FERRYING COMMAND OFFICIALS HAD TURNED THEIR ATTENTION TO ASCESION AS A POTENTIAL BASE AS EARLY AS FALL OF 1941, WHEN IT BECAME CLEAR THAT AMERICAN MILITARY AS WELL AS LEND-LEASE PLANES WOULD BE FLYING THE SOUTH ATLANTIC ROUTE TO AFRICA. SITUATED 1,437 STATUTE MILES FROM NATAL AND 1,357 FROM AFRICA..