▁mapping ▁special ist ▁in ▁charge ▁of ▁the ▁United ▁States ▁Army ▁Air ▁Forces ▁ 1 st ▁M apping ▁Group , ▁Bol ling ▁Field , ▁D . C . ▁Captain ▁Ro ose vel t ▁had ▁just ▁completed ▁his ▁navig ator ’ s ▁training , ▁and ▁had ▁in ▁the ▁previous ▁summer ▁obtained ▁surve ys ▁of ▁the ▁North ▁Atlantic ▁fer ry ▁route ▁in ▁direct ▁support ▁of ▁President ▁Ro ose vel t ’ s ▁and ▁Prime ▁Minister ▁W inst on ▁Church ill ’ s ▁ur gent ▁requirements . ▁He ▁had ▁brief ed ▁the ▁Al lies ▁on ▁his ▁project ▁during ▁the ▁Argent ia ▁( At l antic ▁Char ter ) ▁sum mit ▁in ▁August ▁ 1 9 4 1 , ▁and ▁had ▁specifically ▁advoc ated ▁for ▁the ▁African ▁route ▁while ▁visit ing ▁Church ill ▁in ▁England . ▁ ▁Under ▁the ▁a eg is ▁of ▁the ▁“ special ▁flight ,” ▁ 1 st ▁M apping ▁Group , ▁two ▁Bo eing ▁B - 1 7 B s ▁were ▁modified ▁to ▁fly ▁at ▁extreme ▁alt itudes ▁and ▁very ▁long ▁ranges . ▁They ▁were ▁painted ▁blue ▁to ▁minim ize ▁contrast ▁with ▁the ▁sky , ▁stri pped ▁of ▁all ▁unnecessary ▁weight , ▁and ▁any ▁identification ▁marks ▁were ▁removed . ▁The ▁United ▁States ▁was ▁not ▁at ▁war ▁with ▁V ich y - control led ▁French ▁West ▁Africa , ▁and ▁the ▁over fl ights ▁would ▁be ▁illegal . ▁ ▁Exec ution ▁B - 1 7 B ▁tail ▁number ▁ 3 8 - 2 2 3 , ▁under ▁the ▁command ▁of ▁Captain ▁Lov ell ▁S . ▁St