Dedicated to the history and preservation of artifacts and memorabilia commemorating CHARLES A. LINDBERGH and The Spirit of St. Louis

First solo, non-stop flight from New York to Paris - May 20 - 21, 1927

VOLUME MMIV

JANUARY, FEBRUARY, MARCH, 2004

ISSUE No. 1

Inside This Issue! -2004 Symposium News - Lindy in Mexico! -2004 Dues Information If you haven’t renewed yet, This will be your LAST issue!

2004 Symposium Preview Edition PUBLISHED IN THE MEMORY OF MAX HEALEY, FOUNDER (1915 - 1990)

C.A.L./N-X-211 Collectors Society Executive Committee President Juan A. José 5 de Mayo #136 - Casa 1 Col. Tepepan Mexico D.F. C.P. 16020 Mexico Vice President Joena Meier (217) 243-7032 2 Millwood Manor Jacksonville, IL 62650 Secretary Bill Grant P.O. Box 295 Patton, CA 92369 Treasurer Gary Fisk (310) 539-2599 24506 Cadiz Drive Lomita, CA 90717 Immediate Past President Doug Studer 14154 Aulick Road Butler, KY 41006 Board of Directors Barry Friedman Kurt Francis Duane Jacobson Havner Parish Jr., MD Max Rensberger Marketing & Communication Juan A. José – Director & Chairman Newsletter Editors Doug Studer & Joena Meier Preservation Committee Duane Jacobson, Curator 9119 16th Avenue South Bloomington, MN 55420 (952) 854-8260 Membership Committee Gene Weisenberg, Chairman 1562 Bradbury Road San Marino, CA 91108-2727 (626) 286-9596

t i r i p S of the Society It was 1929 when the newlywed couple of Charles and Anne Lindbergh surveyed the Yucatan Peninsula. I wonder how the Caribbean coast of Mexico looked from an airplane in 1929! It must have been quite a sight, for 75 years afterwards, it is still an amazing one. Cancun in 1929 was no more than a desolate island in the middle of nowhere that was once a Mayan settlement. Nowadays, Cancun is a world-class tourist destination with a population that’s reaching a million inhabitants. It’s so easy to reach, that I guess it is no more difficult to get there from the USA, than flying from San Diego to New York via St. Louis. First time I visited Cancun was in 1980, and I fell in love with the place. I guess I am still in love with it, for I have visited it at least 30 times since! My next visit to Mexico’s Caribbean coast is a very special one, for Cancun is the site we elected to have our XV Symposium, and also where I am going to preside over our Board Meeting and our General Business Meeting. It will be a great honor to welcome those attending members to our Symposium in Cancun. Maria and I have been working very hard and spending a lot of pesos in trips and phone calls making sure we get first-class services at a very competitive price. I think we have been sucessfull doing that, but I guess our effort will be worthless if members don’t attend. I won’t say anything about the importance of Symposiums on the continuity of our Society, I think we all know that. May the Spirit of the Society be with all members as they call a travel agent and book a flight to Cancun for May 1316th. ¡Bienvenidos! Juan [email protected]

Nominating Committee Doug Studer, Chairman 14154 Aulick Road Butler, KY 41006 (859) 448-0711

Past Presidents Committee Bob Arehart, Cris Sauer, Lyn Sheldon, Doug Studer Gene Weisenberg, Rosie Zuern

Society Web Site: http://fly.to/cal-n-x-211/

Mailbag

Doug, In reference to C.A.L./NX-211 Volume MMIV #4, “The Kitty Hawk Flyer – Doesn’t”, page 12, line 4:

Notes and News from Members Hi Doug, Well, yesterday we got really lucky and punched our bird out through a very high overcast cloud layer, before the rains came later in the day. So, we are FINISHED and will be flying home next Friday. After being gone so long, it will take some adjustment to go back to left-coast living. I had nearly 2 weeks off at Christmas time so was home for that. Of course I had a chance to comb through all my accumulated mail. I have to tell you that each issue of the newsletter just gets better and better. Your use of color is stunning a great improvement! I’ve enclosed another eclectic collection of ...STUFF. I hope some of it will be new and interesting to you. Happy landings, Gary Gary, Thanks for the pat on the back and the contributions to the Newsletter. As always, both are extremely appreciated. Members, look for the information on Gary’s launch in the “Society News” Section of this issue! Dear Doug, Regarding the Phillips head screw controversy, I think we got our signals mixed. Refer to the photo of yourself at the bottom of page 9 where you are standing by the boulder. If you look down by your toes, you will see the end of the track to which I was referring. It was here, not by the replica indoors. A friend who visited the site over Thanksgiving, a bit more than a month after my 21 October visit, reported that the cadmiumplated Philips screws were still there. Did you note the ones I am referring to? Cheers! Rowl (Hall) Rowl, I did see the rail near the boulder, but not the screws, all the reason I need for a return trip. I’ll keep you posted! CAL/N-X-211 VOLUME MMIV No. 1

Thanks for the catch! But, thanks more for the visual, just had to share it!

Collectibles Lindy Flies the Mail..North! This innocent air mail first flight cover has an interesting story to tell.

The cover was sent from Mexico City (Mexico, D.F. is shown in the air mail CDS) to Jeffers, Minnesota. The cachet indicates it was carried on the first flight from Mexico City to Brownsville, Texas, across the border from Matamoros. The contractor for this flight was Pan American Airways, Inc. This particular route was Foreign Air Mail route 8 (F.A.M. 8). The AAMC catalog designates this flight as F8-4. Pan American at this time was busy establishing routes throughout the Caribbean and central America. PAGE 3

What makes this particular flight especially interesting is that the pilot. Col. Charles A. Lindbergh, a technical adviser to the contractor, was a guest at the American Embassy in Mexico City. Lindbergh flew the first mail North on March 9 and also flew the return from Brownsville on March 10. Pan American made extensive use of Lindbergh on such inaugural flights. His fame got publicity and gave the airline credibility. The stamps are the 25c 1928 brown carmine and gray brown airmail (Scott C3) and the 10c 1923 lake Cuauhtemoc Monument (Scott 655). The CORREO AEREO etiquette is a label in the colors of the Mexican flag.

Historic Photograph Signed, December 26, 1927 —the day he flew Anne Morrow, his future wife, for the first time! Charles A. Lindbergh (1902-1974). American Aviator, Inventor, Environmentalist, and Author (Pulitzer Prize, 1953). Historic Photograph Signed, "C. A. Lindbergh, Dec. 26, 1927" — the day he flew Anne Morrow, his future wife, for the first time!

An 8 in. by 10 in. sepia tone photograph of Lindbergh at the peak of his fame, and only months after his historic flight. Lindbergh was in Mexico on a promotional tour when he met the US Ambassador’s daughter, Anne, taking her on her first flight on December 26, 1927. They would marry a year and one-half later. This image is a Cortez Fotografia portrait, has two small stains, one touching the “h” in Lindbergh, CAL/N-X-211 VOLUME MMIV No. 1

the other on the right margin which could be matted out. Signature darkness is uneven, but very readable. This is a very good collector’s item marking one of the more significant dates in Lindbergh’s life. $3,500. (#10960)

Fisk Files For this Issue I have scoured the Fisk Files for examples of articles and advertisements of Lindbergh in Mexico One of the most important events in selling aviation to the general public was the entry of Henry Ford into aircraft manufacturing. The Ford automobile was at the time the symbol of reliability and it followed in the minds of a good many people that a Ford airplane would be safe to fly. The Ford Tn-motor was a rugged, all metal, dependable transport airplane which won a permanent place in aviation history. The first 4-AT (for Air Transport) made its maiden flight on June 11, 1926. Between its first flight and July 27, 1931, 71 4-ATs were built. The Tnmotor, with three 220 hp Wright J-5 engines, became a successful 12 to 14 passenger transporter. The 5-AT became the most famous of the five Ford Tn-motors. By the time Ford stopped producing aircraft in 1933, 199 Ford Tri-motors had been built. In May of 1930, the 5-AT sold for $40,000. Four years later, used 5-ATs were selling for $5,000. More than 100 airlines from around the world flew the Ford Tn-motor. They were used on the first transcontinental route and were flown by Transcontinental Air Transport (TAT) later to become known as TWA. This Museum’s Ford Tn-motor is the oldest one PAGE 4

in existence and has been flown by Harry Brooks, Ford’s Chief Pilot. This is the airplane that was used to fly Charles Lindbergh’s mother to Mexico City to see her son. Charles Lindbergh himself also flew this airplane.

CAL/N-X-211 VOLUME MMIV No. 1

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Features Lindbergh in Mexico By Juan José Charles A. Lindbergh’s parents visited the border city of Tijuana, Baja California, Mexico on their wedding trip in 1901. Charles’ first confirmed trip outside the U.S.A. was to Panama in 1913, when he traveled by boat with his mother to visit the building of the interoceanic way. There’s no evidence supporting that Lindbergh visited Tijuana or any other Mexican city during his stay in San Diego, while the “Spirit of St. Louis” was being built in the Spring of 1927, nor that he had flown over Mexican territory during the test flights of the aircraft. The first time that Lindbergh flew over Mexican territory was on September 23th, 1927, when he flew N-X-211 over Mexicali, Baja California en route from San Diego, CA to Tucson, AZ as a part of Lindbergh’s successful tour to promote aeronautics sponsored by The Guggenheim Fund. The second visit to Mexican skies took place the next day, when he flew over Chihuahua state bound for El Paso, TX after taking off from Lordsburgh, NM. I haven’t found any evidence to demonstrate that such short flights over Mexican territory had been approved by Mexican authorities, so it could be possible that Lindbergh literally violated Mexican air space! Lindbergh’s December 1927 nonstop flight between Washington, D.C. and Mexico City (his first formal visit to my country) has its origin in the good personal relationship Lindbergh and his father-in-law to be, Dwight W. Morrow, established the moment they met at the temporary location of the White House in Washington, D.C. on June 1927. Morrow claimed then that the young aviator “had to be protected from the wolves,” thus beginning to act as some kind of mentor and advisor for Charles. Lindbergh at “El Toreo” bullfight ring in Mexico City in December 1927.(AGN archives) CAL/N-X-211 VOLUME MMIV No. 1

Morrow was named US Ambassador to Mexico in August, 1927. On September 29th, 1927, Lindbergh wrote to his friend and financial guru, congratulating him on his new job and indicating that: “judging by the little I have been able to see in our borders, I’m afraid the job will be difficult” adding on the same letter- “if there’s any opportunity where I can be of any help to you, please call me”. On October 4th answering his congratulating letter, Morrow wrote to Lindbergh: “You talked to me once about the possibility of you making some flights in Latin America...it would be good to talk about it...”. And so they did before Morrow left for Mexico by the end of October, 1927. The Ambassador was right in thinking Lindbergh’s prestige could be well used on his mission in Mexico, through a “good will” flight that would help to relax a little the hostile atmosphere that prevailed on the bilateral relationships at that time. In the light of the positive reaction perceived in Mexico about a possible trip of Lindbergh to the country, barriers against the trip in the USA and elsewhere began to fall down and good reasons were found to make out of the Mexico visit the focal point of a Latin America tour. By the end of November, two important events coincided to avoid an undefined delay of the flight: One of them was the US government’s intentions to use aviation as a tool of diplomacy (remember Pan American!), the other was the extraordinary success Morrow had on his diplomatic performance, so much that he quickly gained the confidence of Mexican President, Plutarco Elias Calles. Lindbergh most probably had the intention of studying the possibilities of having an American company establishing one or more airlines flying to Mexico, Central and South America before PAGE 6

any other country did it, thus adding pressure over the security of the Panama Canal, as the German-owned Colombian airline SCADTA had from the South. In light of the above, there has been speculation on who payed for Lindbergh’s 1927-1928 Latin American trip expenses. Lindbergh claims that he payed all those expenses himself and not any airline or government. Knowing Lindy as we do, we must accept that he payed for the trip, but maybe not for the quesadillas he ate in Mexico! Mexican President Calles was very happy with the idea of having Lindbergh as a guest and sent him a message in early December, not only inviting him to visit our country, but also promising a very warm welcome. “Leave the problems of the flight to me...” Lindbergh told Morrow, who was not very happy about the aviator’s desire of making the flight nonstop. As usual, Lindbergh wanted to get more positive attention to the real capabilities of aviation and air mail reaching his destination on time, regardless of weather conditions or other limitations. The Morrows Cuernavaca, Mexico “Casa Mañana” house in 1929. (AGN archives)

N-X-211 took off from Bolling Field in Washington, D.C. at 12:25 p.m. eastern standard time, on December 13th, 1927, arriving at Balbuena Field in Mexico City at 3:40 p.m. EST on the 14th. Several sources report the arrival at 2:39 p.m. Mexico time. According to Lindbergh the flight took a total of 27 hours and 15 minutes. While on the route, he kept his direction until he flew over Tampico, Tamaulipas, which he identified by the oil tanks. Then, something CAL/N-X-211 VOLUME MMIV No. 1

went wrong that caused a one hour and fifteen minute delay on the estimated duration of the flight: For those awaiting him in Balbuena the delay was dramatic, and these included President Calles, Ambassador Morrow, diplomats and thousands of people who attended the arrival. Comedian Will Rogers, who was visiting Mexico, calculated the crowd at the airfield in the 200,000 range. A worried Calles was quoted saying to Morrow: “If he crashed on the way, it would be the worst calamity falling over Mexico”. There were fears about what impact an accident of Lindbergh on this trip would cause to the development of international aviation. It shouldn’t be forgotten that in the Mexico of 1927, echoes of the Revolution could still be heard, and that the forced landing or accident of a pilot, even more of a foreigner one, and especially a “gringo” could be something very serious, and even worse if it was about the most famous man in the world. By the way, Amelia Earhart had to make an unscheduled landing in the State of Hidalgo, Mexico, while trying to fly nonstop between Burbank, California and Mexico City on April 19th, 1935. Fortunately nothing happened to her. While waiting on the “Spirit of St. Louis” at Balbuena, a Cia. Mexicana de Aviación Fairchild airliner that had left Tampico a little before Lindbergh, appeared on the horizon and was taken as the “Spirit” producing a short-lasting excitement among the crowd. Lindbergh ended up flying over the city of Toluca, where he finally located his position and headed towards the Valley of Mexico. Around two o’clock in the afternoon, it was officially anounced in Balbuena that he had been seen over Toluca and orders were given to the 9th Air Squadron pilots to take off and meet him. A Morane Saulnier M.S. 35, registration number 31ª flown by Major Agustín Castrejón, found NX-211 and escorted it to Mexico City. About his detour and delay, Lindbergh later admitted that it was his fault and tells a peculiar anecdote: After clearing the bad weather area, he tried to guide himself by the maps of Mexico he had gotten in his country, but he couldn’t get to locate the references correctly, nothing seemed to match PAGE 7

between what he saw from the plane and what he read on the map. He tried to apply the technique of identifying the towns, reading their names on the train stations. Unfortunately, all he saw on the Mexican train stations were signs where the word “Caballeros” could be read. But there was not any town with that name on the aviator’s map. When he saw that every station he inspected was called the same way, he realized that that name corresponded to a special place for men, call it restrooms! Lindbergh continued to guide himself by geographic accidents until he saw a quite big city, where he could see a sign on a wall that read “Hotel Toluca”, which allowed him to locate his position and head correctly towards the nation’s capital. Labor workers and other union members showed their appreciation on Lindbergh’s 1927 visit to Mexico. (AGN archives)

who I’m sure that by sending us their highest representative of youth, will and heroism of the United States, did it to produce a spiritual and material get together even more strong between both countries. If I correctly translate the meaning of Lindbergh’s trip, I can assure you that its results, from the point of view I mean, will be and have already been more positive and immediate.” The trip between Balbuena and the United States Embassy where he was to stay took more than one hour, in which Lindbergh was acclaimed by thousands of Mexicans. The same building is now a restaurant called “La Calesa de Londres,” located on Londres Street. Over the whole city, the sound of the “Viva, Lindbergh!” was heard at the top of voices. In the capital’s stores the flags of the United States and the recordings of it’s anthem were sold out; the city was filled with pictures of Lindbergh and while the diplomatic differences were forgotten, at least for a while, Mexicans began to give the name “Lindbergh” to food dishes, schools, theatres, drinks and anything ever imagined. This Cessna CW-6 was flown in Mexico by Lindbergh 1929. (Hector Davila archives)

Once N-X-211 landed in Mexico City, Morrow took Lindbergh to Calles who said: “I congratulate you on your trip, it’s one more glory for your country, and a new glory for you,” then he turned to Morrow and added “I have the pleasure to give you a safe and sound Colonel Lindbergh, inside of my country’s territory.” Afterwards, the Mexico City Mayor gave Lindbergh the keys of the city, saying: “You can do here what you please.” And so he did! Because he got for himself and for his aviation causes the attention of the entire Mexican population and its government. Calles declared to the press in Balbuena: “But this doesn’t only have a technical interest as an heroic act of aviation... I consider it, above all, as a valuable embassy of good will that North America people is sending, CAL/N-X-211 VOLUME MMIV No. 1

On December 15th, Lindbergh visited the Foreign Affairs Department and at the National Palace he was welcomed by Calles. In the evening he attended the gala session of Mexican Congress, where he was decorated; he also saw the Aztec Calendar. On December 16th, he visited the American School (that Constance Morrow attended) where he said to the students: “Boys, Aviation is the future way of transport between the United States and this country... PAGE 8

when you grow up flights between both countries will be made through regular routes...”. On that evening he went to Balbuena, where he made six flights over the Valley of Mexico in a Morane Saulnier plane, M.S. E.P.2 35, registration number 31A128, of the then Mexican Armed Forces. The first flight he made with Mayor Alberto Castrejón, then he took up, among others, Will Rogers. Lindbergh expressed his admiration for Mexican pilots. Mexican pilots have to face not only the important elevation of the capital, but the very changing winds and the topography of the region. “I had never seen the wind change so fast” Lindbergh said. On December 17th, a Festival in the National Stadium was held in his honor. Over sixty thousand people filled up the seats. Lindbergh arrived at the Stadium with Calles and Morrow. That same day, the “Spirit of St. Louis” got the two Mexican flags that were painted on its cowling. On December 18th, he attended a “jaripeo” at the Rancho del Charro, and he also attended a bullfight. Downtown, an impressive workers’ parade was organized in his honor; 100,000 workers participated. Lindbergh witnessed the event from the balconies of the National Palace. On the 19th he visited Xochimilco floating gardens South of Mexico City, then on the 20th, he performed a series of flights in a Cia. Mexicana de Aviación Fairchild FC-2, registration number M-SCOE. Among his passengers were then President Calles (on his first flight ever!), Mexican President-to-be General Alvaro Obregn and Dwight Morrow. “Who doesn't feel safe flying with Colonel Lindbergh!” said Calles after the flight. In the evening came the homage of the Mexican Army, during those ceremonies Lindbergh was asked for his opinion about the Military School and he answered: “Fine, just fine...” (That’s Lindy right!!!). Nevertheless, later that same day, Lindbergh had to make an effort to speak foretelling the future of air services between Mexico and the United Sates; he said he was convinced that the conditions were right to establish an airline between the United States and Mexico and he pretended to obtain the necessary support from both governments, businessmen and citizens. CAL/N-X-211 VOLUME MMIV No. 1

Mexican folklore celebrating Lindbergh’s visit to Mexico in 1927. (AGN archives)

On December 21, 1927 Anne Morrow arrived in Mexico City to spend Christmas with her family. That was the day Charles and Anne met and this special event took place at the US Embassy in Mexico City. The irony is that she was not very happy about the idea of the hero who was invading the family environment, so much that she even wrote in her diary that “she was not to reverence Lindy.” Something the shy, little, cultivated and beautiful Anne, didn’t count on, was destiny itself. On the 22nd and with Henry Ford’s help, Mrs. Evangeline Lindbergh (mother) arrived in Mexico City flying on the biggest plane that had operated, until then, in Balbuena: a Ford Trimotor 4-AT-10, registration number NC-1077, Bill Sout was the pilot. Charles took off in the “Spirit of St. Louis” to the encounter the “Ford” with no success. When he got back, he had to make three small flights to avoid hurting anybody among the crowd who was waiting at the military airport. Before meeting his mother he had time that day to visit Teotihuacan Pyramids. On the 23rd Lindbergh left for Cuernavaca, Morelos, with a group of military officers, including Emilio Carranza. Christmas Eve took place in the intimacy of the Morrow family, embassy officers, some close guests of the family, and Mrs. Lindbergh. On Christmas Day Lindbergh went back to Xochimilco with the Morrows and his mother, playing “unknown” with some success. At some point in this visit Lindbergh avoided an unpleasant experience when one of Morrow’s friends was mistaken for PAGE 9

Lindbergh by a big Mexican who hugged him and not noticing his mistake said to this person: “Adored hero, I can’t let you go without hugging you!” On the 26th, he flew the same Ford Trimotor that brought his mother to Mexico, among the passengers were members of the Morrow family, including Mrs. Morrow, Elizabeth, Constance and Anne (first time in the air with Charles!). He said goodbye to President Calles on the 27th and left for Guatemala City flying N-X-211on December 28th. His Latin American Goodwill Tour ended in St. Louis, MO on February 13th, after visiting Mexico, Guatemala, Belize, El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Panama, Colombia, Venezuela, Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico, Domincan Republic, Haiti, and Cuba. While in Mexico Lindbergh had said that: “this will not be the last visit I make to Mexico, since I am planning to come back in a few years,” and yes, he did, and it didn’t take him years but months to be back in my country, for Anne was a good reason to make the trip back. In November 1928, he used a hunting expedition in the State of Chihuhua as a reason to fly South to Cuernavaca in a Curtiss Falcon, registration number NC7455. The Morrows had fallen in love with Cuernavaca (now a city only one hour away from Mexico City), so much that they had a home built to spend their weekends; their house was called “Casa Mañana.” The story says that every time the Morrow’s asked for the estimated date of completion of some job on the house, the person building it would say: “Mañana,” meaning tomorrow! The street where the house is located was named “Morrow Street” honoring a family that helped a lot to raise the international prestige and cultural heritage of Cuernavaca. For example, Diego Rivera’s murals at the Cortez Palace in downtown Cuernavaca were a gift of Dwight Morrow. It has been reported that Mrs. Morrow long after her husband‘s death, used to go back to her house in Mexico to enjoy it, and spend quiet and nice times there. Nowadays “Casa Mañana” remains much in the same condition Mrs. Morrow left it but it is now a Mexican restaurant called “La India Bonita.” CAL/N-X-211 VOLUME MMIV No. 1

A 1927 picture of Colonel Lindbergh Theatre at San Martin Park (Now Mexico Park) in Mexico City. (Juan A. José Archives)

Lindbergh returned to Mexico in February 1929 during a Pan American inaugural flight to Cristobal, Canal Zone, Panama (FAM-5); this time he flew a Sikorsky S-38 flying boat, registration NC8000, making stops on the Mexican Caribbean coast (among them Cozumel in the Yucatan Peninsula). Also in February (on the 12th), Ambassador Morrow announced at the Embassy in Mexico City “the formal engagement of their daughter, Anne Spencer Morrow to Colonel Charles A. Lindbergh.” Then on the 24th, the groom-to-be returned to Mexico City flying a Travel Air 6000B registration NR8139. This particular airplane would later be known as “Miss Wichita” and “Romancer,” this last name apparently in honor of Charles and Anne. In this same aircraft, Charles and Anne took off from Balbuena on February 27th for a little picnic trip. On the trip back to Mexico City the plane lost a wheel; since the plane had no seat belts Charles helped Anne cover herself with seat cushions. After using all the fuel, Lindbergh successfully crash-landed the plane on the one wheel left. The aircraft ended upside-dow; Anne was not hurt but Charles hurt again his right shoulder (the same one he had dislocated after he bailed out of a plane he was testing in St. Louis back in May, 1925). The day after this accident Charles flew a Mexican Fleet biplane. During this visit to Mexico Lindbergh also evaluated, on behalf of Mexican Armed Forces, the potential military use of a Cessna CW-6 plane (registration 6446). PAGE 10

Around this time Lindbergh made a comment regarding air power in Mexico: “Whoever controls the air controls Mexico.” Lindbergh’s 1929 visits to my country had a high note when he agreed to be in command of Cia. Mexicana de Aviación’s inaugural flight on their first international route: Mexico-Tampico-Brownsville (F.A.M.8). The aircraft used was a Ford Trimotor 5-AT-B-12 named “Mexico” with Mexican registration M-SCAN and US registration 9661. This flight took place March 9th. Flight back to Mexico City with Lindbergh also in command of the “Mexico” took place next day and among the personalities onboard were Juan and Betty Trippe. On September 29, 1929 the Lindberghs and the Trippes began a South American and Caribbean tour in one of Pan American’s Sikorsky’s S-38’s (NC9137) inaugurating F.A.M. 6 to Surinam from Puerto Rico. The group reached Cozumel, Mexico on the first day of October. While the Trippes continued their way towards Cuba, the Lindberghs stayed in the Yucatan area searching for pyramids with Carnegie Institute’s Dr. Ricketson and archaeologist Alfred Kidder. The Lindberghs flew over and visited archaeological sites: the Mexican states of Campeche, Yucatan and what’s now Quintana Roo. A controversy arised when Lindbergh was credited somehow with the discovery of a Mayan lost city; a discovery that in reality never took place. In this case (as usual), some people tried to capitalize on Lindbergh’s fame and did the aviator a bad favor among archaeologists. I have not found (and I would really appreciate any help from fellow members) any evidence showing that Lindbergh came back to Mexico after his archaeological expedition until the mid 1960’s. In the meantime, the Lindberghs had a very close encounter in Paris, France in 1939 with Mexican culture when they ran into the very famous Mexican painter Frida Kahlo (wife of Diego Riviera) and who was wearing a colorful “tehuana” dress that impressed Anne a lot. Charles and Anne visited Baja California on a grey whale watching expedition organized by their son Jon in 1967. Land and other family members were on the same trip. It is reported CAL/N-X-211 VOLUME MMIV No. 1

that Charles gave them a big scare when he jumped off the boat to swim with the whales! Sometime in 1968, two airline pilots belonging to Aeronaves de México (now Aeromexico) were enjoying a relaxing time near the city of La Paz, in Southern Baja California when they saw an amphibian plane land nearby. The curious pilots approached the plane that turned out to be a Grumman Goose G-21, registration N3222, just to find that Lindbergh was onboard, along with California Academy of Sciences Dr. Lindsey performing another whale protection effort. To their surprise (and I think to the surprise of every member of our collectors society), Lindbergh spent the day with these Mexican airman, skindived, fished and ate with them; he even allowed them to have their picture taken with him! Last evidenced news of what may be Lindbergh’s visit to Mexico indicate that Charles returned to Mexico City in 1972 where he gave an interview to a Mexican journalist (another surprise!) and met with Mexican officials trying to protect the grey whale of Baja California. I am sure Charles may have visited or passed by Mexico City many other times on the supervision trips he made as a member of the board of Pan American from the 50’s to the early 70’s. The “Lone Eagle” visits have left many landmarks in Mexico: A big and beautiful open-air theatre was named “Teatro Coronel Lindbergh” on January 10, 1928. Lindbergh is among those that Mexican muralist Juan O’Gorman portrays in his 1938 mural called: “The Conquest of Air.” This mural is still at Mexico City Airport. At the same airport there’s a 1961 Lindbergh bust by artist Ernesto Tamaríz. There is also a Charles Augustus Lindbergh street in Mexico City and at least one school here carries the Lindbergh name. The former site where the American School in Mexico City was located when he visited it in December 1927 became a school called Charles Lindbergh; because of Charles‘ controversial stands during WWII his name was taken out of the building that remains, being used as a public school. In the Mexico City Techno-logy Museum there is a well-made and well preserved scaled down replica of the “Spirit” on display. PAGE 11

Jerome Lederer, 101; put “black box” on planes, and Inspected N-X-211 Before the Paris Flight Chicago Sun Times, February 9, 2004 LOS ANGELES - Jerome F. Lederer, who inspected the “Spirit of St. Louis” before Charles Lindbergh’s trans-Atlantic flight and later launched NASA’s space flight safety program, has died. He was 101. Mr. Lederer died Friday of congestive heart failure at Saddleback Memorial Medical Center in Laguna Hills, according to the Flight Safety Foundation, the nonprofit international group he founded in 1947. His career spanned aviation from the earliest airmail flights of the 1920s to the space flights of the 1970s. Over those years, he was credited with helping bring about such innovations as equipping planes with "black box" flight data recorders that help investigators find the cause of crashes. Mr. Lederer launched the National Aeronautics and Space Administration’s Office of Manned Space Flight Safety after the launch pad space capsule fire in 1967 that killed astronauts Roger Chaffee, Virgil Grissom and Edward White II. “Jerry was a realist,” astronaut Neil Armstrong said several years ago. “He recognized that flight without risk was flight without progress. But he spent a lifetime minimizing that risk.” Born in New York City on Sept. 26, 1902, Mr. Lederer said his love affair with aviation began when he attended an air meet at New York’s Belmont Park. He earned a degree in mechanical engineering, with aviation options, from New York University in 1924. Two years later, he was hired by the U.S. Postal Service to oversee its plane maintenance. Flying airmail routes was extremely dangerous then, and 31 of the first 40 pilots died in crashes. Mr. Lederer helped reduce the fatality rate by coming up with film crash tests and redesigning the exhaust stacks and other systems to reduce the danger. One of those interested in his work was a young airmail pilot, Charles Lindbergh. The day before CAL/N-X-211 VOLUME MMIV No. 1

he took off on the solo flight that was to make him an international hero, Lindbergh had Mr. Lederer inspect his single engine “Spirit of St. Louis”. “I did not have too much hope that he would make it,” Mr. Lederer admitted years later. “I just went out because I was a friend of his, and I wanted to see the airplane, to look the situation over.” To Mr. Lederer’s relief, Lindbergh made it.

Lindbergh Exhibit Continues to Travel In the last issue of the Newsletter, I reported on the Missouri Historical Society’s traveling Lindbergh exhibit. I thought it was returning to St. Louis after Raleigh, but the latest issue of the Lindbergh Foundation Newsletter reported the following; The Lindbergh exhibit is scheduled to appear at the following venues before returning to St. Louis, where it will become a semi-permanent exhibition: Augusta Museum of History, Augusta, Ga. March 6 - May 31 Virginia Historical Society, Richmond, Va. July 3 - Sept. 25

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It’s Really Not Herr Heinkel Richard Sanders Allen Last year, I foolishly instigated an inquiry as to the identity of the “man in the middle” of a photograph of Mr. & Mrs. Charles A Lindbergh that appears on page 152 of von Hardesty’s “Lindbergh, Flight's Enigmatic Hero.” (Harcourt, 2002), an evocative and excellent biography. I further confused the issue by misidentfying the background airplane as a Consolidated Fleetster, with possible Spanish Civil War connections, rather than a Lockheed DL Vega, which it is. I questioned the man pictured between the Lindberghs as being the famed German aircraft designer/builder, Ernst Heinkel. This set off a barrage of correspondence relating to Lindbergh’s German visits, and acceptance of a medal from Goering, which Heinkel witnessed. (Although designed as a neck sash, C.A.L. pocketed the medal, still in its presentation box.) Several people sent photos of Heinkel, with remarkable similarities to the man in the picture; about the same height, hat in hand, same stance, But today we finally have an answer; a clipping from the Kansas City STAR of April 26, 1933, sent via Leonard Kohn by Ray Fredette, a Lindbergh “collector/scholar” of Arlington, Va. The newspaper picture is identical with that in Hardesty, and the caption identifies the “man in the middle” as: “RICHARD W. ROBBINS, PRESIDENT OF T &. W. A..” Thank you, Mr, Fredette!

CAL/N-X-211 VOLUME MMIV No. 1

Society News What Gary’s Been Up to REDONDO BEACH, Calif. Feb. 14, 2004 The 22 Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE: NOC) built Defense Support Program (DSP) satellite was successfully launched today by the United States Air Force from Cape Canaveral Air Station. A Titan IVB rocket and Inertial Upper Stage payload delivery vehicle carried the satellite into a geosynchronous orbit. DSP 22 joined the existing constellation on orbit to give the nation advance warning of ballistic missile launches and other events. “With the successful launch of DSP 22, the longstanding cornerstone of the nation’s early warning system just got stronger,” said Peggy Paul, Northrop Grumman DSP program manager. “The men and women of the DSP team take great pride in seeing another one of our products called into service to meet the Air Force’s current requirements and respond to evolving threats.” Prior to the launch, the Central Florida Chapter of the Air Force Association named Northrop Grumman a General Bernard A. Schriever Fellow of the Aerospace Education Foundation in recognition of DSP’s sustained record of outstanding support to the Air Force over the past 34 years. Since the first DSP's launch in 1970, the DSP spacecraft and infrared sensor have gone through five designs to improve capability, survivability and life expectancy. The spacecraft have demonstrated remarkable reliability, exceeding their specified design lives by nearly 250 percent. Northrop Grumman’s Space Technology sector is responsible for building the spacecraft and integrating the sensor, and Northrop Grumman’s Electronic System sector provides the primary infrared payload, as well as PAGE 13

the strategic and tactical mission processing. Northrop Grumman is one of the nation’s leading missile defense prime contractors. The company was recently awarded a multibillion dollar contract by the Department of Defense’s Missile Defense Agency to serve as prime contractor for the Kinetic Energy Interceptor, and is also prime contractor for the Space Tracking and Surveillance System missile tracking system.

Way to go, Gary! CAL/N-X-211 Collectors Society Makes Educational Efforts in Mexico Juan José As part of our continious effort to preserve the memory of Lindbergh and the “Spirit of St. Louis”, I had the privilege of making a presentation on the life of Charles A. Lindbergh to student pilots at Mexico’s most important civil aviation school called “Escuela de Aviación México” on January 22nd. Although it is well known that Lindbergh’s memory is very well preserved in Mexico, as it is also known that Mexico had an important role in CAL/N-X-211 VOLUME MMIV No. 1

Lindbergh’s life (remember he met Anne in Mexico City in December 1927), I think it is important to make regular efforts to preserve the legacy around here, especially among those who will participate in aviation activities in the future. Thanks to the goodwill of Escuela de Aviación México Director, Mr. Alfredo Velazquez (the very same one I am trying to “convert to Lindbergh” by the way), the students and I had the opportunity to talk about Charles for a good 2 hours. I am scheduled to make a new presentation on Lindbergh in late May, 2004; this one on the subject of Lindbergh's visits to Mexico. The presentation will be offered to the participants of the Mexican Aviation Meeting that will take place in Mexico City. Our Society has a lot to do on the educational aspect of our collecting effort. I think it is not only important, but it is also very rewarding to share Lindbergh with all kinds of students, not only in the USA or Mexico but everywhere. I encourage all members to go after local schools and get some presentations made. I am sure we will get some new young members out of those efforts and that’s also worthwhile. So, “El Aguila Solitaria” (“the Lone Eagle”) is being remembered around here.

Over the Wing The Bill Chana Story From The Lindbergh Foundation Newsletter, March 2004 More then 50 years of aviation history, test flights, and missile development, mark the life of Bill Chana, flight test engineer, test pilot and aerospace manager. During his career, he played an active role flight testing XB-24 and XB-32 WWII bomber;, the world’s largest land plane, the world’s first delta wing airplane and vertical take-off and landing airplane; the world’s only surpersonic seaplane; and Convair airliners. He took part in building and test flying the Wee Bee, commonly known as the “World’s Smallest Plane,” and served as president of the San Diego Aerospace Museum. All this and more is documented in this soft-cover book by our esteemed PAGE 14

member, which is filled with photographs, drawings, and test flight notes. Astronaut Wally Schirra wrote: “...you will come away with a clear understanding of what it takes to develop aircraft and spacecraft to their present maturity. From model building... to running an aerospace museum, he covers it all.” To order, send $30 payable to WFC Publications, to: WFC Publications, P.O. Box 9704, San Diego, CA 92169-0704. Congratulations to Bill for his recent induction into the EAA Homebuilders’ Hall of Fame and receiving the 2003 Cliff Henderson Achievement Award from the National Aeronautic Association. What a great way to support a fellow member and get a good book!

Members, Look for a separate mailing soon with this year’s slate of officers! We need your vote! Please reply by the dates requested to get your votes counted! CAL/N-X-211 VOLUME MMIV No. 1

Marketplace First Flight Centennial SALE ITEMS FOR LINDBERGH COLLECTORS SOCIETY 75TH ANNIVERSARY FLEECE SWEATSHIRT – 100% spun polyester heavyweight panda fleece in burgundy with right chest 3-1/2" diameter embroidered logo. (Sweatshirts tend to run large, we recommend purchasing one size smaller.) Adult sizes only in: XL XXL Originally $45, specially reduced to $25.

75TH ANNIVERSARY T-SHIRT – 100% cotton shirt in tan with compass rose on the front right chest and full size logo on the back. (Shirts tend to run small, we recommend purchasing one size larger. Would be ideal for older children.) Adult sizes only in: S M Originally $15, specially reduced to $7.

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75TH ANNIVERSARY COMMEMORATIVE COIN – 1.5" brass coin with color and diamond cut edging surrounding the Anniversary logo that says “1927-2002, Celebrate the Lindbergh Legacy.” The reverse is plain brass and says “75th Anniversary, First non-stop flight, Spirit of St. Louis, New York to Paris, 1927-2002, Lindbergh Foundation.” Comes in a plastic coin case. Originally $10, specially reduced to $8.

HERITAGE WEEK CACHED ENVELOPES – A cancelled color envelope from the 1985 Lindbergh Heritage Week celebration in Minnesota, when the terminal at Minneapolis/St. Paul International Airport was named in honor of Charles Lindbergh. $2.

HERITAGE WEEK POSTER – A 22" x 28" color poster created for the 1985 Lindbergh Heritage Week celebration in Minnesota. $7.50.

50TH ANNIVERSARY MEDALS – 1.5" bronze coin, one side has an image of Lindbergh and the “Spirit of St. Louis,” the reverse says “50th Anniversary, First non-stop flight, Spirit of St. Louis, New York to Paris, 1927-1977, Lindbergh Memorial Fund, Official Commemorative Medal.” Comes in a blue velvet pouch. $10.

2000 LINDBERGH AWARD PRINT – Limited edition, 18" x 36" full-color print featuring the likeness of Charles Lindbergh and Burt Rutan, 2000 Lindbergh Award recipient who is best known for designing the Voyager aircraft, which transversed the earth nonstop, without re-fueling, in 1986. Signed by Burt Rutan and the artist, Michael Casad. Originally $250, specially reduced to $25. CAL/N-X-211 VOLUME MMIV No. 1

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Postage is $4 for the first item and $2 per each additional item. Check or money order made payable to the Lindbergh Foundation. We also take VISA or MasterCard only. Credit card orders may be phoned, faxed or mailed. If mailing or faxing, be sure to include: Name, Full address, Phone number, Type of Credit Card: (Visa/MasterCard), Credit Card #, Exp. Date, Cardholder Name, Cardholder Signature and the Amount to be charged. Contact: Lindbergh Foundation 2150 Third Ave. N., Suite 310 Anoka, MN 55303-2200 phone: (763) 576-1596 fax: (763) 576-1664 www.lindberghfoundation.org

The Spirit of St. Louis Aviator Glasses With the cooperation of the Lindbergh Foundation and Missouri Historical Society, the manufacturer of the Spirit of St. Louis Aviator Glasses has been able to create a virtual replica.

Here’s your opportunity to get an official replica of the original Aviator Glasses worn on the historic flight of the “Spirit of St. Louis” in 1927.

Log on to: www.lindberghsunglasses.com CAL/N-X-211 VOLUME MMIV No. 1

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Lindbergh Medallion This is the commerative medallion issued by the Aeronautical Chamber of Commerce. It is 2.5 " x 3.5". If interested please make an offer to: Ciaran Mercier 1811 Novato Blvd. #39 Novato, CA 94947 [email protected]

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• Your wants and disposals • News of current publications • Information on paint & color • Photographs • Scale modelling materials • Workshop notes • Historical research • Back issues of the 2 journals

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Don’t Miss the Last Pages of this Issue for Important Society Business: Dues, Dues, Dues! and the Symposium Information and Registration form. CAL/N-X-211 VOLUME MMIV No. 1

Eddie Tore

Noting the size of the crowd that had gathered, Charles was glad he made his symposium reservations early.

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The 2004 Top Ten 10. Celebrate your birthday. 9. Pay income taxes. 8. Visit the dentist. 7. The summer solstice. 6. Valentine’s Day. 5. Make New Year’s resolutions. 4. Get a physical. 3. Put a new license on your car. 2. Change the batteries in your smoke detectors. and the #1 thing that happens once a year... 1. Pay your CAL/N-X-211 Collectors Society dues! Or miss out on the newsletter and other benefits It’s that time again, Gary is anxious to renew each and every one of you as a current member for 2004. Please send $20.00 for a single membership and $25.00 for a spousal membership to: Gary Fisk 24506 Cadiz Drive Lomita, CA 90717 Please make checks payable to: CAL/N-X-211 Collectors Society

Thanks to you all for the continued support of the Society! CAL/N-X-211 VOLUME MMIV No. 1

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Nos vemos en Cancún! See you in Cancún! SYMPOSIUM SCHEDULE: May 12th: Early arrivals

May 13th: 16:00 Board meeting at Hotel room. 19:00 Welcome dinner May 14th: 9 am to 1pm Show and Tell “Soles Room” 13:00 Lunch 14:30 General Business Meeting at “Soles Room” 15:00 Presentations (Virtual Flying of SOSL & Lindbergh in the Mexican Caribbean) 19:00 Gala dinner at “Soles Room” (Dress code: casual - we are on the beach!) May 15th: Full day Tour to X-Caret May 16th: ¡Adios amigos!

Hotel: PRESIDENTÉ INTER-CONTINENTAL, Cancún Hotel at $90.00 USD per single or double room plus taxes, including breakfast. In case anybody wishes to stay longer to enjoy Cancún, they are maintaining this same rate for us three days before and three days after the Symposium dates. For reservations you should call: 011 + 52 (998) 848 8700 directly to the hotel in Cancún or 1 (800) 904 4400 to the reservations central in Mexico City Reservations code: “Lindbergh Collectors” Hotel address: Blvd. Kukulcan Km. 7.5, Cancún, Q. Roo, Mexico, 77500 You will need your credit card number to guarantee the reservation. Cancellations with no charge are accepted 74 hours before arrivals.

ALL THOSE RESERVATIONS MADE BY MARCH 31ST WILL PARTICIPATE IN THE RAFFLE OF AN UPGRADE TO A CLUB ROOM FOR VIP´S FOR ALL THE STAY !!! Registration Fee is $50.00 USD per person which will include the Official Dinner. Please don’t mail registration fee, just registration to Juan and Maria José at 5 de mayo # 136-1, Col. Tepepan, Mexico D.F. C.P. 16020, or fax it at 011+52+55+56-75-63-37 or e mail it to [email protected] Air Transportation: Members attending should make reservations to fly into Cancún/Mexico International Airport (CUN). Transportation from Cancún Airport to Presidenté Hotel is around $ 7.50 USD per person on a public van. Van tickets are purchased after you pick up your luggage. CAL/N-X-211 VOLUME MMIV No. 1

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Nos vemos en Cancún! See you in Cancún! Member Name:

_______________________________________________________

Spouse/Guest Name:

_______________________________________________________

_________ I will be staying at the Presidenté Inter-Continental _________ I have made other arrangements for accomodations and can be reached at __________________________________________ while in Cancún. I will arrive on

__________________________________________

I will need _________ tables for my display items * * PLEASE REMEMBER that it is suggested that members bring reduced number of items as most of the transportation will be air transportation. The Cancún Symposium will have a limited collectibles show-and-tell. The Registration Fee is $ 50.00 USD per person. This will include Official Dinner on Saturday night and all the materials needed for the symposium. Registration Fee is to be paid at your arrival to the symposium in Cancún. PLEASE DON’T MAIL IT. Please mail, e-mail or fax ONLY this registration form to: JUAN AND MARIA JOSÉ 5 de Mayo 136-1 Tepepan, Xochimilco Mexico DF 16020 MEXICO

CAL/N-X-211 VOLUME MMIV No. 1

e-mail : [email protected] Fax : 011 + 52 (55) 5675-6337 Phone number : 011 + 52 (55) 5641-9334

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