Beschreibung:

LINDBERGH, Charles A. (1902-1974), Aviator . Autograph note framed with signature (“Charles A. Lindbergh”), n.d. [19 May 1927]. 1 page, oblong, accomplished on verso of Curtis Flying Service Inc. letterhead; framed with photo of Lindbergh standing in front of Spirit of St. Louis.
LINDBERGH, Charles A. (1902-1974), Aviator . Autograph note framed with signature (“Charles A. Lindbergh”), n.d. [19 May 1927]. 1 page, oblong, accomplished on verso of Curtis Flying Service Inc. letterhead; framed with photo of Lindbergh standing in front of Spirit of St. Louis. “I AM TAKING OFF FOR PARIS,” LINDBERGH WRITES BEFORE EMBARKING ON HIS LEGENDARY CROSSING OF THE ATLANTIC, “WITH A COMBINATION OF THE FINEST AERONAUTICAL EQUIPMENT IN THE WORLD.” The origins of the note is fascinating. Lindbergh wrote it, not in hopeful anticipation of his journey, but in annoyance at a New York Daily News journalist who had garbled Lindbergh’s dictation of the quote! John Chapman’s assignment for the News was to get quotes from all of the competitors for the $25,000 prize being awarded to the first successful pilot to make the New York to Paris crossing. “It was easy enough to get Admiral Richard E. Byrd and Clarence Chamberlain,” Chapman recalled, “but Lindbergh said a flat ‘no.’” For three days Chapman hounded the publicity man for Curtis to get a quote from Lindbergh. At last, on the morning of the flight, the aviator relented and dictated a statement to Chapman, asking him to see it before he went to press. Chapman’s hurried typescript was riddled with errors and when Lindbergh saw it he snapped, “This isn’t what I want. Here—” and grabbed Chapman’s pen and a blank piece of paper. Using the Spirit of St. Louis’s tail as his desk, he wrote out the correct quote: “I am taking off for Paris with a combination of the finest aeronautical equipment in the world” (John Joseph Brady, The Craft of Interviewing , 169).