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Naval History and Heritage Command

Naval History and Heritage Command

Admiral William S. Benson, Chief of Naval Operations, to Vice Admiral William S. Sims, Commander, United States Naval Forces Operating in European Waters

Subject Copy.                                   File No. <A-1-6>

CABLEGRAM SENT 27 March 1919.

To SIMSADUS LONDON                          Serial No.

Prep. by M-5/C                    D.R.

Mission No. <365> for Opnav.

     Your mission 336.1 Because of the prestige which the Service will gain from making the first trans-Atlantic air flight and because of number of known competitors now in field I strongly urge necessity of anticipating date of May first every possible day. Such anticipation should be kept as quiet as possible and not given out or advertised. I am particularly anxious that U.S. Navy should have credit of making first successful trans-Atlantic flight and hope you will spare no means to make this a reality. <241627>

BENSON

Source Note: Cy, DNA, RG 45, Entry 520, Box 148. Document identification “Form B” appears in the top-left corner, and the date “3/27/19.” appears bottom-left.

Footnote 1: This document has not been found.

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