1960’s Airforce One

[vctenderness]

Watching a programme about Kennedy and was struck by the fact I have no idea what happened to the 707 he travelled in.

After such a momentus event I would have thought it would be preserved as a piece of history.

Was it just scrapped?

[Good Vibs]

Check out the website of the National Museum of the USAF (USAF Museum) Dayton, Ohio, USA
Boeing VC-137C SAM 26000 > National Museum of the US Air Force? > Display (http://www.nationalmuseum.af.mil/Visit/Museum-Exhibits/Fact-Sheets/Display/Article/195807/boeing-vc-137c-sam-26000/)

SAM 26000 bears an intimate connection to one of the nation’s greatest tragedies, a moment that forever altered the course of American history. On Nov. 22, 1963, President Kennedy was assassinated while traveling in a motorcade through downtown Dallas, Texas. Hours later, Vice President Lyndon B. Johnson was sworn in as the new president aboard SAM 26000. The aircraft then carried Kennedy’s body and President Johnson back to Washington, D.C., and a grieving nation

[HEATHROW DIRECTOR]

I saw it at Gatwick 29 June 1963.

[Rick777]

I think the airplane currently resides and the Museum of Flight at Boeing Field in Seattle. I have gone through it there.

[obgraham]

The aircraft at Seattle’s museum is SAM970, predecessor to SAM26000.

[kcockayne]

86970 May have been in service before 26000 & have been retired before it; but, didn’t it stay in service for a very long time ?

[Airbanda]

LBJ also had a Lockheed Jetstar (VC140?) which took him from nearest full airforce base to the private runway on his Texas ranch where he spent much of his time. It was known as Air Force One-half. Visited the 'Western White House' while over there earlier this year including a look on board it.

https://media-cdn.tripadvisor.com/media/photo-s/05/16/29/a4/air-force-one-half.jpg

(not my picture though I have several)

[Alan Baker]

SAM 26000 was in service until 1998 before going to the USAF museum at Wright-Patterson. It was a 707-353B, USAF designation VC-137C. It was preceded by three 707-153s, which were VC-137As 970, 971 and 972 until being re-engined with turbofans and becoming -153Bs/VC-137Bs. These were not specifically presidential aircraft. In 1972 SAM 26000 was joined by another VC-137C, SAM 27000, which was in service until 2001 and now resides in the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library in California.

[kcockayne]

Thanks for all that info., but do you know when 86970 entered service & was retired ?

[Duchess_Driver]

The correct (full) serials indicate a FY 1958 purchase for 970, 971 and 972 (58-697...) So I would imagine an in-service date of late 58, early 59.

Out of service dates are a little difficult to pin down - as some were downgraded from 'VC-' to 'C-' status but remained in service. I'm sure that someone with more data to hand may be able to provide more.

As others have indicated they're dotted around in Ohio (62-6000), Seattle (58-6970), California (72-7000) and 58-6971 is in Pima Az. 58-6972 is reported as broken up at McConnell AFB Wichita KS in '96.

HTH

[WHBM]

It was normal for the aircraft to stay in secondary VIP usage after being displaced.


58-6970 was an early 707-120 turbojet, new in May 1959. It would have the original medium range of these, where London to Washington would be about the limit. It was converted to fanjet engines only after it was displaced, in February 1963. It seems to have then lasted for another 30 years until being sent to a museum (as they all seem to be) in January 1996.

62-6000 was a "proper" intercontinental 707-320B, new in October 1962. Like its predecessor, it was one of the first of the models. It lasted in front line service for 10 years, was then the second aircraft, and went to a museum in May 1998.

72-7000 was another 707-320B, new in August 1972. This one went to a museum in August 2001.

82-8000 and 92-9000 are the two current 747s which came at the end of 1990. With the much larger size, an equivalent sized backup aircraft was chosen.

It's apparent that the old 707s all continued in use until the late 1990s, when all three were cleared out pretty much together.

[tonytales]

The three original VC-137A (B707-100's) were originally "water wagons with JT3C engines. All the Presidnetial aircraft and SAMFLEET (VIP transport) including the VC-118, VC-121 (L749 and L1049) and the VC-140 (Jetstar) were maintained at KIDL NY by Lockheed Aircraft Service (LASI, later LASNY) up until the President Johnson ere when the contracts were moved to a Texas company (surprise!).
The three water wagon VC-137A were not converted by Boeing but in New York by Lockheed. The conversion also involved upgrading the pylons, wing leading edges and vertical fin/rudder to the latest configurations. Boeing of course supplied the mod kits. It was a huge project. I did not personally work on the project being on the "Gate Crew" at the International Arrival Building but I later received Security Clearance for Green Valley and Access Presidential Aircraft in case one of the SAMFLEET aircraft dropped in.

[evansb]

https://i.imgur.com/wtlwOHo.jpg

[evansb]

https://i.imgur.com/vV4U9LO.jpg

[atakacs]

https://i.imgur.com/vV4U9LO.jpg

Interesting paint job!

[vctenderness]

....which leads to another question why the change from red to blue?

[DaveReidUK]

....which leads to another question why the change from red to blue?

Jackie didn't like it.

JFK Redesigns Air Force One - New England Historical Society (http://www.newenglandhistoricalsociety.com/jfk-helps-design-air-force-one/)

[megan]

Have to say the blue scheme looks far more presidential, the red has absolutely nothing going for it.

[Warmtoast]

So what was AirForce One in August 1959 when President Eisenhower came to the UK for talks with PM Macmillan and visited HM the Queen at Balmoral?

I ask this because in an earlier thread here on PPRuNe I mentioned I'd seem Ike at Benson aboard an RAF 216 Sqn Comet. Here's what I said then.

President Eisenhower Arrives at RAF Benson in a 216 Sqn Comet

A couple of photos taken at RAF Benson on Saturday 29th August 1959.
The occasion was when President Eisenhower was on a visit to the UK for talks with prime minister Harold Macmillian. During his visit Ike flew up to Scotland to see the Queen and rather than flying in Air Force One (or whatever it was called in those days), he was flown to Aberdeen and back by an RAF Comet of 216 Sqn.
At the time I was at RAF Abingdon awaiting my posting to 99 Sqn at RAF Lyneham and was in touch with one of my drinking friends who worked in ATC at Benson who told me that President Eisenhower was due to land at Benson to have talks with prime minister Macmillan at Chequers on his return from a visit to the queen at Balmoral and would I like to see a real live US president?
Nothing ventured nothing gained I grabbed my Rolleiflex camera, hopped on my motorcycle and drove over to Benson. Wearing uniform and with a rather large "professional" camera around my neck it was assumed I was an "official photographer" and I was ushered to the scaffolding erected for photographers and duly took my photographs.


http://i145.photobucket.com/albums/r231/thawes/RAF%20Abingdon/Notthatone-Thisone.jpg


http://i145.photobucket.com/albums/r231/thawes/RAF%20Abingdon/Ike1a.jpg


http://i145.photobucket.com/albums/r231/thawes/RAF%20Abingdon/Ike-2a.jpg

Ike doffs his hat as he alights from the 216 Sqn Comet at Benson


http://i145.photobucket.com/albums/r231/thawes/RAF%20Abingdon/IkeatBenson.jpg
Press cutting about the visit

A visit to the National Archives at Kew and a look at 216 Squadron’s Operations Record Book for August 1959 provided the itinerary and crew details as below:

Comet XK 715
Flight No. Spec 1416
Crew:
S/Ldr P. E. Pullen
F/O J. Byrne
F/S D. Rance
F/S J. Hayley
M. Eng J. Clark
Sgt M.C. Wendler
Sgt (W) M. Wood


Routing:
27th August 1959 Lyneham — LHR 1600 - 1620
28th August 1959 LHR — Dyce (Aberdeen) 0845 - 1005
29th August 1959 Dyce — Benson 1045 - 1205
29th August 1959 Benson — Lyneham 1305 - 1400

[WHBM]

So what was AirForce One in August 1959 when President Eisenhower came to the UK
Well the first USAF VIP 707 had been delivered just a few months previously. If it wasn't ready yet, not that the extended outfitting that takes place nowadays used to happen so much then, and given that jets had been around for a year or so, I would guess they could charter from Pan Am. But my bet would be the new aircraft, and the trip may have been timed around its availability. It would be embarrassing to go propeller then.

The predecessor aircraft were a pair of DC6 and L-749 Constellation, 46-0505 and 48-0610, delivered in 1947-8, and a replacement pair of DC6B and L-1049 Constellation, 53-3240 and 53-7885, delivered in 1954. All four lasted well into the jet era on backup duties. As a presidential visit commonly requires more than one aircraft overall, some of these likely came over at some stage as well.

[Niner Lima Charlie]

This aircraft served as the official Air Force One for President Kennedy. It was the last propeller driven aircraft to be designated as the primary Presidential transport. Now at the Pima Air & Space Museum in Tucson.

LIFTMASTER (http://www.pimaair.org/aircraft-by-name/item/douglas-vc-118a-liftmaster)

[Rick777]

Very interesting. I didn't realize there were so many 707s that served as AF 1.

[Airbubba]

SAM 26000 was in service until 1998 before going to the USAF museum at Wright-Patterson.

I was able to walk through 26000 at the museum a few years ago. There was a famous cutout in one of the cabin bulkheads to accommodate President Kennedy's casket on the return from Dallas in 1963. Was it still there or had it been repaired? I'm not sure.

Thanks for all that info., but do you know when 86970 entered service & was retired ?

I saw 970 land in Damascus in 1993 carrying Secretary of State Warren Christopher. He was doing some shuttle diplomacy with Hafez al-Assad.

A colleague who used to fly out of Andrews says he carted Al Gore to climate conferences in that plane before the 757's (C-32's) arrived. A lot of smoke and carbon credits from those Pratt JT3D engines. ;)

So what was AirForce One in August 1959 when President Eisenhower came to the UK for talks with PM Macmillan and visited HM the Queen at Balmoral?

According to Air Force One by Robert F. Dorr (2002), 970 (aka 'Queenie') was used to take the President and First Lady on that August 1959 trip to Germany, England and France.

Wearing uniform and with a rather large "professional" camera around my neck it was assumed I was an "official photographer" and I was ushered to the scaffolding erected for photographers and duly took my photographs.

I had a similar experience three decades ago watching 'The Reverend' Jesse Jackson speak outside IAM headquarters on 36th Street in Miami. Jesse had Secret Service protection as a presidential candidate and I brought a scanner radio to listen to comm traffic on the old analog channels. I guess they assumed that I was some plainclothes local law enforcement guy and I was herded inside a cordon right next to the Reverend.

82-8000 and 92-9000 are the two current 747s which came at the end of 1990. With the much larger size, an equivalent sized backup aircraft was chosen.

29000 seems to be the favored long range Air Force One these days although I believe 28000 was used with a C-32 backup earlier this year, perhaps for maintenance considerations. The backup plane currently uses the callsign of SAM 45 (not, for example, SAM 28000 as before).

Also, for domestic trips, one of the C-32's is often used as Air Force One. Some of the C-32's have the extra comm package with the satcomm radomes on top of the fuselage for the presidential mission.

[WHBM]

According to Air Force One by Robert F. Dorr (2002), 970 (aka 'Queenie') was used to take the President and First Lady on that August 1959 trip to Germany, England and France.
Meanwhile, according to Wikipedia (I know, I know) the 707 was first used by US President Eisenhower on his trip to Asia, departing 3 December 1959.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Air_Force_One#Boeing_707s_and_entry_to_jet_age

and according to the note posted by Niner Lima Charlie above, the museum in Tucson is claiming that it's DC6B was still the primary aircraft at the start of US President Kennedy's era (from start of 1961), which would imply the 707 was not operational yet.

Can't all be right.

[Airbubba]

Meanwhile, according to Wikipedia (I know, I know) the 707 was first used by US President Eisenhower on his trip to Asia, departing 3 December 1959.

and according to the note posted by Niner Lima Charlie above, the museum in Tucson is claiming that it's DC6B was still the primary aircraft at the start of US President Kennedy's era (from start of 1961), which would imply the 707 was not operational yet.

Can't all be right.

Thanks for the reference, I appreciate it. However, I don't believe the DC-6 was used as Air Force One on the August 1959 overseas trip.

Another Wikipedia cite:

August 26, 1959 (Wednesday)

Dwight D. Eisenhower became the first President of the United States to fly in a jet airplane, as a new Boeing VC-137 (military counterpart to the Boeing 707) transported him to Bonn, West Germany, with a stop at Newfoundland for refueling. The presidential jet was nicknamed "Queenie"[48]

Footnote 48 is given as:

48. ^ Kenneth T. Walsh, Air Force One: A History of the Presidents and Their Planes (Hyperion, 2003), pp57–58

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/August_1959

970 wasn't specifically assigned to presidential duty when Eisenhower took the August 1959 trip to meet Konrad Adenauer in Bonn and was never the primary Air Force One according to Dorr and other sources.

A picture of Eisenhower in Bonn on August 26, 1959 with 970 in the background is here:

http://l450v.alamy.com/450v/e0rg5c/aug-08-1959-eisenhower-in-bonnon-aug-26th-1959-the-american-president-e0rg5c.jpg

Footage of the 1959 VC-137A arrival in Bonn:

BAXa9RJPL1A

[WHBM]

as a new Boeing VC-137 (military counterpart to the Boeing 707) transported him to Bonn, West Germany, with a stop at Newfoundland for refueling
A bit of a giveaway there that this was an original turbojet version that didn't even have the range to do Washington to Cologne without refuelling.

[Airbubba]

A bit of a giveaway there that this was an original turbojet version that didn't even have the range to do Washington to Cologne without refuelling.

Air Force One is about to make another fuel stop in Honolulu right now on the way back from the ASEAN Summit in Manila.

Dorr's book cited above says that the CIA outfitted 970 with secret cameras in preparation for a planned 1960 Moscow summit that was scuttled by the U-2 shoot down on May 1.

There were persistent rumors that Pan Am planes operating in the Berlin corridors had similar extra equipment. I never found any of it on my walkarounds in TXL. ;)

[tonytales]

I started at Lockheed Air Service (LASI) at Idlewild International Airport in New York (KIDL) in 1954 and the most important contract they had was servicing the Presidential Fleet and VIP aircraft for the USAF. At that time the SAMFLEET as the VIP operation was known had a number of VC-121A Constellations of the L-749 model. Some of the aircraft were named and there was the Bataan and the Columbine being respectively General MacArthur and General Eisenhowers's. President Truman though had a VC-118 DC-6 type named the Independence.
However there was also one of the VC-121 named "The Dew Drop". The legend and lore around the hangar floor was that it had been so named for President Dewey. Of course that didn't happen. Reportedly, Mr. Truman as President was not amused and refused to set foot in a Constellation using Douglas VC-118 thereafter. Also it was said he made the Air Force keep the name Dew Drop on the aircraft. I did indeed see it there in 1954.
I certainly can't verify this but it was common knowledge among us at LASI in those days. And, after all, this is a Rumor Network. Can anyone provide backup for this?

[Airbubba]

Also it was said he made the Air Force keep the name Dew Drop on the aircraft. I did indeed see it there in 1954.
I certainly can't verify this but it was common knowledge among us at LASI in those days. And, after all, this is a Rumor Network. Can anyone provide backup for this?

I think we can. :ok:

It appears that the Dewdrop was 48-608 and was unfortunately scrapped as N806AS in 2002 according to this webpage with pictures linked below:

Final registration - N608AS
First flight October 11, 1948
Delivered to USAF November 1948 as 48-608
Converted on assembly line to the only VC-121B for VIP use
Named "Dewdrop" for the anticipated win by Thomas Dewey. When Truman won the election, he kept his VC-118
Flew VIP missions during its USAF career
Retired by USAF and flown to Davis Monthan AFB for storage in April 1968 after removal of interior furnishings
Sold to Kolar, Inc at DoD auction on June 17, 1971
To Aero Tech, Inc on September 23, 1971
To Aviation Specialties, Inc on September 26, 1972 for conversion as an agricultural sprayer
Registered N608AS on March 26, 1973
Stored at Mesa, AZ late 1976 to early 1979 and then again in 1981
To Globe Air, Inc April 1981 and for sale for $84,000 early 1982
Sold to Tom Woodward at the Globe Air Auction October 1985
Ferried from Mesa to Tucson-Ryan Field July 19, 1986
Sold to Harry Oliver February 21, 1990
Used as a source of spares for the restoration of N9463/48-610 "Columbine II" in 1989
Stored at Ryan Field in derelict condition until scrapped on January 11, 2002


Lockheed Constellation Survivors (http://www.conniesurvivors.com/N608AS.htm)

According to Von Hardesty's 2003 AF1 book, the Dewdrop served as a backup VIP transport and carried Secretaries of the Air Force and other cabinet officials in the Truman and Eisenhower administrations. In the Kennedy administration the plane carried Secretary of State John Foster Dulles with the Dewdrop nickname removed.

See: https://books.google.com/books?id=qtCRa7bCz3oC&pg=PA47&lpg=PA47#v=onepage&q&f=false

Back to the future... 92-9000 is turning final landing to the north at Andrews right now as AF1 with 82-8000 in trail as SAM 45. SAM 18 and SAM 023 also checked in during the Hawaii fuel stop earlier today.

[tonytales]

My deepest thanks to Airbubba for confirming that old rumor about the Dewdrop (now spelled properly) and the link to more information. I was, while at LASI, occasionally assigned to work the VC-121A and B aircraft. On one notable occasion, we were preparing to deliver one of them after Phase Check and I was assigned to comb the carpet in the cabin so all the nap lay in a rearward direction. Yes, actually use a horse comb on the rugs. Fortunately I had my FAA A&P licenses to qualify me for the task.
Later, when at Eastern Air Lines I was assigned as Tech Rep to many White House Press Charters in one of our DC-8. I rode jump seat in the cockpit. We had to get the Press on the ground ahead of Air Force One so the photographers could take that same picture of President Nixon emerging from in the open door of Air Force One with hand upraised. It was eye opening to see the preparations ahead of a visit by the President. Also was revealing to see the harried and nervous Secret Service men doing the utmost to protect him. I was lucky though, never had a mechanical delay on my aircraft on any of my trips. I believe my head would have been posted on a a pike if I had.

[Airbubba]

Later, when at Eastern Air Lines I was assigned as Tech Rep to many White House Press Charters in one of our DC-8. I rode jump seat in the cockpit. We had to get the Press on the ground ahead of Air Force One so the photographers could take that same picture of President Nixon emerging from in the open door of Air Force One with hand upraised.

Back in the 1980's Pan Am flew a lot of those press charters. The media corps would photograph the President leaving, then hop in the chartered plane and as you said, race to land before Air Force One to get the arrival pictures.

These charters required additional background checks and a security clearance and were flown by management pilots.

Now, this is no s**t ... ;)

During the Reagan administration George H.W. Bush was the Vice President and on the road he would sometimes play tennis with Pan Am pilot Ben Shelfer.

On one trip Bush called the flight crew layover hotel looking for Captain Shelfer for some tennis. As is still common with crew hotels, the sign in list had the room numbers jumbled and the call went through to Shelfer's colleague Sam Cannato.

Sam didn't recognize the voice and asked 'Who the hell is this?'

Bush was taken aback and said 'Why, this is the Vice President, I'm looking for Captain Shelfer'.

Cannato thought a Pan Am executive was interrupting his rest period with something that could be put on a note under the door and he indignantly challenged 'Vice president of WHAT???' :eek:

Sam didn't get any more press charters for a while. :)

[WHBM]

Back in the 1980's Pan Am flew a lot of those press charters.
Contrary to some belief, although all the major US carriers up to that time, and beyond, had substantial numbers of long range and widebody aircraft, many of these were only fitted out for US operations and did not have over-ocean navigation or safety equipment. This gradually reduced as the other carriers picked up intercontinental work, but they still only fitted the minimal subset of their fleets necessary. Pan Am was different, of course, and all their fleet had the full set of equipment (diluted quite a bit when they took over National), and they also had handling arrangements in all major points worldwide.

The other group that had the full capability was the US charter carriers, who did military and other charters worldwide, but they generally only had charter-density cabins and thus weren't suitable from another point of view for such work.

[tonytales]

My time was late 1960's and early 1970's. Eastern flew the Press Charters in the 1972 campaign. WHBM is right about nav equipment on the domestic airlines at that time. Col. Albertazie on Air Force One was shocked to find that our new DC8-63 had only VOR navigation and Loran (for Bermuda and San Juan work). It was not until EAL started doing MAC charters with the DC8-63 that we fitted two of them with Doppler nav.
As an aside, I might mention that on an earlier press charter to Denver in a DC8-61 in the sixties, we found, on the takeoff on the return flight back to Andrews AFB that the airplane didn't want to unstick and used excessive runway. At Andrews we found the Press boys had loaded up the baggage compartments with many cases of Coors Beer which was unobtainable back East at that time. The flight crew was unaware of that little matter and with Denver altitude and a warm day it became interesting to see the runway length markers going by. We did get off just short of making the runway numbers. The DC8-61 was not a lively performer compared to the -63 for sure.

[Airbubba]

Several sources claim that Coors was 'smuggled' back East to be served on Air Force One during the Eisenhower and Ford administrations.

By the late 1960s, Coors’ scarcity had helped it cement cult status. According to legend, Eisenhower and Gerald Ford packed it aboard Air Force One, and Ford had it served at the White House mess every Thursday.

https://www.thrillist.com/drink/nation/15-things-you-didnt-know-about-coors-banquet

It certainly was fashionable to carry Coors eastbound on military aircraft large and small forty years ago. Or, so they tell me. ;)

Just as with the more recent fake golf clubs smuggled from Asia and sold on eBay, some idiot in the squadron would sell a few cases of the Coors to his buddies and the local tax people would go ballistic. A memo would come down saying no more Coors cross-country flights. Then a general or admiral would get thirsty, the beer would be loaded again until somebody else messed up the deal for everyone once more. :ugh:

Another favorite liquid contraband was wine from the Azores. Military planes would land for a 'fuel stop' at Lajes coming back from Europe whether they needed it or not. Mateus and Lancers Portuguese wine was about 70 cents a bottle (probably twice what it's worth :)) at the Air Force exchange and they had had handtrucks to load cases into planes on the ramp.

[DaveReidUK]

Slightly OT, but Lossiemouth in Northern Scotland was a popular detachment for the German F-104 squadrons - the gunports on the Starfighter were reputedly exactly the right bore to accommodate several Scotch whisky bottles ...

[Airbubba]

Speaking of Air Force One and liquid refreshment, I've heard it claimed in recent years that Air Force Two has no alcohol served onboard, is this really true?

The Pros and Cons: Air Force One v. Air Force Two

By Hans Nichols

‎October‎ ‎12‎, ‎2012‎ ‎4‎:‎37‎ ‎PM‎ ‎EDT

There’s a crucial difference between the president’s and the vice president’s plane: The stewards don’t serve alcohol on Air Force Two.

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2012-10-12/the-pros-and-cons-air-force-one-v-air-force-two

Several online clickbait trivia lists seem to reference this 2012 Bloomberg article above (which is unfortunately now behind a paywall):

https://www.thrillist.com/cars/facts-trivia-history-about-president-obama-and-air-force-one

13 Insane Facts You Didn't Know About Air Force One - Odometer.com (http://www.odometer.com/pop-culture/34341/13-insane-facts-you-didnt-know-about-air-force-one/)