Presidential aircraft

Photograph of President Truman on board the Independence. A photo taken at the same time appears on Page 216 of the book "Mr. President," published in 1952, by William Hillman. From: Papers of William Hillman, "Mr. President" file, Box 2 - Loose Dummy (2 of 2).

View of the "Independence," the presidential airplane. President Harry S. Truman and his party (distance view) are below, waiting to leave on their trip to Brazil.

President Harry S. Truman and his party prepare to board the presidential airplane, the Independence, to fly to Brazil. L to R: Mrs. Carlos Martins, Margaret Truman, President Truman, Mrs. Bess W. Truman, Brazilian Ambassador Carlos Martins.

President Harry S. Truman and his party board the presidential airplane to fly to Brazil. From left to right: Major General Harry Vaughan, President Truman, Mrs. Bess W. Truman, Brazilian Ambassador Carlos Martins (partially obscured), Margaret Truman (back to camera), Mrs. Carlos Martins.

President Harry S. Truman (right) at the bottom of the stairs leading up to the presidential airplane, shaking hands with the pilot, Lieutenant Colonel Henry Myers.

President Harry S. Truman at the bottom of the stairs leading to the presidential airplane. He is leaving for a vacation at Key West, Florida. Others in photo are unidentified.

President Harry S. Truman preparing to go up the stairs into the presidential airplane to leave for vacation in Key West, Florida. Gen. Harry Vaughan is at the top of the stairs. Others in photo are unidentified.

Aerial photograph taken over Washington, D.C., showing the U.S. Capitol Building and the long mall leading to the Washington Monument (not shown). This was probably taken from the presidential airplane "Independence."

President Harry S. Truman (on steps) waves to the crowd from the door of his airplane the "Sacred Cow" at Washington's National Airport before departing on a Christmas trip home to Independence, Missouri.

President Harry S. Truman waving from the door of his airplane the "Sacred Cow" at Washington's National Airport before departing on a Christmas trip home to Independence, Missouri.