If you are in the vicinity of Tucson, Arizona, you might find it interesting to visit the Pima Air and Space Museum, near Davis-Monthan Air Force base.
Sitting out there on the dirt surface is a Lockheed Constellation that once belonged to the U.S. Air Force. They called them, generically, the C-121 aircraft. I remember the Constellations quite well as a kid; they once were the premier airliners in the propeller age. Here's a pic of the one at the Pima museum:
Just another "Connie," you say? Look more closely at the nose of the aircraft:
On the nose is a painting of a flower and the word "Columbine."
Could it be? "Columbine" was the name of Dwight Eisenhower's personal plane when he was President! Was this plane one and the same?
Research on this plane revealed its history.
Final registration - 48-614
Delivered to USAF February 1949 as C-121A 48-614
Flew the Westover AFB-Rhein-Main route in support of the Berlin Airlift
Converted to a VC-121A ~1950 (V prefix for VIP interior accommodations)
Personal aircraft of General Eisenhower as SHAFE Commander June 1951 to March 1952
Named "Columbine" during this period (state flower of Colorado, Mamie's adopted home state) and based at Paris-Orly
To 1254 ATW at Washington National Airport in ~1960
To USAF Europe as VIP transport 1962
Retired by USAF and flown to Davis Monthan AFB for storage June 1967
To USAF Museum 1968 and loaned to Pima Air and Space Museum in Tucson, AZ
Restored by museum March 1989 to August 1990 and on display as "Columbine"
So it turns out that this was indeed "Ike's" first Columbine - but while he was SHAFE (Supreme Headquarters, Allied Forces in Europe) commander, not yet President.
Columbine II ( Jan. '53 to Nov. '54) and Columbine III ('54-'61) were his virtually identical Air Force Ones.
The old Air Force plane was finally recognized as historic. It's since been restored, and it just sits there in the sun among many other aircraft. Few today recognize it for what it was - Ike's first "Columbine."
I thought you'd like to see it.
John
Sitting out there on the dirt surface is a Lockheed Constellation that once belonged to the U.S. Air Force. They called them, generically, the C-121 aircraft. I remember the Constellations quite well as a kid; they once were the premier airliners in the propeller age. Here's a pic of the one at the Pima museum:
Just another "Connie," you say? Look more closely at the nose of the aircraft:
On the nose is a painting of a flower and the word "Columbine."
Could it be? "Columbine" was the name of Dwight Eisenhower's personal plane when he was President! Was this plane one and the same?
Research on this plane revealed its history.
Final registration - 48-614
Delivered to USAF February 1949 as C-121A 48-614
Flew the Westover AFB-Rhein-Main route in support of the Berlin Airlift
Converted to a VC-121A ~1950 (V prefix for VIP interior accommodations)
Personal aircraft of General Eisenhower as SHAFE Commander June 1951 to March 1952
Named "Columbine" during this period (state flower of Colorado, Mamie's adopted home state) and based at Paris-Orly
To 1254 ATW at Washington National Airport in ~1960
To USAF Europe as VIP transport 1962
Retired by USAF and flown to Davis Monthan AFB for storage June 1967
To USAF Museum 1968 and loaned to Pima Air and Space Museum in Tucson, AZ
Restored by museum March 1989 to August 1990 and on display as "Columbine"
So it turns out that this was indeed "Ike's" first Columbine - but while he was SHAFE (Supreme Headquarters, Allied Forces in Europe) commander, not yet President.
Columbine II ( Jan. '53 to Nov. '54) and Columbine III ('54-'61) were his virtually identical Air Force Ones.
The old Air Force plane was finally recognized as historic. It's since been restored, and it just sits there in the sun among many other aircraft. Few today recognize it for what it was - Ike's first "Columbine."
I thought you'd like to see it.
John
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