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N0KFQ > TODAY 14.01.13 17:19l 31 Lines 1300 Bytes #999 (0) @ WW
BID : 34403_KB0WSA
Read: GUEST
Subj: Today in History - Jan 14
Path: IZ3LSV<IW0QNL<IK6ZDE<VE3UIL<XE1FH<N0KFQ<KB0WSA
Sent: 130114/1518Z 34403@KB0WSA.MO.USA.NA BPQK1.4.53
...
Jan 14, 1943:
FDR becomes first president to travel by airplane on U.S. official
business
On this day in 1943, Franklin Roosevelt becomes the first president to
travel on official business by airplane. Crossing the Atlantic by air,
Roosevelt flew in a Boeing 314 Flying Boat dubbed the Dixie Clipper to
a World War II strategy meeting with Winston Churchill at Casablanca
in North Africa. With German U-boats taking a heavy toll on American
marine traffic in the Atlantic, Roosevelt's advisors reluctantly
agreed to send him via airplane. Roosevelt, at a frail 60 years old,
gamely made the arduous 17,000-mile round trip.
The secret and circuitous journey began on January 11, with the plane
stopping several times over four days to refuel and for its passengers
to rest. Roosevelt and his entourage left Florida, touched down in the
Caribbean, continued down the southern coast of South America to
Brazil and then flew across the Atlantic to Gambia. They reached
Casablanca on January 14. After a successful meeting with Churchill,
as well as some sightseeing and visits to the troops, Roosevelt
retraced the route back to the United States, celebrating his 61st
birthday somewhere over Haiti.
73, K.O. n0kfq
N0KFQ @ KB0WSA.MO.USA.NA
E-mail: kohiggs@gmail.com
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