A Congressional Gold Medal awarded to the crew of the first transatlantic flight

February 09, 1929

On this date, Congress awarded a Congressional Gold Medal to a naval aviation crew for the successful completion of the first transatlantic flight. Although Charles Lindbergh, a 1928 Congressional Gold Medal recipient, was celebrated for completing the first non-stop, solo flight from New York to Paris in May 1927, the naval aviators had accomplished their mission eight years earlier. In the wake of the euphoria surrounding Lindbergh’s flight, James Leech of Pennsylvania submitted a citation commending the journey of Lieutenant Commander Albert C. Read and his five crew members, who successfully flew a Curtiss NC flying boat bi-plane, from Rockaway Beach, New York, to Plymouth, England, via the Azores Islands and Portugal from May 8 to 19, 1919. The United States Navy used four bi-planes for the flight. Lt. Commander Read noted that the airworthy design “filled the crews with confidence that the planes were able, with ordinary luck, to cross the ocean safely.” Making multiple stops along the way, the aviators flew for a total of 3,150 miles, at an average speed of 72 miles an hour. The total in-air time for the journey was forty-three hours. Lindbergh’s non-stop flight, by comparison, took thirty three and one-half hours. These aviators were part of a long line of servicemen honored with the Gold Medal. The first Gold Medals were awarded by the Continental Congress to the heroes of the American Revolution. The tradition continued with the Federal Congresses which eventually honored explorers, doctors, sports figures, and peace makers.

Related Highlight Subjects

• Artifacts in the House Collection (113)
• Committee on Appropriations (7)
• Committee on Ways and Means (11)
• Congressional Gold Medal (16)

Cite

This stereoview detail depicts the Capitol grounds as they appeared when the aviators were awarded their medals. Detail, stereoview, 1924, Collection of U.S. House of Representatives