on may 21, 1927

Charles Lindbergh landed in a field near Paris, becoming the first person to fly solo across the Atlantic Ocean. You can read the entire New York Times article here.

It does a beautiful job of describing the euphoria that was felt in France more than 80 years ago when Lindbergh landed:

"Vive l'Americain" the Cry
For several minutes [in Paris] this cry was renewed until the proprietor of a motion picture house unfurled a little American flag, which was greeted with cheer upon cheer and which became the mightiest pro-American demonstration seen in France since the days of the war, when, as the Yankee troops landed, three large American flags beside the French Tricolor hung from Le Matin's window in the glare of searchlights.

There could be no mistaking the sincerity of these cheers which were prolonged as a Frenchman in the crowd rushed up to the American demonstrators, wringing their hands in congratulations.

Even in 1927 the French were as nice as ever. I love them.