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I was told that my grandfather made Mr. Lindbergh's leather jacket at his plant in St. Louis, possible under the label Western Leather. Since he died in 1950 when I was only 4 and my father--also an aviator--died in 1954 in his own plane, I was never able to follow up on this. Does anyone know the location and manufacturer of the leather jacket? He did not make his flightsuit, only the leather jacket. Thank you for any responses!
Posts: 1 | From: Southern California | Registered: Mar 2006
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It does not appear Mr. Lindbergh wore a leather jacket prior to his famous Atlantic hop. This is no way conclusive at this point, but is an observation based upon review of all photos on hand. Lindbergh was a notoriously "cheap" guy. He, at one time, didn't but a pair of shoes for a new business suit choosing to use his military dress shoes to keep from spending money. If your grandfather did in fact manufacture a leather flying jacket for Charles Lindbergh it may have been a gift after his famous flight. He is pictured with a leather flying jacket in many of his post Atlantic flight photos. I believe he received his first leather jacket while still in Europe and possibly still in Paris. I hope this is of some help. I will pass along your e-mail to our research team for review. TS
Posts: 837 | Registered: Feb 2003
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When Charles Lindbergh stepped off his plane in the airport in France, an American embassador and also a friend to Lindbergh greeted him. He gave Lindbergh a bundle of clothes. Among this bundle was a leather jacket!
Posts: 1 | Registered: Mar 2006
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I'd be curious to know where you heard that story. Can you document it in any way?
Everything I've ever read about Lindbergh's arrival at LeBourget Airport in Paris, including Lindbergh's own books "WE" and "THE SPIRIT OF ST. LOUIS", state that the American Ambassador Myron T. Herrick wasn't at the airplane when Lindbergh got out. In fact, he didn't meet Lindbergh until much later that night.
Mike Gretz
Posts: 191 | From: Montezuma, IA, US | Registered: Jan 2001
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I hate to be the bearer of bad news. The jacket no longer exists. Here's the history of what happened to the jacket.
Following Lindbergh's Transatlantic solo flight and return to the United States in 1927, Lindbergh gave his flight jacket to William Kinsey Hutchinson, a famous reporter for the International News Service and family friend.
Bill wore this flight jacket on many outings and was with him until his death in 1958. The jacket was then willed to his brother, who placed the jacket in a cardboard box in the basement of his home in Mount Gretna, PA. After his brothers death in 1986, the condition of Lindbergh’s flight jacket was so deteriorated it was felt it could not be repaired and was mistakenly thrown out thinking the jacket had no historical value.
The American History Museum of the Smithsonian Institution was made aware of the fate of the jacket within weeks of the incident. It wasn’t until 1995 that the Smithsonian Institution Air and Space Museum discovered what had happened to the jacket.
Posts: 1 | Registered: Apr 2006
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Which flight jacket are you referring to? The one CAL wore on the flight or the gift received after his arrival in France? Can you describe the jacket to which you refer? TS
Posts: 837 | Registered: Feb 2003
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