William G. Draper
William G. Draper was a career military officer and personal pilot to President Dwight D. Eisenhower during his presidency.
Early life
He was born in Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio. He graduated from Cardozo [Senior High School|Central High School] in Washington, D.C. in 1939.Military service
He obtained his CAA private and commercial licenses in 1940, and in 1941 received his instructor's rating at the Wilmington, Delaware airport. In November 1942 he joined the United States Army Air Forces and was commissioned a 2nd Lieutenant. He was assigned to Air [Transport Command (United States Air Force)|Air Transport Command] North Atlantic Wing ferrying B-17 Flying Fortress bombers to England and North Africa. He later was assigned to the Air Transport Command India-China Division "Fireball Line," which flew supplies and equipment in the China-Burma-India Theater from Miami to Assam, India. After the war William became a pilot for the Special Air Mission Squadron at Ronald Reagan [Washington National Airport|National Airport] in Washington.Working with Eisenhower
Colonel Draper was the pilot of Eisenhower's presidential plane "Columbine II," the predecessor of the special presidential plane that is now called "Air Force One." Columbine II, bearing the aircraft registration N8610, would always use the call sign "Air Force 8610", regardless of the passengers on the flight. After a 1953 incident in which a commercial flight, Eastern Air Lines 8610, crossed paths with Air Force 8610, which was carrying President Eisenhower over Richmond, Virginia, it was Draper who suggested the standardized designation for the presidential plane to avoid any further such incidents.He appeared on an episode of What's My Line on May 22, 1955.