European Stars And Stripes (Newspaper) - May 20, 1987, Darmstadt, Hesse Spirit of Bojoh Barbour associated press Ouglas wrong was Corrigan. Iho Iii lie Guy who wound up in Ireland of ten he said to wanted logo to California remembers the tall slim Guy who looked like a Farmer bul sure knew How to i that was Charles a. Lindbergh to Lew the in jul Way All the Way from now York to pans 60 cars ago this week to become the first be son Ever to Fly Solo across Ida allanic. In 1938, Corrigan flew from new York to Dublin when he said to was trying to reach California. But in 1927 he was one of the 35 men and women who Buill the spirit of St. Louis the beefed up. Single engine Ryan Fiat carried Lindbergh across the Ocean in 33 hours and 29 minutes. Lindbergh made who s who. Corrigan did not but Corrigan and millions of others were inspired by the daring Lone Eagle who would become one of America s Favorule heroes. Some say the plane should have been named the spirit of san Diego because the Loam at he Liny Ryan air plane factory there did the impossible too. Working sometimes around the cock they built the plane in 60 Days on a shoestring enabling Lindbergh a jangly 25-year-old from Detroit to beat everyone else and win the $25,000 orteig prize Over belter known better backed pools. Lindbergh named the plane the spirit of is. Louis because thai s where his Money came from. Bit san Diego provided the skilled hands to build it the race started in a convened fish Cannery at Juniper Street and the Pacific coast Highway in san Diego. To Claude Ryan who ran an embryo aircraft factory remembers in was about 2 p i. On fab 3,1927, when a Western Union boy on a bicycle peddled up and handed me a ii read can you construct whirlwind engine plane capable flying non Slop Between new York and pans ii so please slate Cost and delivery Ryan whose tiny firm needed the Money asked Don Hall his Only Ruff Ime Engineer to Check in out. After some computations with a slide Rule Hall scribbled some notes and said what do you know it looks like this mtg to feasible in an Exchange of telegrams the details Wero worked Oul. Competition makes time it was Cut from three months to 60 Days. Gas capacity 360 Gallons. Cost Aboul j6.000 without molar and instruments. Wil require 50 percent Deposit " then the final Telegram irom St. Louis our Pilot Charles Lindbergh will arrive san Diego Santa of railway 11 . Next Corrigan now 80, remembers seeing Lindbergh Iho first time that february Lindbergh wanted to Lake up a. Marl plane similar of whal would be the spirit. So we started Tho motor and in was t Hilling so Good but the fellow said thai s All right and climbed in he recalls we stood Wal chm As he look the ship off and hew around a Lew minutes and then he came Down Over the Field Abou 200 feet above is ground headed upwind and did nine consecutive loops with a Wing Over at the end after which he brought the plane in and made a Good a fellow Mechanic Lumc to conc in and said. Well i guess he can Fly All right " thai Hati Taran Iho Niosi fac a Eccl ice Alli Lude Shunling we Over seen Dorngan recalls. Altor i rpm Ever Tho smell of the convened fish Cannery flip liar.35 still Cove Rod with Lih ii ale and they wore still Canning Fie a in he Oloc Rund of Itil a shaped buil mgl to became a constant visitor to thu Plant. Corrigan and others remember him As careful aloof unemotional Complex and demanding. Once someone dropped a wrench and in left a Nick on one of the Cooling fins of the engine not a critical part. A Mechanic ass ured Lindbergh in would be Leigh. They would simply paint it Over and no one would notice. Lindbergh said but i la know he insisted that it be replaced the Mechanic said of but Why Aro you so particular and Lindbergh said. Because i m a Damn poor swimmer " most of the men had started at 19 cents an hour. One remembers being noticed by or. Ryan who asked his for Oren if he was a Good worker. Assured he was Ryan asked How much in made. Twenty two cells was the answer make it two tills Ryan said. De Morrow now 86 and living in san Diego was working at 75 cents an hour on the Lindbergh project. Doubling from Day to Fay As Mechanic and craftsman they bad dropped All other Woik at the Plant and were pulling in in hour Days and More they sketched plans -r., the pal the plane together calculating Nitlich rj.5- each design change would take Del Calely balancing the extra my stuck in my i in la Jjo 1 i Illi my cell compari now living in Iho Loc Angeles area Vas i Mechanic Anc Weldon on Tho Job once the Compass far Back in the fuselage froze and the pint sized Corrigan was called on to wiggle Back and Lix it. To Page 14 the stars and stripes wednesday
