Lucky Lindbergh in New York - June 13, 1927

Today is Friday the 13^th and I thought I’d counter the image of the day as unlucky with footage of “Lucky” Lindy – Charles A. Lindbergh – in the ticker tape parade which was given in his honor on this date in 1927.

Lindbergh had returned to the United States on a Navy ship and his first stop was in Washington, D.C. where he was honored by the President for his solo flight across the Atlantic, which was a first. 

Others had already performed the feat, but none had gone solo. From Washington he went to New York City where he was feted by a crowd larger than any before or since. The parade he was given that day is widely acknowledged as the biggest ever given in NYC, which has thrown quite a bit of confetti over the years.

Mayor Walker presented him with the City; not just the key; he gave him run of the entire city. At the time Lindbergh had won the $25,000 purse for his flight but was having trouble spending any money. Even when he wrote checks the people kept them as souvenirs. (Hey, maybe he was on to something at that…)

The film at the top is a short newsreel from the time with some footage of the events in New York. If the parade was over sized it is because New York was the point from which he began his flight, so naturally the people were overjoyed at his return to celebrate the finished deed.

And this film is a 7 minute summary of the whole Lindbergh flight; from take off to the parade.

I hope this changes any negative feelings you may have been harboring about the day. If the 13^th was good enough for “Lucky Lindy”, then it is good enough for me.