Columbine III VC-121E

As featured in the November 2005 issue of Fine Scale Modeler, 1/72 and 1/144 scale decals for President Eisenhower's Columbine III is now available from DRAW Decal

1/144 Scale Set 44-FSM-1 $10.00 click on decal to enlarge

The decal was designed by Norm Filer and printed by DRAW Decal.  1/72 Scale sets are $20.00 each  Part Number 72-FSM-1
Dwight D. Eisenhower had become accustomed to having a large comfortable airplane available while he was Supreme Allied Commander in Europe after WWII.  During that time he chose a standard Air Force C-121A as his personal transport and it was named Columbine in honor of his wife’s home state of Colorado.

When he was elected to the presidency in January, 1953, he selected another C-121A, serial number 48-610,  as his official transport and again, it was named Columbine, this time Columbine II.

In 1954 Air Force leaders decided to replace Columbine II with a larger, more powerful and much longer range 1049 Super Constellation.  This time it was actually a Navy R7V-1, serial number 53-7885.  As an Air Force aircraft is was labeled VC-121E, and as had now become the custom, this one became Columbine III.  This was the first of the three Constellations to be a new build, and was delivered directly from the factory. 

Today the aircraft assigned to the President are used almost exclusively by the President.  During Columbine III tenure it was also used by other government officials as required. In fact, after it was replaced by the first Presidential Boeing 707, it continued to fly transport missions with the Air Force and became a C-121G.

Upon retirement, it went to the Air Force Museum, Dayton, Ohio.
Copyright © 2008 [DRAW Decal]. All rights reserved.
Revised: December 29, 2007