Churchill's transatlantic crossing

16 January 1942: Churchill returns from his visit to see President Roosevelt in the White House by air - and just avoids calamity on his return

January 16, 1942, Winston Churchill in Captain's Seat, aboard Clipper Berwick, G-AGCA, formerly Pan Am NC 18608. The Prime Minister, Mr Winston Churchill, smoking a cigar whilst at the controls of a Boeing 314 Flying Boat 'Berwick' (piloted by Commander Kelly Rogers OBE) during his return flight from the USA to Bermuda in January 1942. This flight occurred at the conclusion of the Prime Minister's visit to the USA, and prior to his Trans-Atlantic flight to Great Britain.

Winston Churchill had completed his visit to the White House and was now returning to the United Kingdom. The battleship HMS Duke of York, which had brought him to the United States, was now waiting in Bermuda to take him back, together with an escort of fast destroyers.

"On the 14th I took leave of Mr. Roosevelt. He seemed concerned about the dangers of the voyage. Our presence in Washington had been for many days public to the world, and the charts showed more than twenty U-boats on our homeward courses..."