Donald A. Hall Estate Collection

Charles A. Lindbergh Letter Clarifying T. Claude Ryan's Absence from NYP Design - Page 3 (1939)

Page 3 of the December 4, 1939 letter providing definitive historical testimony regarding T. Claude Ryan. Lindbergh writes: "To the best of my knowledge, Ryan had no part in building the 'Spirit of St. Louis' except in the sense that the part he took in developing the Ryan Company and its monoplane was an essential factor in creating the organization which eventually built the plane... However, Ryan took no part in the discussions I had concerning the purchase and construction of the plane." Lindbergh emphasizes that the Spirit was a radical redesign of the M-2 with totally different construction and flying qualities, stating it was by far the best aircraft the company ever produced.