There is no doubt that Pilot Clarence Duncan Chamberlin and Passenger Charles A. Levine accomplished a heroic feat (TIME, June 13). Daring, they made a non-stop flight of 3,905 milesthe longest in history. Resolute, they reached Berlin after twice being forced to descend en route. Worthy, they were honored by President Paul von Hindenburg and the German people.
Yet, despite their courage, despite their achievement, certain critics, captious, unpraising, sought to undermine their standing as heroes. Passenger Levine was particularly subjected to ill-natured criticism. Glorious in itself, their flight was followed by a series of "incidents" regrettably interfering with true appreciation of...
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