| Aircraft | |
|---|---|
| Registration / Serial: | "42-72252" |
| Alternate Serial: | 272252 |
| Aircraft Original Type: | Douglas DC-4 |
| Aircraft Generic Type: | Douglas DC-4 (C-54/R5D/Skymaster) |
| Aircraft Version: | Douglas VC-54C Skymaster |
| C/n (msn): | 7470 |
| Operator Titles: | USA - Air Force |
| Location | |
|---|---|
| City / Airport: | Dayton - Wright-Patterson AFB / Wright AFBMap |
| Region / Country: | Ohio, United States |
| Airport Codes: | ICAO: KDWF IATA: - Local: DWF Other: - |
| Collection: | National Museum of the United States Air Force |
| Photo Date: | 16 December 2024 |
| Photo by: | Richard Vandervord |
| Photo ID: | 828662 |
| Photo Comment |
|---|
|
This is the only VC-54C built, 42-107451, the first dedicated presidential aircraft. It had the fuselage of a C-54A with the wings of a C-54B for extra fuel capacity. Known as "Sacred Cow' in view of its highly sensitive security profile, for President Roosevelt's only flight aboard it to the Yalta Conference in February 1945, it was marked with false serial 42-72252 belonging to a C-54 which had been lost in the Pacific. Roosevelt's successor, Harry S. Truman signed the 1947 National Security Act aboard, creating the USAF. Retired from regular transport work in 1961, it went to the USAFM 1983 This photo is copyright © Richard Vandervord, and may not be used or published in any way without permission. It was added on 25 July 2025, and has since been viewed 39 times. |