Lindbergh test-flew the P-80? Fact or myth?

[John Dupre]

When did C Lindbergh become a "ranking USAF officer"? I thought Roosevelt froze him out of regaining his Army Air Corps rank during WW2 and he served only as a civilian test pilot and trouble shooter for Pratt and Whitney among others.

[maxum96]

When did C Lindbergh become a "ranking USAF officer"? I thought Roosevelt froze him out of regaining his Army Air Corps rank during WW2 and he served only as a civilian test pilot and trouble shooter for Pratt and Whitney among others.

I agree with you. He never did get his commission back after WWII started. But as we all know, he flew combat missions as a civilian technical adviser to the Marines and Army pilots in the Pacific.

[Stephan Wilkinson]

Well, you're both wrong. Eisenhower restored his commission and he was made brigadier general in the USAF Reserve.

[APG85]

Well, you're both wrong. Eisenhower restored his commission and he was made brigadier general in the USAF Reserve.

Yup, exactly. There are pictures and video out there of his "pin-on" ceremony...

[John Dupre]

To be fair I never claimed he was not a ranking USAF officer and was asking when and how it happened given Roosevelt's actions. Good to know and well deserved by Lindbergh. Imagine what he might have contributed in an actual military capacity during the war.

[APG85]

Imagine what he might have contributed in an actual military capacity during the war.

My thoughts exactly (I've been reading about Lindbergh since I was a kid). I always thought Lindbergh could have been one of our great leaders in the military and during WWII. He was a complicated man, shaped by many events and influences in his life. Sadly, he destroyed his reputation with his pre-war stance and beliefs.
Either way, he's still considered one of the greatest pilots and his influence in aviation was epic.

[maxum96]

Well, you're both wrong. Eisenhower restored his commission and he was made brigadier general in the USAF Reserve.

Excuse me while I eat my helping of "crow". LOL


I never knew that. I've read about Lindbergh a bunch over the years. I guess I either missed that or forgot about it. Thanks for setting me straight.


P.S. I was recently on Maui and was within a stone's throw of Lindbergh's grave. By the time I remember he was buried on Maui, we were on the other side of the island. I was really bummed when my father in law (who had lived on Maui for 40 years and had actually done some work on Lindbergh's property in the early 70's, but didn't meet Lindbergh) told me how close I'd been.

[Randy Wilson]

FWIW - I am currently reading the combined "Development of Aircraft Engines" by Robert Schlaifer and "Development of Aviation Fuels" by S. D. Heron, "Two Studies of Relations Between Government and Business", published by the Division of Research, Graduate School of Business Administration, Harvard University in 1950. So...? Well, on page 273 while discussing that the replacement for the Continental O-1430 needed to be a larger vee engine for fighters is the statement below:

"... but the tactical officers of the Air Corps had become convinced that they wanted an inverted vee for improved visibility," with the footnote #11 following

Footnote 11 on that page says:

"The decision to use inverted rather than upright vees was largely if not entirely due to Colonel Charles A. Lindbergh, who held no active position in the Army. Lindbergh had recently inspected the new German airplanes and had been much impressed especially by flying the Messerschmitt Me 109, which had and inverted-vee Daimler-Benz 601 engine. Continental would have preferred an upright vee both because it believed it easier to install and because it would have been easily interchangeable with the Allison in airframes designed for that engine, but the top authorities of the Air Corps insisted absolutely on an inverted engine."

I don't know the exact source of the info in this footnote by Robert Schfaifer, who is listed as an Assistant Professor of Business Administration at Harvard University. Just thought I would share. Yes, I have somewhat odd taste in reading

Randy

[Stephan Wilkinson]

Hard to know what to make of this, since the USAAC/USAAF used no inverted-vee engines in any mass-produced service types that I know of. I'd love to believe the guy, since I'm a Harvard grad, but what engine is he talking about?

[Randy Wilson]

Sorry Stephan - I cut short my quote where the footnote 11 mentioning Lindbergh occurred. The rest of the text is "... and early in 1939 instructions were given to Continental to drop work on the O-1430 and begin work on an inverted IV-1430."

Of course, the IV-1430 did not see significant production and was also called, by some sources, the I-1430 and XI-1430. We have to remember that the O-1430 was almost entirely designed by the Air Corp at Wright Field, and then along came the Allison V-1710, a vee engine of completely private design. I'm a bit of a buff on WWI and WWII military aircraft engines, fuels, etc. and always looking for new sources. All the best.

Randy

[Stephan Wilkinson]

Randy, a couple of hours ago, my wife went off hiking with her buddy Kaki Gunnells, as she often does when she isn't biking 60 or 70 miles. Kaki is the granddaughter of George Mead, who as you probably know was the engineer who designed every great Pratt & Whitney radial from the original R-1430 Wasp to the R-2800. Wish I'd known him, but he died young--in his 50s, as I remember.

[Randy Wilson]

Stephan - thank you for sharing that - I am of course familiar with George Mead's name and work and his "jumping ship" from Wright with Rentschler to rise to the VP of P&W. Drop me a PM if you would like to visit further by email. Again, all the best on your research.

Randy

[Jimmy mcgee]

There is a very well done bio of Lindbergh by A. Scott berg , a well known Pulitzer winner. Don't miss it.

[Stephan Wilkinson]

Actually, Joyce Milton's "Loss of Eden" is better. I do have pretty much every serious bio of Lindbergh that has been written.

[Stephan Wilkinson]

Randy, I have no idea how to send a PM, though I'm sure it's stone-simple, but I have no problem giving th WIXworld my e-mail address. It's stephwilkinson@verizon.net

I participate in a forum called Professional Pilots World, which is subscription-only for, yes, confirmed professional pilots. (No gamers, no wannabes.) It even has a "map me" function where other members can locate my house.