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    This page documents a history of a specific aircraft. The details provided vary from aircraft to aircraft and are dependent on the research and amount of data uploaded to the Aerial Visuals database.

    Airframe Family: Lockheed L-49/L-649/L-749/L-1049/L-1649/C-69 Constellation / C-121 Super Constellation / WV Warning Star / Starliner
    Latest Model:VC-121E Super Constellation
    Last Military Serial:53-7885 USAF
    Construction Number:4151
    Compressed ID:Lockheed VC-121E sn 53-7885 USAF cn...
    Latest Owner or Location:National Museum of the United States Air Force, Wright Field, Dayton, Ohio

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    Dates

    Event

    1954

    Constructed as a VC-121E.
    Ordered as R7V-1 BuNo 131650, but during construction was pulled from the production line to finish it as VC-121E

    10 September 1954

    Taken on Strength/Charge with the United States Air Force with s/n 53-7885.

    10 September 1954

    Transferred to 1298th Air Transport (Heavy) Squadron (MATS), Washington National Airport, Washington DC.

    24 November 1954

    Markings Applied: Columbine III
    Christened by Mamie Eisenhower.

    1955


    Photographer: Fargo Air Museum Archives
    Notes: Taken during President Eisenhowers visit to Fargo in 1955.

    20 January 1961

    Removed from Presidential duties, continued with SAM fleet at Andrews AFB.

    After January 1961

    Presidential markings removed; flew for a while in bare metal, then painted white on top with orange visibility markings on the tail. Orange visibility markings later removed.

    March 1964

    Transferred to 1254th Air Transport (Special Missions) Wing (MATS), Andrews AFB, MD.

    January 1966

    Transferred to 89th Military Airlift Wing, Andrews AFB, MD.

    20 April 1966

    Ferry flight. Delivered to United States Air Force Museum, Patterson Field (East Side), Dayton, OH.
    View the Location Dossier

    July 1966

    Ferry flight.
    Flown to Wright Field for storage until new museum was built.

    From 23 July 1966 to 24 July 1966

    This aircraft and the VC-118 were parked near site of future museum and opened for public tours; approximately 7,000 people viewed the aircrafts interior.

    August 1971

    To National Museum of the United States Air Force, Wright Field, Dayton, OH.
    View the Location Dossier

    By 1990

    Restored.
    Restored to Presidential configuration.

    Markings Applied: Columbine III

    11 June 1990


    Photographer: Glenn Chatfield

    11 June 1990


    Photographer: Glenn Chatfield

    18 July 1996


    Photographer: Mike Henniger
    Notes: Photographed at the USAF Museum in Dayton, Ohio.

    18 July 1996


    Photographer: Mike Henniger
    Notes: Photographed at the USAF Museum in Dayton, Ohio.

    6 May 2008


    Photographer: Glenn Chatfield
    Notes: In the Presidential hangar

    14 May 2010


    Photographer: Glenn Chatfield
    Notes: In the Presidential hangar

    14 May 2010


    Photographer: Glenn Chatfield
    Notes: In the Presidential hangar

    12 August 2023


    Photographer: Austin Newman

    19 September 2023


    Photographer: Glenn Chatfield
    This dossier is waiting for review by an editor.This airframe dossier is based on
    unreviewed imported data.
    If you can verify the documented history or add to it with additional text and/or photos please feel free to do so by using the upload tool and the history editor.
    Credits
     Data for airframe dossiers come from various sources. The following were used to compile this dossier...
    Print Sources
     Planes of the Presidents, by Bill Holder (A Schiffer Military History Book)
    NMUSAF Friends Journal
    Internet Sources
     National Museum of the United States Air Force
    Individual Contributors
     Glenn Chatfield
    Mike Henniger
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