Tour through Eisenhower's Air Force One - VC-121 Columbine III

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  • Опубликовано: 2 янв 2025

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  • @That_Stealth_Guy
    @That_Stealth_Guy 2 года назад +64

    No matter how many times I see a Connie I am in awe of just how beautiful the design is. To me it is as iconic as a Jaguar E-type

    • @corneliuscrewe677
      @corneliuscrewe677 2 года назад +4

      You and I are of a mind, that is the perfect description of a Connie.

    • @billakers6082
      @billakers6082 2 года назад

      V-12.

    • @johndeere865
      @johndeere865 2 года назад

      Both are timeless.

    • @crushingvanessa3277
      @crushingvanessa3277 2 года назад

      But I think the Connie is more reliable for staring up. I'd take either.

    • @dougtaylor7724
      @dougtaylor7724 2 года назад

      I’ve always considered the Connie the shining star of American aviation.
      It just looks state of the art and way ahead of its time. If someone built a modern turbo prop copy of the Connie I would fly them every chance I had. Even if they were slower and louder, I want to arrive in style.

  • @bobgraham3289
    @bobgraham3289 2 года назад +10

    Yes, a beautiful plane. I remember admiring a TWA Constellation from the observation deck at Philadephia International Airport. I might have been 16, so 1963, and I walked over to its gate and asked a stewardess who had come off the plane if she would show it to me, She did! She took me down the terminal stairs, across the tarmac, up the boarding stairs and into the plane, and even introduced me to the pilots. I remember being surprised at how the seat backs seemed high and there was not a lot of headroom above the seats, but maybe I'm remembering wrong as I don;t think I was ever in another Connie. Anyway, thanks so much to that stewardess who came off working a flight, and helped a young kid with his enthusiasm for flight.

  • @darrellh1840
    @darrellh1840 2 года назад +12

    The Presidential aircraft displays at the USAF museum in Dayton is a must see! I toured last year and found myself with a few elementary school students. One pointed to a strange black device and asked what is that? Their guide said “ that is a telephone!”. Made me feel old!!! Thanks for sharing!

    • @cruisinguy6024
      @cruisinguy6024 2 года назад +1

      The USAF museum is so massive and so incredible that one could spend an entire week there and still not cover everything. One of my favorite places in the entire world!

  • @paulhall170
    @paulhall170 2 года назад +23

    We have the world's only flying Connie Super at an airfield a couple of miles from my home here in Australia. A group of private citizens flew back and forth to the US for seven years re-building her, then flew her back here to Albion Park Airport. It flies, regularly, and every time I hear it I rush out of the house and look up at this beautiful old airliner passing overhead. It is also available on the ground for visitors to get inside and look around, such an experience!

    • @PaulStewartAviation
      @PaulStewartAviation  2 года назад +5

      Yep HARS is great. I live nearby too.

    • @raywhitehead730
      @raywhitehead730 2 года назад +3

      Lucky guy! I flew in one as a child passenger in the late 50's. Many versions were made.

  • @jimlubinski4731
    @jimlubinski4731 Месяц назад +1

    My father worked for Eastern Airlines, so I was able to fly on the Constellation several times as a child. Never forgot that!

  • @ronwinkles2601
    @ronwinkles2601 2 года назад +4

    I got to fly on this aircraft on December 20, 1966 from Wright-Paterson AFB, Dayton, OH to Andrews AFB, MD. I was able to catch a hop on it flying home to get married while serving in the Air Force at Edwards AFB, CA. It was then designated Air Force III and still carried the Presidential Insignia. It was a gleaming beauty both inside and out.

  • @jasongarufi8187
    @jasongarufi8187 2 года назад +4

    Hi Paul what a magnificent looking plane! Thanks for the tour.

  • @khanhasanm
    @khanhasanm 7 месяцев назад +2

    Am really thankful to you that your are showing us such astonighing birds. Respect your efforts.

    • @PaulStewartAviation
      @PaulStewartAviation  7 месяцев назад

      You're welcome. Many more similar videos on my channel :)

    • @khanhasanm
      @khanhasanm 7 месяцев назад

      @@PaulStewartAviation Yes, have seen many of them. They are really informative and excellent for a flying machine lover, like me. ;)

  • @KiwiPlaneVideos
    @KiwiPlaneVideos 2 года назад +5

    Thank you so much for sharing this tour of this VC-121 Columbine III with us!!! It's always fascinating to see the history and technology of aviation, and this Air Force One is certainly an impressive piece of both. I appreciate the time and effort you put into creating this video and sharing it! 👍👍 Keep up the great work Paul!

  • @GaragebandandBeyond
    @GaragebandandBeyond 2 года назад +3

    This aircraft spent many years outside at the Santa Fe airport out in the dirt far away from the regular traffic of the airport. Back in the mid 90's I can remember walking all around it with my father wondering about it's fate. It's nice to see that it was properly restored and has a good home now. Who ever told you it was flown to the museum in the 60's for permanent display was mistaken. I still have photos of it sitting out in the desert.

    • @crushingvanessa3277
      @crushingvanessa3277 2 года назад

      Is this the one that sat on her tail as a parts plane? I heard of one that was saved and the owner was trying to raise money for restoration but had a hard time.

    • @GaragebandandBeyond
      @GaragebandandBeyond 2 года назад

      @@crushingvanessa3277 The one I saw was still all together. Just dusty

    • @anthonyg9739
      @anthonyg9739 2 года назад

      @@crushingvanessa3277 No, the aircraft at Santa Fe was all together and I believe was in flyable condition, with a bit of work. I was fortunate enough to board and tour this plane during one of the airshows there in Santa Fe. Beautiful plane.

  • @DavidRLentz
    @DavidRLentz 2 года назад +2

    Thank you for your acknowledgement.

  • @anthonyg9739
    @anthonyg9739 Год назад +2

    I was fortunate enough to take a tour through this magnificent aircraft when she was at Santa Fe.

  • @jackriley5974
    @jackriley5974 2 года назад +3

    Back in '60 the Air Force was kind enough to transport me from California to Japan via Hawaii, Midway, Wake and Guam on a C-121. Very impressive for an 18 year old starting a lifetime of adventures!

  • @dc10fomin65
    @dc10fomin65 8 месяцев назад +2

    Always loved this airplane, I think it's the most aesthetically beautiful frame ever designed, and I had the absolute unforgettable pleasure of flying in two of them. First 18 August , 1961 at 12 years of age I flew in a VARIG ( RG ) Super Constellation G from Sao Paulo to Idlewild ( now JFK ) with several technical stops. Second, August 19 1961 flew in a TWA Super G from LGA to MDW, ( O'Hare had just opened and was not operating at full blast yet.
    I recall TWA marketed the service as "AMBASSADOR", I felt important, wow, real class. And, this is my whole Connie experience, after that, came the 707, DC-8, CV-880 and all else, I am now 75 and still fly whenever I can, regards to all!

  • @historyinbitesizedchunks5857
    @historyinbitesizedchunks5857 2 года назад +2

    At the Pima Air and Space Museum in Tucson Arizona, they have the VC-121A "Columbine that Ike used as SHAPE commander in the fifties.

  • @167curly
    @167curly 8 месяцев назад +2

    In August, 1951 I flew alone from Bermuda to London via Santa Maria, Azores & Lisbon via a BOAC (later BA) Constellation 649 or 749, the oldr version of this Super Connie. It took 21 hours to reach London, and Heathrow was still a row of wooden buildings along the Old Bath Road. The aircraft carried 64 passengers in comfy lesther seats and we were served several hot meals on china plates. Memorable to a ten year old.

  • @danielmorris6523
    @danielmorris6523 Год назад +1

    My father used to work at British Aerospace as a photographer and he took some great photos. On one occasion he took photos of Eisenhower's Air Force One arriving in the UK and I'm guessing it would be this actual aircraft (without looking in the loft for the original photo I couldn't be 100% sure). Beautiful looking aircraft. All the best.

  • @neilsolomon9149
    @neilsolomon9149 2 года назад +6

    God bless USA. Forever. 🇺🇸

  • @leestebbins5051
    @leestebbins5051 2 года назад +2

    I believe this used to be on display at the Pima Air Museum in Tucson.

  • @thomasjacques5286
    @thomasjacques5286 2 года назад +2

    The Connie s so iconic and one of the most beautiful aircraft EVER built.

  • @Robslondon
    @Robslondon 2 года назад +1

    Beautiful aircraft and a great video Paul.

  • @bluebarron351
    @bluebarron351 2 года назад +1

    Great video! Short and to the point!

  • @radardimaria2261
    @radardimaria2261 2 года назад +1

    Planning a trip to Dayton to see the museum this summer...I had no idea it even existed, will definitely check it out! Great video....thank you!!!!!!!!!!

    • @12yearssober
      @12yearssober 2 года назад

      You will not be disappointed

    • @jumpingjeffflash9946
      @jumpingjeffflash9946 2 года назад

      I just specifically went there in early Dec. just to see this museum. It's absolutely worth the visit. Plan at least 2 solid open to close days there, 3 is best plus there's aircraft outside and a big memorial garden as well. It's just....awesome and I only learned of it about a year ago.

  • @raywinters1472
    @raywinters1472 2 года назад +1

    At 6 years old I was flown from Tokyo to Wake Island to San Francisco (possibly Travis AFB) on a super Connie with my parents and baby sister when my father's tour at Johnson AFB outside Tokyo was completed. Then in high school I watched Connies adapted for airborne radar fly out of Otis AFB on Cape Cod. A durable, flexible aircraft.

  • @ZippyThePinhead
    @ZippyThePinhead 10 месяцев назад +1

    Thank you for the tour. Even though I realize this isn't a commercial airline layout, seeing the limited area compared to aircraft today it's very interesting. I was born during the time of the switch over from prop powered to jet powered aircraft. I used to watch these beauties fly over my house when I was very young, and it was a bit of a bummer when they stopped. Kind of marks a significant sad change in my childhood. 🙁

  • @dvmurkus
    @dvmurkus 2 года назад +1

    Excellent video, Paul! Very informative, good pronunciation, smooth filming. Your storytelling enables me to travel and visit aviation museums just laying in bed. Thank you!

  • @dlbrittain1976
    @dlbrittain1976 2 года назад +1

    hey paul....after many years..i was finally able to visit the presidentIal aircraft...at th NMUSAF....i noticed the older they were the door headroom was lower.........😮😮

  • @flyingfortressrc1794
    @flyingfortressrc1794 2 года назад +1

    Great tour, Thanks Paul.

  • @johnharris6655
    @johnharris6655 2 года назад +2

    The Reagan Library has a full size 707 that was used as Air Force One for Reagan. I was surprised how small it was.

  • @Bad_Karma1968
    @Bad_Karma1968 Год назад +1

    Great vlog as always Paul

  • @HankyInTheTanky
    @HankyInTheTanky 2 года назад +1

    Thank you for these videos I live only 45 min away from the museum and love going and always love learning about the museums planes especially the presidential aircraft that I think are some of my favorites

  • @GeneralGayJay
    @GeneralGayJay 2 года назад +1

    A beautiful aircraft!

  • @wgisgr8
    @wgisgr8 4 месяца назад +1

    Beautiful airplane

  • @prezdough3049
    @prezdough3049 2 года назад +7

    The aircraft and museum look amazing! It’s pretty cool to think that Eisenhower flew on this. Technology has changed so much since then! Thanks so much for this great tour, Paul!

  • @greghudson1489
    @greghudson1489 2 года назад +1

    My first flight on an airplane was in one of these.
    Pan Am flight from California to Japan back around 1962.

  • @leonb2637
    @leonb2637 2 года назад +2

    My father worked for Curtiss-Wright from 1952-1963. His work included inspections of engines undergoing a major overhaul. One time an engine from this plane was damaged during a test. Everyone involved was investigated. It turned the 'master control' for the fuel, like a carburetor, that had been serviced by an outside vendor, had a part get loose and got into the engine.

    • @butchchism
      @butchchism 4 месяца назад

      That engine was also known for eating Power Recovery Turbines, the two-speed superchargers, and they could, on occasion, be ingested. It usually happened during climbs when the A/C was changing from "low blower" to "high blower" so as to maintain a constant pressure to the cylinders. I have been on the E-121 when that happened on five different occasions.

  • @oldbigshoe
    @oldbigshoe 2 года назад +2

    The first Air Force one, Columbine II, is currently under restoration at Dynamic Aviation in Bridgewater Virginia. It is the one that was found in the Arizona desert in 2015 and after a year's hard work, was able to fly in March 2016 to the Bridgewater airfield. i know because I was there and only live a short distance from Bridgewater. Restoration is about 85% complete. Search on RUclips and the story of Columbine II is here.

  • @gatewayz75
    @gatewayz75 2 года назад +1

    Magnificent aircraft isn’t it, thanks for sharing it

  • @paulazemeckis7835
    @paulazemeckis7835 7 месяцев назад +1

    My fav vintage aircraft!

  • @michaelguerin56
    @michaelguerin56 2 года назад

    Cheers. Beautiful aircraft.

  • @catliciousoz
    @catliciousoz 2 года назад +1

    Love the Connie 😍

  • @andrewjackson5127
    @andrewjackson5127 Год назад +1

    I'm not sure about the newer ones you're probably right but at the beginning of 747s there was a flight engineer in the cockpit

  • @clwest3538
    @clwest3538 5 месяцев назад +1

    When I asked my dad where he got my name (after a lot of hem-hawing) ... he said ".. well, in 1961 I was a new AF pilot, loved all things planes and my beautiful wife just delivered me a beautiful daughter ..." Then he began extolling the virtues of this plane finally ending up with her 'nickname' ..... fast forward a bunch of years and I sent him a picture of me standing under the nose of this in Tucson (Pima?) .... he got a kick out of that!

  • @heathertruskinger6214
    @heathertruskinger6214 2 года назад +2

    Hi Paul.
    I dunno if it's because of all the Perspex walls to protect the interior, but the passenger part of the plane seems more cramped than its predecessors.🤔
    I love the way you described the engines as "lazy engines", and that is the reason the propellers are so big. When I heard that, I was imagining them, lazing around, and yawning!😂 LoL

    • @12yearssober
      @12yearssober 2 года назад

      People weren’t supersized back then

  • @roberttalarsky4238
    @roberttalarsky4238 2 года назад +1

    Always have liked this aircraft!!

  • @ianmc87
    @ianmc87 2 года назад +1

    Beautiful plane

  • @stephenalexander6033
    @stephenalexander6033 2 года назад +1

    Never occurred to me that the triple tail was to keep overall height low, but makes perfect sense. And all this time I just thought they liked the look!

    • @PaulStewartAviation
      @PaulStewartAviation  2 года назад +1

      Yep. it's interesting stuff! Check out my Super Connie tour video for more explanations for why it's the the shape it is. I'm looking at filming the Connie at HARS in Australia and I'll go in to it in more detail in the early new year.

  • @ARTinDECAY
    @ARTinDECAY 2 года назад +3

    Awsome video. Old aircraft are just so unique. Although it will always annoy me that there’s almost always a glass partition on every tour. Makes it seem like the interior is much more cramped plus you can’t have fun and touch anything:(

  • @joebonomono
    @joebonomono 2 года назад +1

    I used to watch "Save a Connie" fly over Kansas City, she was low, slow, and beautiful.

  • @paddyglenny
    @paddyglenny 2 года назад +1

    I love that narrow doorframe you have to pass through at the bottom of the stairs. In other words, "If you're too fat to pass through this, don't bother going any further as you'll get stuck inside the plane!"

  • @QurikyBark32919
    @QurikyBark32919 2 года назад +1

    It’s fascinating to see how all of these presidential aircraft have very similar interiors. They almost all look like the same plane from the inside.

  • @OldmanGamerYT
    @OldmanGamerYT 2 года назад +1

    It's great to see this amazing history! Thank you for sharing!

  • @Beechnut985
    @Beechnut985 2 года назад +1

    Curttis electric props?

  • @donmunaweera1346
    @donmunaweera1346 2 года назад +1

    I live near there!! 🤩

  • @SifsSwag
    @SifsSwag 2 года назад +1

    Connie, Conc, 747, F14 best looking planes ever.

  • @richardc488
    @richardc488 2 года назад +1

    Yes we walked in that

  • @lgarcia67
    @lgarcia67 2 года назад +1

    Compare to AF1 now this looks like a little airplane. Amazing how much technology has changed

  • @scotty11782
    @scotty11782 2 года назад +2

    Thanks Paul

  • @ajreberjr
    @ajreberjr 2 года назад +1

    Dad had a bunch of favorite planes.. D17 beechcraft .. P51 .. but he always mentioned his flight back from Korea on a Lockheed Super Connie.. it is still a very beautiful plane and I, sometimes will glimpse one from one of Hollywood's finer movies... you know.. the ones before all the CGI crap.

  • @geraldmiller5260
    @geraldmiller5260 2 года назад +1

    When I was a child in the late 1950's I flew on a Connie to Germany. It was a very noisy!

  • @brentsummers7377
    @brentsummers7377 2 года назад +1

    1:12 'CAUTION Walk-through narrows to the width of this gateway' You can't make this stuff up🤣🤣

  • @kiereluurs1243
    @kiereluurs1243 2 года назад +1

    I never regarded it beautiful, just remarkable, maybe like a bat, or a frigatebird.

  • @ConversationStartersVideo
    @ConversationStartersVideo 2 года назад +2

    Wish I could have flown aboard a “Connie” Sigh…

  • @cdogg86
    @cdogg86 2 года назад +1

    Hey thank you so much for this video it was absolutely great to see. I can't wait to go down and see it in person. I got the very cool and short-lived privilege to fly my dad's plane right up to it right before it was put into restoration. Is there a way I could send you the picture of that?

  • @raywhitehead730
    @raywhitehead730 2 года назад +2

    The US Navy f!ew various versions of the Super Constellation. There are books about this remarkable aircraft. I personally know that the US Navy aircrew, liked it very much. I flew in one as a child, passenger in the late Fifties, and as an Adult Navy Pilot knew the CO of the last Navy Squadron to fly them in Eighties. US Navy retired them out even though they were still in excellent shape. I heard that the Navy didn't want to bother getting its less common fuel any more. It was a very dependable aircraft with a good range. Some were still flying as civilian planes into the 2000's. Remarkably it was a concept of Howard Hughes.

  • @kyledorsty906
    @kyledorsty906 Год назад +1

    I think the video of “the independence” is missing

    • @PaulStewartAviation
      @PaulStewartAviation  Год назад

      Yes I havent got around to it as there wasnt a lot of interest expressed.

  • @oldgaming12-s3c
    @oldgaming12-s3c 2 года назад +3

    thank you

  • @morphix007
    @morphix007 2 года назад +1

    voice sounds clearer than normal

  • @margarita8442
    @margarita8442 2 года назад +1

    was hard to make a log on this ?

  • @mjw1955
    @mjw1955 2 года назад +1

    On the first day of ground school for the connie, the instructor would tell the would be Pilots Connie that it took a real man to handle three pieces of tail.

  • @mattmc1083
    @mattmc1083 2 года назад +4

    Connie's are beautiful.

  • @larrynoe6162
    @larrynoe6162 2 года назад +1

    Sexiest airplane ever. Always loved the Connie.

  • @well-blazeredman6187
    @well-blazeredman6187 2 года назад +1

    Enjoy your work, Paul, but I'm missing those flight reviews that you do so well.

  • @michaelhayden725
    @michaelhayden725 2 года назад +1

    If you want to see a flying Connie come to Australia - to HARS at Shellharbour Airport (about 60 miles south of Sydney).

    • @PaulStewartAviation
      @PaulStewartAviation  2 года назад +1

      Yep there’s multiple videos on my channel of the HARS connie. I’m a member there :)

  • @jaybee9269
    @jaybee9269 2 года назад +1

    Isn’t it actually a Super Constellation? Thanks for the tour, Paul!

    • @PaulStewartAviation
      @PaulStewartAviation  2 года назад

      What do you mean?

    • @edgaraquino2324
      @edgaraquino2324 2 года назад +2

      ​@@PaulStewartAviationHello, Paul! Good video! Looks like a tight fit even when fully equipped...I believe this bird is the military version of the civilian Super Connie...

    • @PaulStewartAviation
      @PaulStewartAviation  2 года назад +1

      @@edgaraquino2324 yes this is the military VIP version of the Super Connie. Similar naming to the VC-137 which was the military version of the 707

  • @davidm7824
    @davidm7824 2 года назад +1

    Pretty small and simplistic compared to modern air force one.

    • @PaulStewartAviation
      @PaulStewartAviation  2 года назад

      Absolutely! Check out the Sacred Cow which is even more basic.

  • @larryberglof639
    @larryberglof639 2 года назад

    What’s with the ridiculous plexiglass partitions throughout?

    • @PaulStewartAviation
      @PaulStewartAviation  2 года назад

      Stop people from touching and stealing stuff I guess. :(

    • @nathanfugate8210
      @nathanfugate8210 2 года назад

      It's a museum! It's purpose is to preserve. You can't just walk up and literally touch the Mona Lisa! Jeesh.

    • @theodorejay1046
      @theodorejay1046 2 года назад

      I agree the amount of plexiglass & metal is weird but probably needed if tours are self guided.

  • @jimkennedy7050
    @jimkennedy7050 2 года назад +1

    Did he have a spare plane now in the graveyard?

  • @DavidRLentz
    @DavidRLentz 2 года назад +1

    It was NOT "Air Force One". That is the call sign of any USAF aircraft bearing the President of the United States of America. At the time of this aircraft's service, the USAF had not implemented that reference.
    Years past had I walked along the aisleway. I had found it disconcertingly constricted in comparison to contemporary transportation. And I am a relatively slim person (180 cm, 70 kg).

  • @LittleLazyCat
    @LittleLazyCat 2 года назад +1

    nice

  • @markgrunzweig6377
    @markgrunzweig6377 8 месяцев назад +1

    If the Wright engine's 'bugs" were not worked out be the time this plane was made, I doubt that they would be used on the presidential plane and have such success in passenger airline service. Ike, in fact was a pilot himself, so he wouldn't fly on an unreliable plane.

  • @dalehall2067
    @dalehall2067 2 года назад +1

    😊

  • @ArcheryGuy2
    @ArcheryGuy2 2 года назад +1

    What happened to the airships why did air travel shrink in size we would have air cruise ships the best things in life always disappear I'm disappointed.

  • @billkessinger6806
    @billkessinger6806 2 года назад +1

    You donot "Trun Off and Engine" You " Start and Shut Down" Engines.

  • @ronliebermann
    @ronliebermann 2 года назад

    Just for the record, the President of every other country flies commercial. Is there any particular reason that the President of the U.S. needs a private plane?
    In a way, “Air Force One” sends the message that the government is more important than the citizens. It’s not.

    • @PaulStewartAviation
      @PaulStewartAviation  2 года назад

      Sorry, but that's just completely wrong. A simple google will show that that many, if not the majority, of countries have dedicated VIP aircraft for their leaders. Even little old Australia with a population of 24 million has VIP 737s and A330s for the PM.

    • @ronliebermann
      @ronliebermann 2 года назад

      @@PaulStewartAviation Fair enough. I stand corrected. But that still leaves the question: Why do these people need private aircraft?
      I don’t think they do.

    • @PaulStewartAviation
      @PaulStewartAviation  2 года назад

      @@ronliebermann they travel with a lot of media (have to keep them happy), security and staff. 30 business or first class tickets on a plane probably costs as much as a private jet. Sadly security will only become more and more of a concern after events like Abe’s assassination and Pelosi’s (and maybe even pence) attempted assassination. 🤷‍♂️

    • @ronliebermann
      @ronliebermann 2 года назад

      @@PaulStewartAviation I disagree on that point as well. First of all, I think that the government often fabricates stories about “attacks”. That gives them a reason to eliminate democracy.
      And secondly, we don’t even have a legitimately elected government. The elections are a fraud, and the stated objectives of Washington are a fraud.
      We’ve got an insular communist dictatorship. Not a government. And for that reason, Washington understandably expects some resistance. So they cry “Uncle” and arm themselves against a democratic rebellion.
      Thirty first class tickets? It should be one economy ticket.

    • @PaulStewartAviation
      @PaulStewartAviation  2 года назад

      @@ronliebermann OK 🤐

  • @joeyoliver579
    @joeyoliver579 2 года назад

    No. The REAL Columbine is in Bristol, Virginia. The REAL AIR FORCE ONE. That one is "like" it, but it is not "THE ONE"

    • @PaulStewartAviation
      @PaulStewartAviation  2 года назад +1

      Yes there is Columbine I elsewhere. As the title says, this is Columbine III. This was also a real air force one.

  • @Sprucetroy69
    @Sprucetroy69 2 года назад

    Super cool 😎

  • @pacz8114
    @pacz8114 8 месяцев назад +1

    ...So, if I understand correctly, Ike would have bunked with the entire staff dormitory style.