Keywords: Douglas VC-118 Independence USAF.jpg Photograph of President Harry S Truman's airplane a Douglas VC-118 s/n 46-505 called The Independence In 1947 USAAF officials ordered the 29th production DC-6 to be modified as a replacement for the aging Douglas VC-54C Skymaster Sacred Cow presidential aircraft It differed from the standard DC-6 configuration in that the aft fuselage was converted into a stateroom Also the main cabin seated 24 passengers or could be made up into 12 sleeper berths The VC-118 was formally commissioned by the USAAF on 4 July 1947 and was nicknamed Independence for Truman ™s hometown in Missouri USA The aircraft is today in display at the National Museum of the USAF USAF Museum http //www nationalmuseum af mil/shared/media/photodb/photos/050211-F-1234P-043 jpg unknown USAF Douglas VC-118 Independence PD-USGov |