▁December ▁ 1 9 1 8 ▁ ▁An ▁aircraft ▁tender , ▁ 1 9 1 9 – 1 9 3 1 ▁During ▁the ▁spring ▁of ▁ 1 9 1 9 , ▁USS ▁A ro ost ook ▁was ▁ref itted ▁as ▁an ▁" air craft ▁tender " ▁to ▁support ▁the ▁attempt ▁by ▁U . S . ▁Navy ▁naval ▁av i ators ▁to ▁make ▁the ▁first ▁trans at l antic ▁crossing ▁of ▁the ▁Atlantic ▁Ocean ▁by ▁air . ▁ ▁The ▁Navy ▁had ▁four ▁huge ▁Curt iss ▁NC ▁float plan es ▁built ▁for ▁the ▁project . ▁ ▁These ▁aircraft ▁were ▁twice ▁the ▁size ▁of ▁contemporary ▁aircraft . ▁ ▁The ▁route ▁for ▁this ▁attempt ▁used ▁sout he astern ▁New found land ▁and ▁the ▁Portuguese ▁Az ores ▁Islands ▁as ▁stopping - off ▁points ▁for ▁ref uel ing ▁and ▁maintenance ▁work ▁on ▁the ▁new ▁plan es , ▁and ▁for ▁rest ▁and ▁mess ▁periods ▁for ▁their ▁av i ators . ▁In ▁the ▁event ▁of ▁the ▁attempt , ▁mechanical ▁problems ▁and ▁lack ▁of ▁replacement ▁parts ▁necess itated ▁the ▁can n ib al ization ▁of ▁one ▁of ▁the ▁aircraft , ▁leaving ▁three ▁" N anc ys " ▁for ▁the ▁attempt . ▁ ▁During ▁the ▁first ▁half ▁of ▁May ▁ 1 9 1 9 , ▁A ro ost ook ▁was ▁waiting ▁at ▁the ▁port ▁of ▁T rep asse y , ▁New found land , ▁to ▁serve ▁as ▁a ▁floating ▁base ▁for ▁the ▁three ▁medium - s ized ▁Curt iss ▁NC ▁float plan es ▁that ▁took ▁off ▁from ▁the ▁New ▁York ▁City ▁area ▁on