Charles Lindbergh Trivia Quiz

Answer: no

The flight occurred in May 1927. Lindbergh did not meet his wife-to-be, Anne Morrow, until December 1927. This occurred in Mexico City where her father was working as an ambassador. They were married in May 1929 and had six children (Charles, Jon, Land, Anne, Scott and Reeve).

Answer: a heart pump

His sister-in-law suffered from a fatal heart problem which sparked his interest in inventing a device to aid in transplanting. He worked with French surgeon Alexis Carrel in developing a glass perfusion pump which they hoped would allow organs to survive longer outside the body, enabling more successful transplants. Unfortunately, the pump was never perfected.

Answer: Yes

He authored two popular books about his famous flight, "We" in 1927 and "The Spirit of St. Louis" (1953). The latter book won the 1954 Pulitzer Prize for non-fiction.

Answer: Billy Wilder

"The Spirit of St. Louis", filmed in 1955 but released in 1957, was a somewhat fictionalized movie version of Lindbergh's book of the same title. Actor James Stewart portrayed Lindbergh after John Kerr turned down the role even though Anthony Perkins was Lindbergh's choice to portray him.

Some movie critics though Stewart was too old for the role being almost twice as old at that time (47) as Lindbergh was when the historic flight was made (25). This may have contributed to its low popularity when first released.

Answer: None

Lindbergh resigned from the US Air Corps Reserves in April 1941 (he'd been promoted to colonel in July 1927). When America entered the war in December 1941 after the attack on Pearl Harbor, he applied to be re-commissioned to active duty in the Air Force, but was refused.

He then became a civilian consultant, troubleshooting problems with military aircraft and studying planes in combat conditions mainly in the Pacific Theater. His commission as restored in April 1954 by President Eisenhower, who promoted him to brigadier general.

Answer: Detroit, Michigan

Although born on February 4, 1902 in Detroit, his family soon moved to Little Falls, Minnesota. His father was an attorney and served as a Congressman from Minnesota from 1907 to 1917. His mother's name was Evangeline Lodge. In 1931, the house and grounds were turned over to the state for historic preservation and made into a state park.

Answer: Germany

According to Lindbergh's youngest daughter, Reeve, who published the book "Forward From Here: Leaving Middle Age and Other Unexpected Adventures" (2008), Lindbergh fathered three children (Dyrk, Astrid and David) by a German woman, Brigitte Hesshaimer.

This was confirmed by DNA testing. At the same time he was also seeing Brigitte's sister, Marietta, and fathered two sons (Vago and Christophe) by her. He also had a relationship with his European secretary Valeska, and had another son and daughter by her.

In 2005, the book "The Double Life of Charles A. Lindbergh" by German author Rudolf Schroeck, alleges seven secret Lindbergh children existed in Germany.

Answer: he refused to join the military

Lindbergh was so friendly with the Nazis, he was allowed to tour German aircraft factories. He also accepted a medal from the hand of Hermann Göring on behalf of Adolph Hitler that Lindbergh subsequently refused to return. Lindbergh also made public statements to the effect that he thought the Nazi regime was a model of high technical and governmental efficiency.

These activities led to the belief that he was a Nazi sympathizer. Even after the war, Lindbergh continued to travel for extended periods in Europe, especially in Germany.

He wanted to join the Air Force during the war, but was turned down, possibly for the reasons given in this question.

Answer: whales

Lindbergh was an active proponent of environmental causes and was particularly interested in preserving the humpback and blue whales, as well as the Philippine eagle. He was adamantly opposed to the development of supersonic planes since he believed they had a huge negative impact on the earth's environment.

Answer: Hawaii

Lindbergh was living on the Hawaiian island of Maui at the time of his death. He died of lymphoma (lymph gland cancer) on August 26, 1974 and is buried in the grounds of Palapala Hoomau Church in Kipahulu, Maui. His simple granite headstone gives the dates and locations of his birth and death and the quote, "If I take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea..."