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The Collings Foundation Boeing B-17G Flying Fortress, Nine-O-Nine and Consolidated B-24J Liberator, The Dragon and His Tail visited the Santa Barbara Airport from April 30 to May 2, 2003.
Slideshow of Boeing B-17G N93012 Nine-O-Nine, North American B-25J Mitchell, NL3746G Tondelayo, and Consolidated B-24J Liberator Witchcraft.
Nine-O-Nine
arrived in the afternoon on April 30.
Nine-O-Nine
returned from a revenue flight shortly before sunset.
Boeing B-17G Flying Fortress, Nine-O-Nine was built
under license by Douglas. Its Douglas construction number is
32216. Its original Army Air Force serial number was 44-83575.
Now it carries the serial number 42-31909. The white triangle on
the tail indicates assignment to the 1st Air Division of the
Eighth Air Force. The letter A in the triangle and the code OR on
the fuselage denote the 91st Bomb Group.
The Consolidated construction number of The
Dragon and His Tail is 1347. Its original Army Air Force
serial number was 44-44052. It was delivered to the Royal Air
Force as a Liberator B. VII. After its tour of duty in the RAF it
was transferred to the Indian Air Force. In the 1970s, it was
used as a training aid by the IAF technical college at Jalahalli,
India. Warbirds of Great Britain Limited, Blackbushe transported
to England aboard a Heavylift Belfast in May 1982. The Collings
Foundation bought it in 1986 and returned it to flightworthy
status in August 1989. Its civil registration is N224J. For a
number of years it flew in the guise of the "All
American".
The Dragon and His Tail made a pass
over the airport before landing on the afternoon of May 1.
Nine-O-Nine
landed while The Dragon and His Tail was flying
around the pattern.
The Dragon and His Tail followed closely
behind Nine-O-Nine
Nine-O-Nine
took off for a revenue flight shortly before sunset.
Thirty-two years earlier: Nine-O-Nine as it appeared when it was known as Yucca Lady and cannibalized for parts at Falcon Field near Mesa, Arizona on May 7, 1971.
Nine-O-Nine appeared at the Nellis Air
Force Base Golden Air Tattoo in April 1997. 
The Dragon and His Tail was named the All
American when it appeared at the Nellis Air Force Base
Golden Air Tattoo in April 1997. 
Link to the Collings Foundation web site for more information about their historic aircraft and their tour schedules.
Boeing B-17G Flying Fortresses were used to fight fires unitl the 1980s. Subsequently, the tankers were restored to stock configuration. The restored Flying Fortresses tour the country, taking aviation enthusiasts aloft on nostalgia flights.
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Go to home page of the Goleta Air and Space Museum.