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N0KFQ > TODAY 14.01.16 15:23l 32 Lines 1296 Bytes #999 (0) @ WW
BID : 81767_N0KFQ
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Subj: Today in History - Jan 14
Path: IW8PGT<CX2SA<N9PMO<NS2B<N0KFQ
Sent: 160114/1421Z 81767@N0KFQ.#SWMO.MO.USA.NA BPQ1.4.65
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 @ N0KFQ.#SWMO.MO.USA.NA
E-mail: kohiggs@gmail.com
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