Winston Churchill’s secret WWII hideout is docked in Long Beach, CA

Churchill’s Wartime Atlantic Crossings as Colonel Warden

Winston Churchill crossed the Atlantic three times during World War II aboard the Queen Mary as “Colonel Warden. ” In May 1943, he sailed from Scotland to New York while 5,000 German POWs were also on board.

Later that year, he made a second trip to Halifax for the Quebec Conference.

During these crossings, Churchill and his team planned the D-Day invasion, even using his sand-filled bathtub as a scale model. His suite held war rooms where key Allied meetings took place.

Churchill later said these ships “challenged the fury of Hitlerism” and helped secure victory.

Today, the Queen Mary rests in California where visitors can explore the very decks where Churchill helped shape world history.

The Luxury Ocean Liner Transformed into a War Machine

The British government took over Queen Mary in September 1939, just after war broke out.

Workers quickly ripped out all the fancy stuff, turning her into a giant troop carrier that could hold 15,000 soldiers instead of 2,112 passengers. Crews painted her gray to hide her from German U-boats.

They swapped luxury cabins for military bunks and hung hammocks in first-class areas. The ship could zoom at over 30 knots, fast enough to outrun any U-boat without needing escort ships.

Churchill Traveled as “Colonel Warden” to Fool German Spies

Winston Churchill used the fake name “Colonel Warden” when sailing during the war to keep his trips secret.

Ship workers put this made-up name on all passenger lists to stop German spies from finding out the Prime Minister was on board. The crew set up a special suite with dining rooms, a map room, and meeting spaces.

Churchill even put sand in his bathtub to make a small model of the D-Day beaches. All ship workers had to promise not to talk about their important guest.

German POWs Shared the Ship with Churchill in May 1943

Churchill left Scotland on the Queen Mary on May 5, 1943, heading to New York. The ship also carried 5,000 German prisoners of war going to America.

Queen Mary crossed waters full of German submarines for six days without any warships guarding her. She got to New York on May 11, where Churchill met with President Roosevelt to talk about invasion plans.

Churchill and his team used the long trip to work on plans for attacks on Nazi Europe.

The D-Day Invasion Got Planned in Churchill’s Floating Office

During his May 1943 trip, Churchill and his military advisors worked on plans for invading Normandy. The ship’s map room turned into a war office where they sorted out Operation Overlord details.

Churchill signed the D-Day Declaration while crossing the Atlantic.

Military meetings in his suite covered everything from timing to supplies for the European invasion. Many key choices that shaped the June 6, 1944 D-Day landings came from these shipboard planning talks.

Hundreds of British Officials Sailed to the Quebec Conference

Churchill started his second wartime trip on August 5, 1943, going from Scotland to Halifax, Canada. He brought 200 British officials including top military commanders and government advisors.

The five-day journey took them to the First Quebec Conference, code-named “Quadrant.” The ship carried this team so they could meet with Roosevelt and plan Allied strategy.

Queen Mary worked as a moving government office during this key trip.

Hitler Put a Million-Mark Price on the Queen Mary’s Sinking

Hitler wanted the Queen Mary sunk so badly he offered one million Reichsmarks to any submarine captain who could do it. The German military also promised special Oak Leaves for the Knight’s Cross medal as extra reward.

A German submarine tried to attack the Queen Mary on May 25, 1944, but the ship simply outran it. Her speed and zigzagging path made torpedo attacks almost impossible.

Both sides knew how valuable the ship was to the war effort.

One Voyage Broke the World Record for Most People on a Ship

Between July 25-30, 1943, Queen Mary set a world record by carrying 16,683 people on a single trip. This included 15,740 troops plus 943 crew members during this crossing.

No other ship has broken this record in the 80+ years since it happened. The Queen Mary could move entire military divisions across the ocean in one trip.

Her ability to transport so many troops at once made her what some called “Hitler’s most wanted vessel.

The Final Churchill Crossing Helped Plan Germany’s Defeat

Churchill made his third and last wartime trip on Queen Mary to Halifax in September 1944. He traveled for the Second Quebec Conference, code-named “Octagon,” to meet Roosevelt and Canadian leaders.

Their talks covered how to split up a beaten Germany into occupation zones and plans for the atomic bomb. During this trip, Churchill got an honorary degree from McGill University while in Quebec.

After the conference ended, he sailed back from New York on the Queen Mary.

The Ship Became a Floating War Headquarters at Sea

Queen Mary worked as a moving command center during Churchill’s Atlantic crossings. Meeting rooms had secure communication gear so Allied military leaders could coordinate plans.

The ship safely carried secret maps and planning documents between Britain and America. Churchill ran his government business, held staff meetings, and made important decisions while at sea.

The ship’s setup let the Prime Minister keep working at full speed during these ocean voyages.

Clever Tricks Kept the Ship Safe from U-boat Attacks

Queen Mary traveled without protective convoys because she could outrun any submarine. The ship maintained complete radio silence and followed unpredictable zigzag routes across the Atlantic.

Her gray war paint helped hide her from enemy planes and ships looking for targets. The crew kept all departure and arrival times totally secret from newspapers and the public.

Security measures included fake passenger lists and coded messages about who was really aboard.

The Prime Minister Praised the Ship That Helped Win the War

Churchill later thanked Queen Mary and her sister ship Queen Elizabeth for helping shorten the war. He said, “Without their aid, the day of final victory must have been put off.”

Together, these ships moved over 800,000 troops and sailed more than 600,000 miles during wartime service. Churchill’s three crossings showed his personal bravery and commitment to Allied leadership.

Queen Mary earned a permanent place in history for her role in helping win World War II.

Visiting RMS Queen Mary, California

You can explore Churchill’s wartime Atlantic crossings at the Queen Mary, permanently docked at 1126 Queens Highway in Long Beach.

Buy admission tickets online or at the on-site booth to access historic exhibits open daily 10am-8pm. Your self-guided tour includes the Bridge, Radio Room, Captain’s Quarters, and Engine Room.

Take the Glory Days Historical Tour to learn about Churchill’s dangerous voyages under his alias “Colonel Warden” during World War II.

This article was created with AI assistance and human editing.

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