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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 Maria Airport from May 5 to May 7, 2004.
Slideshow of Boeing B-17G N93012 Nine-O-Nine, North American B-25J Mitchell, NL3746G Tondelayo, and Consolidated B-24J Liberator Witchcraft.
The Collings Foundation Boeing B-17G
Flying Fortress and Consolidated B-24J Liberator passed over the Santa Barbara Airport
in formation on their way to the Santa Maria Airport on the afternoon of
Wednesday May 5.
Boeing B-17G Flying Fortress, N93012 Nine-O-Nine on the Santa Maria Airport flightline.
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.
Boeing B-17G Flying Fortress, N93012 Nine-O-Nine.
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. 
Consolidated B-24J Liberator, N224J The Dragon and His
Tail on the Santa Maria Airport flightline.
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.
Consolidated B-24J Liberator, N224J The Dragon and
His Tail.
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. 
Consolidated B-24J Liberator, N224J The Dragon and His Tail taxies
out to Runway 30 for a local revenue flight.
Consolidated B-24J Liberator, N224J The Dragon and His Tail.
Consolidated B-24J Liberator, N224J The Dragon and His Tail.
Consolidated B-24J Liberator, N224J The Dragon and His Tail on approach top Runway 30.
Consolidated B-24J Liberator, N224J The Dragon and His Tail.
Consolidated B-24J Liberator, N224J The Dragon and His Tail.
Boeing B-17G Flying Fortress, N93012 Nine-O-Nine sits in the run-up area
as Consolidated B-24J Liberator, N224J The Dragon and His Tail lands on Runway 30.
Boeing B-17G Flying Fortress, N93012 Nine-O-Nine waited for the passengers to
deplane from The Dragon and His Tail. Then the pair of World War II bombers
departed for San Luis Obispo.
Consolidated B-24J Liberator, N224J The Dragon and His
Tail departs from the Santa Maria Airport.
Boeing B-17G Flying Fortress, N93012 Nine-O-Nine departs from the Santa Maria Airport.
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.