Charles Lindbergh Says Hello

On May 20-21, 1927, aviation history was made when an unknown airmail pilot, Captain Charles A. Lindbergh, flew non-stop from New York to France in a single-engine monoplane. He was an instant American hero and in October of 1927 a great celebration was held in Atlanta. He began the trip to Atlanta in Jacksonville, Fla. and flew his plane, The Spirit of St. Louis. His trip to north Georgia took him over Folkston and the editor of the Charlton County Herald reported that the plane floated low over the Herald office, “almost in speaking distance,” then heading north Lindbergh probably looked down on the Racepond settlement before getting to Waycross. Four Boy Scout troops from Waycross had attended a reception the night before in Jacksonville and many of the boys had shaken hands with the national hero. [American Headlines Year by Year edited by Calvin D. Linton, p. 315] [Charlton County Herald, October 14, 1927] [Waycross Journal-Herald, October ll, 1927 “Scouts Shake With Lindy”]

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5-2-02

Charlton County Herald 10-14-27:

Waycross made a request of Lindbergh to fly low and circle over their city. He flew low over Folkston, right over the Herald office, almost speaking distance, in his Spirit of St. Louis.

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10-10-1927

Waycross Journal-Herald, 10-10-1927:

LINDBERGH IS ASKED TO FLY LOW OVER CITY

TELEGRAM BE DELIVERED THROUGH CAREY SUTLIVE

JACKSONVILLE TODAY

GOES FROM JACKSONVILLE TO ATLANTA TOMORROW

The following telegram was sent to Jacksonville by City Commissioner Bob Folks today in an effort to have Colonel Charles Lindbergh to fly low over Waycross enroute from Jacksonville to Atlanta, Tuesday morning, thereby enabling the people of Waycross to see the famous Spirit of St. Louis. The telegram reads:

Carey Sutlive

Care Florida Times Union

Jacksonville, Fla.

When you interview Colonel Lindbergh in Jacksonville this afternoon kindly give him special invitation from the City of Waycross to circle the business section when he passes over here Tuesday morning. Waycross would like to welcome Lindbergh and since this is impossible would like to see him in his flight over the city. Wire me time Lindbergh is expected to leave Jacksonville.  ROBERT L. FOLKS, City Commissioner.

Mr. Sutlive, formerly of the Journal-Herald staff now a member of the Florida Times-Union staff in Jacksonville, is scheduled to interview the famous flier at 5 o’clock this afternoon, and the invitation from Waycross will be extended personally by “Carey”.

Lindbergh is scheduled to leave Jacksonville at 8 o’clock tomorrow morning and will pass directly over Waycross enroute to Atlanta.

Many Waycross people, including a large delegation of Boy Scouts, went to Jacksonville today to take part in the welcome celebration accorded Lindbergh in the Florida metropolis.

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Waycross Journal-Herald, 10-11-1927

ATLANTA HONORS ‘SLIM’ LINDBERGH

BIG PARADE IS FEATURE OF CELEBRATION FOR LINDY

BANQUET PLANNED

THOUSANDS OF SCHOOL CHILDREN TURN OUT FOR OCCASION

ATLANTA, GA. Oct. 11

Atlanta and Georgia turned out in thousands today to welcome Colonel Charles Lindbergh to the state’s capitol.

From the time of his arrival at 2:00 P.M. at Candler Field until late in the evening entertainment plans in the form of outdoor exercises, parades and a banquet claimed his attention. The blowing of factory and train whistles was the medium used to let the city know when the Trans-Atlantic hero arrived. Governor Hardman, Mayor Ragsdale and municipal officials from nearby cities composed the official welcoming party gathered at Candler Field.

The line of parade, formed on Whitehall Street, in downtown Atlanta, extended to Pershing point where a great crowd massed to see the aviator place a wreath on the war memorial. Next the arrangements called for a visit to the United States disabled veterans hospital to greet the veterans and thence from the hospital he went to the Georgia Tech stadium where seating facilities were available for some 35,000. Here exercises honoring the flyer were arranged.

Tonight a banquet had been arranged at the Ansley Hotel in his honor.

Thousands of school children turned out early participated in the celebration. Public buildings were closed for the day and shops and stores closed early.

The entire police force assembled early to handle the crowds and their numbers were augmented by boy scouts who were doing their bit in maintaining order.

LEAVES JACKSONVILLE

Jacksonville, Fla. Oct ll (AP)

Colonel Charles A. Lindbergh hopped off from the municipal field here at 9:18 A.M. for Atlanta, Ga. He rode alone, piloting the Spirit of St. Louis. The Fairchild Monoplane, piloted by Philip M. Love, with Donald E. Keyhoe, department of commerce representative and C.C. Maidment, aeronautical engine expert, aboard followed Colonel Lindbergh into the air at 9:19. Both planes turned and circled over the city before heading north for Atlanta.

LINDBERGH HONORS McRAE , GA.

MCRAE, GA. Oct 11 (AP)

Responding to a previously telegraphed request that he honor this town with recognition, Colonel Charles Lindbergh dipped his Spirit of St. Louis over the house tops of McRae several times [the rest is not legible

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Waycross Journal-Herald, 10-11-27:

SCOUTS SHAKE WITH ‘LINDY’

WAYCROSS DELEGATION ATTENDS IMPRESSIVE CEREMONY

RAINY DAY GREETING

LOCAL BOYS ENJOY DAY’S OUTING TO JACKSONVILLE

The Okefenokee Council delegation returned from Jacksonville last night, wet, tired and hungry but happy, for had they not seen Charlie Lindbergh? What is more, many of them had shaken hands with the Lone Eagle and those who had not had that privilege had slapped him on the back or at least had gotten close enough to say “Hello Lindy”.

Lady Luck wore a frown for the local delegation, however, for most of the day. Starting out half an hour late, the motorcade developed all kinds of trouble, which culminated when one of the big trucks lost a front wheel. Fortunately no one was hurt. The accident occurred 17 miles out of Jacksonville and another truck sent back to bring the Scouts into the city also ran into trouble which delayed it until after the parade, only reaching the stadium in time to allow the Scouts to greet Lindbergh and to receive the full force of the heavy downpour which commenced just as the flyer arrived.

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Only half of the Scouts from this council had arrived when the parade started, but in spite of everything they made a very fine appearance in the line of march, and received generous applause from the massed thousands. Headed by an Indian chief wearing the council shield and colors, the Scouts marched with massed colors, each troop carrying its flag and patrol emblems. Nearly all of Troop Three, the largest Waycross unit, and half of Troop Four were missing from the line of march.

With the exception of the Tampa delegates which was a selected unit with a bugle and drum corps no delegation made a finer appearance than the Okefenokee Council lads, was the unanimous opinion of the local leaders.

Those who attended the celebration were: [long list of scout names]

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AD IN WAYCROSS JOURNAL HERALD 10-6-27:

REDUCED RATES TO ATLANTA!

Account

LINDBERGH CELEBRATION!

Via

A. B. & C. R. R.

Round Trip From

$6.00  WAYCROSS  $6.00

Tickets on sale October 10th, return limit October

12th. Further information from any AB&C Agent

The next day this ad from a competing railroad was in the Waycross paper 10-7-27

$4.08

WAYCROSS

To

JACKSONVILLE

And return

Via

ATLANTIC COAST LINE

Account

LINDBERGH CELEBRATION

October 10th

J.G. STEPHENS, Ticket Agent

This is what I think happened:

Since the Waycross paper didn’t mention him coming over Waycross, I think that he actually didn’t fly over Waycross, but to the east of the city. If you draw a line from Folkston to McRae the line is to the east of Waycross. I don’t know why they didn’t mention why there was nothing to report about him coming over Waycross. But they made up for it by covering the scout news in detail.