From: Everette (194cbteng@bellsouth.net)
Date: Sat Jan 14 2006 - 06:13:11 PST
Jan 14
1943 FDR becomes first president to travel by airplane on U.S. official
business
On this day in 1944, 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
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