lindbergh gained fame around the world as the first pilot to fly solo (alone) and non-stop across the atlantic ocean. he flew from roosevelt airfield (nassau county, long island), new york, usa to paris, france on may 20-21, 1927 in his single-engine airplane "the spirit of st. louis". he needed 33.5 hours for the trip. when he arrived back in the united states, many warships and aircraft escorted him to washington, d.c. where president calvin coolidge gave him the distinguished flying cross.