Historic British Airways menu for a mid-Atlantic dinner on the Boeing Clipper flying boat RMA 'Berwick' on January 16, 1942, 4.25 x 6.75, signed in fountain pen for Steward Victor Arthur Partridge by attendees including Winston Churchill and members of his war cabinet: First Sea Lord Admiral Sir Dudley Pound, Air Chief Marshall Sir Charles Portal, Minister for Aircraft Production Lord Beaverbrook, Senior Assistant Secretary Gen. Leslie C. Hollis, Principal Private Secretary John Martin, his personal physician Charles Wilson, and pilot John Cecil Kelly-Rogers. Includes the original "La Corona / S. M. Kaplan / Habana" band from the cigar that Churchill smoked after the meal, removed with a cigar cutter by Partridge at the time of serving. In overall very good to fine condition, with old tape stains and some surface loss to the top and bottom edges of the menu card, not affecting or impinging on the signatures.
Within days of the Japanese surprise attack on the Pacific Fleet at Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941, Prime Minister Churchill undertook a dangerous transatlantic journey on the Royal Navy battleship HMS Duke of York. He arrived in America on December 22, in time to spend Christmas at the White House. On December 26, Churchill gave a historic address to a joint session of Congress to win support for his concept of the war. In public, he seemed to epitomize the 'bulldog' fighting spirit; in private, the strain was taking its toll, and that very evening Churchill suffered a mild heart attack. After concluding his visit, on January 16, 1942, he decided to fly back to Great Britain to save time—this was the first transatlantic flight by a world leader.
In his memoirs, Churchill reflected on the luxury of the aircraft: 'There is no doubt about the comfort of these great flying-boats. I had a good broad bed in the bridal suite at the stern with large windows on either side. It was quite a long walk, thirty or forty feet, downhill through the various compartments to the saloon and dining-room, where nothing was lacking in food or drink. The motion was smooth, the vibration not unpleasant, and we passed an agreeable afternoon and had a merry dinner.'
Although photos published in Life Magazine and elsewhere show Churchill calmly enjoying himself during the flight—sitting in the cockpit while puffing a cigar, having a drink in the lounge—it was a perilous undertaking. A navigational error brought them too close to the German-occupied French coast, and a Luftwaffe squadron was scrambled to intercept the plane. Fortunately, the German pilots failed in their mission. Safely delivered home to England, Churchill continued to rally his nation for the Allied cause.
Accompanied by a letter of provenance from the son of Victor Arthur Partridge, discussing his father's career with Imperial Airways (which later became British Airways) and his role on this significant flight. In small part: "As steward on this flight, my father's duty was to prepare and serve the meals, including the one described on this menu card, which he had signed by the important passengers as well as the Captains of the aircraft. My father related that after the meal, Mr. Churchill enjoyed a cigar and my father picked up the cigar band as a souvenir.
My father was very proud of the role he played in this historic flight, but was still reticent to say too much as he felt it was still an official visit and not to be discussed too much as he would have had to sign the official secrets act. He also flew with Churchill in the summer of 1942 on the RMA Bristol. It was considered a huge honour to be invited to join the crew on more than one flight involving Churchill."
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