Churchill ' s Arrival At Idlewild Airport . British Prime Minister , Sir Winston Churchill arrived at Idlewild International Airport at 7 . 20 am , enroute home from a two week vacation in Jamaica . The 78 year old statesman flew from Montego Bay , Jamaica , aboard a British Overseas Airways Corporation Constellation , after a 10 hour delay in his departure due to the world - wide grounding of British Stratocruisers for investigations of reported engine defects . Churchill left the airport immediately in a limousine to board the British liner , Queen Mary , which was scheduled to sail for England . He was accompanied by Mrs Churchill and his son - in - law and daughter , Mr and Mrs Christopher Soames , who were with him in Jamaica . Sir Rodger Makin , British Ambassador to the United States , and Sir Henry Hobson , British Consul General in New York , met Churchill at the airport . 23 rd January