heavy sleet raining down upon his plane. The weather conditions concerned Lindberg, but he chose to persist and remove any more such thoughts of hesitation from his mind. .
He continued his course into the morning hours, at times hovering a mere 10 feet above the ocean waves due to a blinding fog. As he recovered a safe altitude, the appearance of fishing boats below alerted him of the impending coast.
