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CAROLINE: The Airplane
By Mark Henderson
January 4, 2015: The CAROLINE is a part of political and airline history. It was the first private plane to be used in a presidential campaign.
The CAROLINE was built in August 1948 for American Airlines (AA) and was part of the AA fleet untill 1958. The plane was sold to the plane sales firm Fred B. Ayer and Associates of New York City. On September 22, 1959 the plane was purchased by Joseph P. Kennedy Sr. (JPK Sr.) for $385,000.
Reportedly, when Janet Des Rosiers (former secretary/mistress of JPK Sr.) returned from Europe to New York City in March 1958, JPK Sr. called her and said "You pick any job in NYC and I'll get it for you". Des Rosiers thanked him but she said that she would get her own job. She got a job selling Corvair planes as a plane demonstrator. The job paid a commission. She rung JFK to see if he wanted a demonstration and a test flight was arranged.
JFK and his entourage flew from DC to NYC. JFK was impressed and told Janet that he would lease one for his presidential campaign. A few days latter JPK Sr. rung Des Rosiers telling her, "Hell Janet, Jack isn't going to lease a plane from you, we're going to buy him one." As her commission Janet received six months pay plus additional cash. At JFK's request Janet became stewardess and secretary on the CAROLINE.
The plane was bought through a Kennedy company (KenAir) that leased the plane to JFK for use in the 1960 presidential campaign at the rate of $1.75 a mile. The CAROLINE covered 250,000 miles during the 1960 campaign costing $437 500. The plane's registration was N240K. It was painted a two tone brown and white and was equipped with radar and auto pilot.
The interior of the plane was customized installing a desk, gallery, two couches, four chairs (that converted to beds). One side of a large desk was fitted with a typewriter well and typewriter. A filing cabinet and mimeograph machine were also installed. In addition a color TV and catering oven were fitted.
JFK first used the CAROLINE on October 1, 1959 and it was informally called by the press "The Mother Ship". On September 21, 1960 the plane first bore the name CAROLINE (painted on its nose). The pilot of the plane was Howard Baer and the co-pilot was Rolad Dumais.
As President-elect, JFK traveled 20,000 miles in the CAROLINE shuttling between Washington DC, New York City, and Florida. As President, the CAROLINE was still utilized by the Kennedy family. It was used by Jackie for her personal (non official) transport to Washington, DC, Florida, Hyannis Port, Newport, and New York City. Also it was used in December 1963 to transport the bodies of Arabella and Patrick to Arlington National Cemetery to be reburied with JFK.
Here are some details on the Corvair 240. AA was looking to replace their aging DC 3 fleet. AA required a modern pressurized twin engined 40 seat airliner for domestic use. AA chose the Corvair 240 (2 engines 40 passengers) the world's first pressurized twin engined airliner. AA placed an order for 100 (later reduced to 75). The first delivery to AA occurred on February 28, 1948. Other specs include:
- Wingspan: 91 ft 9 inches
- Length: 74 ft 9 inches
- Height: 26 ft 11 inches
- Wing area: 817 square ft
- Weight empty: 25,445 lbs; loaded: 42,500 lbs
- Engines: Twin Pratt and Whitney Double Wasp R-2800-CA3 with an air cooled 18 cylinder engine producing 4,800 hp (2,400 hp per engine)
- Performance-top speed: 315 mph. Cruising speed: 280 mph
- Service ceiling: 16 000 ft
- Range: 1,200 miles
- Initial climb rate: 1,520 ft per minute
In September 1967 Edward Kennedy approached Secretary of the SASM Sidney Dillon Ripley offering to donate the CAROLINE. On November 11, 1967 the CAROLINE was donated by the Kennedy family to the Smithsonian Air and Space Museum in a ceremony at DC's National Airport. It was flown to Andrews AFB then trucked to Silver Hill where it was dismantled and left to deteriorate outside in the elements due to lack of storage space.
In the late 1980's CAROLINE was moved undercover to await external restoration . From 1975-82 the interior of the CAROLINE was displayed in the Museum of American History for its "We the People Exhibit". The interior was lent out to the Kennedy Library which returned it in 2009. The CAROLINE is currently in undercover storage at the Smithsonian storage facility along with its interior. Both are in poor shape.
Image Source: JFK Library - March 8, 1962, President John F. Kennedy and First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy board the airplane “Caroline” at the Military Air Transport Service (MATS) Terminal, Washington National Airport, Washington, D.C. President Kennedy escorted the First Lady to the airport for her trip to India and Pakistan.
