Medal of Honor: Charles A. Lindbergh - Transatlantic Flight - May 20-21, 1927
Alone in a tiny single-engine aircraft, a young American pilot disappeared into darkness over the Atlantic Ocean with little hope of rescue if anything failed. Thirty-three hours later, he emerged over Paris and changed aviation history forever.
May 21, 2026
Name: Charles A. Lindbergh
Rank: Captain, U.S. Army Air Corps Reserve
Branch: U.S. Army Air Corps Reserve
Event: First Solo Nonstop Transatlantic Flight
Aircraft: Spirit of St. Louis
Date of Action: May 20-21, 1927
Route: New York City to Paris, France
Summary of Action
On 20-21 May 1927, Captain Charles A. Lindbergh achieved one of the most famous feats in aviation history when he completed the first solo nonstop transatlantic flight from New York City to Paris, France.
Flying alone aboard the Spirit of St. Louis, Lindbergh departed Roosevelt Field on Long Island carrying enough fuel for a dangerous crossing but little margin for error.
The aircraft itself was stripped down to maximize fuel capacity, forcing Lindbergh to fly with limited visibility and without many of the navigational aids available to later aviators.
For more than thirty-three exhausting hours, Lindbergh flew across the Atlantic Ocean through darkness, storms, fog, icing conditions, and severe fatigue.
At times he battled sleep while flying only a few feet above the ocean waves to remain alert.
A mechanical failure, navigational mistake, or sudden weather change would almost certainly have meant death in the open Atlantic.
Yet Lindbergh pressed on alone.
After crossing the coast of Ireland and continuing across Europe, he finally reached Paris on the evening of 21 May 1927.
As the Spirit of St. Louis landed at Le Bourget Field, massive crowds rushed the runway in celebration.
Lindbergh’s successful flight instantly transformed aviation from a dangerous novelty into a practical means of long-distance transportation.
His achievement demonstrated to the world that transoceanic air travel was possible and helped usher in the modern age of aviation.
Medal of Honor Citation
LINDBERGH, CHARLES A.
