50 Years Later: JFK's Air Force One
Fifty years later, Sue-On and I had cause to recall the events of that
fateful day of November 22, 1963. Returning from a gig in the southern
States we stopped at the Wright-Patterson Air Force base in Dayton to photograph
the thousands of aircraft and artifacts on display at the USAF Museum.
The gigantic "hangars" at this birthplace of aviation contain a multitude
of galleries representing all phases of aviation and space flight. One
of the most interesting attractions is the Presidential Gallery which showcases
the various aircraft used by US presidents through the years. The most
popular aircraft is the Air Force One which flew JFK on his final flights
to and from Dallas in November of 1963.
Not wanting to transport Kennedy's coffin down in the cargo area
the Secret Service agents sawed an opening in the fuselage so that the
casket could be angled through the door to the cabin area. We took photos
of the repaired cut as we entered and walked through the aircraft. Among
the other photos we took is the area in which Johnson was sworn in as the
new president, as well as the cockpit, conference areas, galley, communication
centre, and the seat where widowed Jackie had sat across from her late
husband's casket during the flight back to Washington, DC. An incredible
and very important page from 20th Century history.
