Charles Augustus Lindbergh, American pilot, c 1920s

Charles Augustus Lindbergh, American pilot, c 1920s. Charles Augustus Lindbergh (1902-1974) was an airmail pilot and later made the first solo, nonstop transatlantic flight on May 21 1927 in 'The Spirit of St Louis', a Ryan monoplane, landing in Paris after flying from New York. Returning to the United States he received an unprecedented welcome, was promoted to colonel, and toured the nation to popularise aviation. After the kidnapping and death of their son in 1932, he and his wife moved to England. Lindbergh worked with Alexis Carrel on the invention of a pump to maintain organs outside the body. At the outbreak of WW2 Lindbergh made anti-war speeches but later flew combat missions in the Pacific. In later life he championed conservation issues. ©SSPL/Science Museum