Anne Morrow Lindbergh, 1906-2001
The fame of Anne Morrow Lindbergh as wife of Charles Lindbergh often has
overshadowed her own accomplishments as aviator and writer (more than 12
published books of fiction and non-fiction). Note that Anne was the first
licensed woman glider-pilot in the United States.
Born into a well-educated and cultivated family, Anne’s flying career was
launched by her marriage to Charles, and soon she became more than a
companionable sidekick. Much of their early marriage was spent airborne, with
Anne serving as expert co-pilot, navigator, and radio operator. She made
dangerous trips to chart possible air routes for commercial airlines. They flew
uncharted routes from Canada and Alaska to Japan and China. They
completed, in a single-engine Lockheed “Sirius,” a five-and-a-half month
30,000-mile survey of North and South Atlantic air routes in 1933; Charles
later described that survey as much more hazardous than his famed 1927 solo
flight to Paris. Anne earned numerous awards and was inducted into the
National Aviation Hall of Fame. Her life was more privileged than the lives of
other female aviation pioneers. Yet, Anne’s quiet modesty belied her
indomitable tenacity and bravery, qualities she most surely needed in the
tragedy that later faced her.
The fame of Anne Morrow Lindbergh as wife of Charles Lindbergh often has
overshadowed her own accomplishments as aviator and writer (more than 12
published books of fiction and non-fiction). Note that Anne was the first
licensed woman glider-pilot in the United States.
Born into a well-educated and cultivated family, Anne’s flying career was
launched by her marriage to Charles, and soon she became more than a
companionable sidekick. Much of their early marriage was spent airborne, with
Anne serving as expert co-pilot, navigator, and radio operator. She made
dangerous trips to chart possible air routes for commercial airlines. They flew
uncharted routes from Canada and Alaska to Japan and China. They
completed, in a single-engine Lockheed “Sirius,” a five-and-a-half month
30,000-mile survey of North and South Atlantic air routes in 1933; Charles
later described that survey as much more hazardous than his famed 1927 solo
flight to Paris. Anne earned numerous awards and was inducted into the
National Aviation Hall of Fame. Her life was more privileged than the lives of
other female aviation pioneers. Yet, Anne’s quiet modesty belied her
indomitable tenacity and bravery, qualities she most surely needed in the
tragedy that later faced her.
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