“We personally congratulate you upon your successful completion of one of the greatest missions ever undertaken”. Warm greetings from the Hartford Chamber of Commerce invited Charles A. Lindbergh to not only visit, but “to land at one of the finest airports in the country—our new Brainard Field”, following his historic flight across the Atlantic in 1927.
Eighty-five years ago this month, Charles A. Lindbergh became the first person to complete a transatlantic flight from New York to Paris. In his Ryan monoplane,“The Spirit of St. Louis,” was equipped with propellers made by Hamilton Standard, Lindbergh took off from Roosevelt Field, Long Island at 7:52 a.m. on May 20, 1927. He intended to fly only at 90 miles per hour to save fuel, believing that “long distance flying is a combination of speed and fuel economy”. Despite doubters who feared this former airmail pilot from the Midwest would not be capable of flying the Atlantic Ocean, Lindbergh successfully reached Le Bourget Field outside Paris, after 33.5 hours of nonstop flight. The young aviator became an instant celebrity.
On July 20, 1927, Lindbergh embarked on a series of “Good Will Tours” sponsored by the David Guggenheim Fund, making Hartford his first stop. When he landed at Brainard Field, which had been built only six years earlier, he was greeted by 25,000 well wishers. Following a speech, Lindbergh took part in a parade ending at the Capitol, where a private reception with the Governor awaited. Lindbergh later attended a program at the Bond Hotel, where he was awarded the Nathan Hale Sesquicentennial Medal for heroism, followed by a dinner at the Hartford Club. 400 people crowded the hotel lobby, hoping for a glimpse of their hero. Live coverage of Lindbergh’s visit on WTIC Radio lasted for ten hours.
Lindbergh went on to visit 48 states and 15 foreign countries, inspiring a new enthusiasm for air travel. One year after his famous flight, Lindbergh flew “The Spirit of Saint Louis” to Washington, D.C. and presented the plane to the Smithsonian Institution, where it remains on view today.
Photographs of Lindbergh’s visit to Hartford may be consulted at the Connecticut Historical Society Research Center at One Elizabeth Street, Hartford, CT: Thursdays 12-5 pm, Fridays and Saturdays 9 am-5 pm.
