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Dates |
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Event |
By June 1947 |
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Constructed as a VC-118-DO by Douglas at Santa Monica, CA. |
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Modifications for presidential use included extra fuel tanks for range of 4400 miles, three closely-spaced windows on starboard side for stateroom. Could carry 25 passengers. |
July 1947 |
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Taken on Strength/Charge with the United States Army Air Force with s/n 46-0505. |
July 1947 |
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Markings Applied: The Independence |
From 4 July 1947 to May 1953 |
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Officially commissioned as presidential aircraft. |
18 September 1947 |
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Taken on Strength/Charge with the United States Air Force with s/n 46-0505. |
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Redesignated as VC-118A. |
October 1950 |
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Probably the planes most historic flight occurred when it carried President Truman to Wake Island in October 1950 to discuss the Korean situation with Gen. Douglas MacArthur. (NMUSAF). |
Circa 1951 |
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Photographer: US Coast Guard Website (Public Domain)
Notes: President Harry S. Truman paid a visit to San Francisco sometime in 1951. Here he deplanes after landing at Coast Guard Air Station San Francisco. The Presidents aircraft, a Douglas VC-118, was named The Independence after the Presidents hometown. Note the eagles head painted across the forward fuselage and the tail feathers painted on the aircrafts tail. |
May 1953 |
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Transferred to Military Air Transport Service, Bolling Air Force Base, Washington, DC.
Retired as Presidential plane. Assigned to Special Air Missions flights. |
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Base of operations changed.
Andrews AFB, Maryland. |
1963 |
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Base of operations changed.
MacDill AFB, FL. |
1964 |
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Transferred to Tactical Air Command.
Used as command support aircraft. |
1965 |
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Ferry flight. Delivered to United States Air Force Museum, Patterson Field (East Side), Dayton, OH.
 View the Location Dossier |
July 1966 |
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Ferry flight.
Flown to Wright Field for storage until new museum was built. |
From 23 July 1966 to 24 July 1966 |
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This aircraft and the VC-121E were parked near site of future museum and opened for public tours; approximately 7,000 people viewed the aircrafts interior. |
August 1971 |
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To National Museum of the United States Air Force, Wright Field, Dayton, OH.
View the Location Dossier |
21 May 1973 |
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Photographer: Peter Nicholson
Notes: As displayed in the summer of 1973. |
21 May 1973 |
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Photographer: Peter Nicholson
Notes: As displayed in the summer of 1973. |
From 1977 to 1978 |
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Restored.
Markings Applied: The Independence, 0-60505
Placed on display. |
11 June 1990 |
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Photographer: Glenn Chatfield
Notes: 35mm slide photographed on old runway by main museum building |
18 July 1996 |
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Photographer: Mike Henniger
Notes: Photographed at the USAF Museum in Dayton, Ohio. |
18 July 1996 |
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Photographer: Mike Henniger
Notes: Photographed at the USAF Museum in Dayton, Ohio. |
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 | | This airframe dossier is based on
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