Lewis Hanson, 81; Pilot for Presidents Truman Through Johnson
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Lewis Hanson, 81, a retired Air Force colonel who piloted four presidents and co-piloted the flight that took John F. Kennedy’s body from Dallas to Washington, D.C., died of unspecified causes Dec. 27 in a Laconia, N.H., hospital.
Hanson’s presidential passengers included Harry S. Truman, Dwight D. Eisenhower, Lyndon Johnson and Kennedy, who was his favorite. Among his other distinguished passengers were British Prime Minister Winston Churchill and the shah of Iran.
No flight was sadder for the veteran pilot than transporting Kennedy’s body after the president was shot Nov. 22, 1963. Hanson had watched Kennedy step from Air Force One after touching down in Dallas. Hanson then went to visit his mother-in-law, and learned of the assassination on television. Back aboard the plane, Hanson watched Johnson take the oath of office with Jackie Kennedy by his side.
Hanson retired to Center Harbor, N.H., in 1969, raised cattle and chickens and produced maple syrup. He was elected a selectman in 1970 and held the office until his death.
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