(Download a higher resolution picture by clicking on any
picture below.)
The Collings Foundation Boeing B-17G Flying Fortress, N93012 Nine-O-Nine and Consolidated B-24J Liberator, N224J, which was recently repainted and renamed Witchcraft, are visiting southern California.
The bombers flew from Hawthorne to Santa Maria on May 9. They flew on to Paso Robles on May 11. They were on static display at the Minter Field Airshow on May 14 and the Airfest at Van Nuys on May 15. They headed to Burbank on May 16. It is reported that they will also visit the Santa Barbara Airport.
Slideshow of Boeing B-17G N93012 Nine-O-Nine, North American B-25J Mitchell, NL3746G Tondelayo, and Consolidated B-24J Liberator Witchcraft.
Boeing B-17G Flying Fortress, N93012 Nine-O-Nine.
This Boeing B-17G Flying Fortress was built under license by Douglas. Its Douglas construction number is 32216. Its original Army Air Force serial number was 44-83575. It was used by the Air Force for atomic weapons testing support at Yucca Flats, Nevada. Valley Scrap Metal of Phoenix, Arizona bought it in 1965. It was stripped for spare parts at Falcon Field near Mesa, Arizona. While sitting derelict it wore the name Yucca Lady. Aircraft Specialties Inc. converted it to a fire fighting tanker in 1979. From 1981 to 1985 it fought fires as tanker #99. The Collings Foundation acquired it in 1985 and restored it to its original military configuration in 1987. Its civil registration is N93012. 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.
Bombardier station and chin turret
Dorsal turret
Ball turret
Tail turret
Bombardier station
Navigator station
Right cheek gun
Instrument panel
Instrument panel
Overhead instrument panel
Pilot station
Co-pilot station
Dorsal turret
Bomb bay looking forward
Radio operator compartment looking forward
View from radio operator compartment dorsal hatch
Looking forward at dorsal turret
Ball turret and gunners' compartment looking aft
Ball turret looking forward
Ball turret
Gunners' compartment looking aft. Note that the gunners' stations are offset for clearance.
Thirty-four 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.
Nose art of Consolidated B-24J Liberator, N224J Witchcraft
The Consolidated construction number of Witchcraft 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 it 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.
Nose turret
Witchcraft's crew performs engine maintenance.
Dorsal turret
Vertical stabilizer
Tail turret
Cockpit
Navigator and radio operator stations
Bomb bay looking aft
Bomb bay looking forward
Ball turret looking forward
Entry hatch and rear fuselage looking aft
Tail
Tail turret
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.
Send a message to Brian.
