Object Details
Manufacturer
Patek Philippe
Physical Description
Rectangular body with leather strap, missing crystal and "seconds" hand; dial, minute and hour hands coated with radium (Ra226) paint. Inscription on back "presented to Col. Chas A Lindbergh by John W Smith Mayor of Detroit August 10th 1927".
Summary
In early 1927 Charles A. Lindbergh entered the competition for the $25,000 prize offered by Raymond Orteig for the first nonstop flight between New York and Paris.
In February Lindbergh placed an order with Ryan Airlines in San Diego for an aircraft with specifications necessary to make the flight. Lindbergh flew the aircraft from San Diego to New York on May 10—12, making only one stop, at St. Louis.
Lindbergh took off from NY for Paris on the morning of May 20, 1927. Thirty-three hours, 30 minutes, and 3,610 miles later he landed safely at Le Bourget Field, near Paris.
From July 20 until October 23 of that year he took the famous plane on a 48 state tour of the United States.
Then, on December 13, he and the Spirit of St. Louis flew nonstop from Washington to Mexico City; through Central America, Colombia, Venezuela, Puerto Rico; and nonstop from Havana to St. Louis.
This object is part of a group of items that Charles A. Lindbergh received while visiting the contiguous 48 states on his Guggenheim sponsored tour, 20 July - 23 Oct 1927, in the Spirit of St. Louis, after his epic May 20-21 flight to Europe.
On April 30, 1928, the Spirit of St. Louis made its final flight—from St. Louis to Washington, D.C where Lindbergh presented the aircraft to the Smithsonian Institution.
Credit Line
Donated by Charles A. Lindbergh
Date
1927
Inventory Number
A19330039000
Restrictions & Rights
Usage conditions apply
Type
PERSONAL EQUIPMENT-Handwear
Materials
Metal, leather, radium
Country of Origin
United States of America
See more items in
National Air and Space Museum Collection
Location
Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center in Chantilly, VA
Hangar
Boeing Aviation Hangar
Data Source
National Air and Space Museum
Link to Original Record
Record ID
nasm_A19330039000