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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