Tifton native Henry Tift (Hank) Myers, (UGA 1929’) appeared on the aerospace scene at a pivotal point in aviation history—at a time before there was a branch of service called the Air Force, before planes routinely crossed oceans and continents. As an accomplished and respected aviator with quick wit and a Georgia born charm, he was a natural to become this country’s first Presidential pilot—the first to fly the presidential aircraft across the globe and into theaters of war. Setting records for speed and distance, Hank Myers was an aviation pioneer who not only transported U.S. Presidents but royalty, world leaders and celebrities. He thrilled to the task with luck and fortune his traveling companions through millions of miles of air travel.
As the first Presidential Pilot, Hank Myers’ life offers first class seats aboard the pioneer flights of aviation with personalities who shaped the 20th century at a decisive time in history. The maiden voyage of the first Presidential airplane, the Sacred Cow (a Douglas C-54 with an elevator for the handicapped president) transported Franklin D. Roosevelt to the Yalta Conference. Roosevelt preferred to travel by sea or land because he was able to get more rest, Myers and his crew would often play “leapfrog” with the President’s itinerary so they would be immediately available when needed. Myers helped design, named and piloted Truman’s plane, The Independence, and boasted that “his favorite passenger” loved to fly and would often take the copilot’s seat. Once Truman convinced Myers to “buzz” the White House while Bess and daughter Margaret went to the rooftop to view the P-80 jet fighters—Myers climbed to 3,000 feet, circled the White House and roared downward, leveling off at 500 feet. When Hank told the president that someone was sure to catch hell for what they had done, Harry Truman quipped, “I have wide shoulders”. Madame Chiang (wife of Chiang Kai Chek who along with her demanding brother irritated the crew), Senator Richard Russell (fellow UGA grad) Henry Cabot Lodge, Winston Churchill, Eleanor Roosevelt (the least trouble of all Hank’s passengers), Dwight D. Eisenhower, Herbert Hoover, James Mead and Red Skelton, are just a few among Hank’s renowned passengers. The story of Hank’s life is captured in the book Fixing The Moon, The Story of the First Presidential Pilot and Aviation Pioneer, Lt. Col. Henry Tift Myers and is chock full of golden anecdotes of the time. The book is available at amazon.com (ISBN 0-9770912-0-1) or by contacting the author, Bonne Davis Cella (UGA 75’) at bdcella@live.com.
In 2006, Henry Tift Myers, Jr, donated documents, pictures and historic flight logbooks of his father’s to the Richard B. Russell Library for Political Research & Studies and the material is now available for research.
In 2007, Lt. Col. Myers was inducted into the Georgia Aviation Hall of Fame based on his many aviation accomplishments:
- First Presidential pilot
- Transport speed record, U.S. transcontinental for 10 years
- First Non-stop London-Washington, D.C.
- First non-stop Hawaii-Alaska
- First non-stop Ceylon-Australia
- First around the world at the equator
- First U.S. aircraft into the Ascension Islands
- First Cairo-Bermuda-Washington D.C. via Azores
- First U.S. aircraft into Azores
- Distinguished Flying Cross for pioneering flights
- Air Medal with 5 Oak Leaf Clusters
- Commendation from Gen. MacArthur for special flight for Senate Investigating Committee
- American Theatre Ribbon
- WWII Victory Ribbon
- American European-African Middle Eastern Ribbons
- 5 Bronze stars for Asiatic Pacific Ribbon for campaigns New Guinea, India, Burma, China, Aleutian Islands and Western Pacific
- Philippine Liberation Ribbon
- Commendation by Maj Gen Harold L George for superior and skillful manner of handling transportation of the President of the U.S. and members of his staff to and from the Argonaut Conference in the Crimea (Argonaut was the code name for Yalta)
- Commendation by Mrs. Eleanor Roosevelt for efficiency and courtesy extended to her on trips to the Caribbean, South Atlantic and Pacific
- Commendation by Henry L. Stimson, Secretary of War for alert and capable manner displayed on trips to the Mediterranean and European Theaters
- Commendation by J.O. Richardson, Admiral, USN for splendid cooperation rendered in connection with trip of Joint Chiefs of Staff to European and Mediterranean Theaters and to the Pacific and Southwest Pacific Ocean Areas
