Charles Lindbergh and his wife are guests of honour at the reception given by Premier Reijiro Wakatsuki. 1931. Charles Lindbergh (1902 - 1974) was an American aviator, military officer, author, inventor, and activist. At the age of 25, he went from obscurity as a U.S. Air Mail pilot to instantaneous world fame by winning the Orteig Prize for making the first nonstop flight from New York City to Paris on May 20-21, 1927.