Consolidated B-24 Liberator (N224J)

Here is more information about this aircraft from Joe Baugher:

"44-44052 Accepted by the USAAF in August 1944, but it was transferred to the RAF in October 1944 as Liberator GR.VI s/n KH191. The plane flew many combat missions in the Pacific Theater of Operations until late 1945 when it was abandoned in Khanpur, India. In 1948 the Indian Air Force took over the plane with s/n T-18 and operated it until 1968. Then it ended up being given to the Indian Air Force Technical College in Jalahali, most likely to be used for mechanic training. In 1981 the plane was acquired by Doug Arnold/Warbirds of Great Britain and on May 6, 1982 he had it airfreighted disassembled by a Belfast transport plane to Blackbushe Airport, England. While stored there it was purchased in 1984 by Doctor Robert F. Collings and he had it transported by ship to the USA, and in the following year began restoration. In June 1989 the plane was registered to the Collings Foundation as N224J, and the plane made its first post-restoration flight in September that year. It flew as “All American” with a map of the USA on both sides of the nose until 1995 when the starboard side said “Golden Girl” with a Schlitz beer pin-up. By 2003 the “Golden Girl” was replaced by “The Dragon and His Tail” commemorating a B-24 from WWII. In 2005 it was completely repainted as “Witchcraft,” honoring B-24 42-52534 from WWII which flew 130 combat missions."

And, here is more info from Joe Baugher regarding the original Witchcraft:

"42-52534 (467th BG, 790th BS, "Witchcraft") completed 130 combat missions between Apr 10, 1944 and Apr 21, 1945, the most missions flown by a B-24 in the ETO. The 130 sorties were flown without a single abort due to mechanical problems and without injury to any crew member. 'Witchcraft' returned to the USA Jun 12, 1945 and was sold for scrap Oct 3, 1945. This aircraft is now represented by the Collings Foundation 44-44052. In addition, an anonymous B-24 was painted as ‘Witchcraft’ and displayed in the USSTAF [United States Strategic Air Forces in Europe] Military Equipment Exhibition under the Eiffel Tower, Paris Aug-Sep 1945."

It had quite an impressive record!

(I added this info under one of Dave Sheehy's pictures of this aircraft, and thought I would add it under one of mine, as well.)