Airplanes Online Home Page Consolidated B-24J Liberator "Witchcraft" (S/N 44-44052)


B-24 Liberator "Witchcraft"

The United States mobilized its aircraft industry in support of the massive requirements of World War II. The B-24 Liberator was a four-engine, twin-tail heavy bomber assembled by the Consolidated Aircraft of San Diego.

A total of 18,493 Liberators would ultimately be built, more than any other aircraft in World War II. The "J" model was the most produced version of the B-24 with a total of 6,678 built.

The B-24J S/N 44-44052 "Witchcraft" bomber has been completely restored and is maintained in airworthy condition by the Collings Foundation of Stowe, MA. It is the only flying B-24J in the world.

"Witchcraft" was a B-24 assigned to the 467th Bomb Group, 790 Bomb Squadron that compiled an amazing record of 130 combat missions during World War II.

The plane is painted in olive drab, with red and white nose bowls, red and white rudders, 130 bomb markings and a cartoonish witch flying a machine gun as nose art. Names of the crew and sponosrs are located on the co-pilot’s side of the aircraft.

We last saw "Witchcraft" on the Wings of Freedom Tour stop at Pounds Regional Airport in Tyler Texas. The tour visits dozens of cities across the country each year.

B-24J Liberator "Witchcraft" Photographs

Consolidated B-24J Liberator "Witchcraft" (S/N 44-44052) of the Collings Foundation (Staff photo)
Consolidated B-24J Liberator "Witchcraft" (S/N 44-44052) of the Collings Foundation

Nose art on Consolidated B-24 Liberator "Witchcraft" on the Wings of Freedom Tour in Tyler, Texas
Nose art on Consolidated B-24 Liberator "Witchcraft" on the Wings of Freedom Tour in Tyler, Texas

Nose gun turret on Consolidated B-24 Liberator "Witchcraft"
Nose gun turret on Consolidated B-24 Liberator "Witchcraft"


Tail section of the Consolidated B-24 Liberator "Witchcraft" as seen in Tyler, Texas (March 2013)
Tail section of the Consolidated B-24 Liberator "Witchcraft" as seen in Tyler, Texas (March 2013)

Tail guns on the Consolidated B-24J Liberator "Witchcraft" 252534
Tail guns on the Consolidated B-24 Liberator "Witchcraft" 252534

Engine on Consolidated B-24 Liberator "Witchcraft"
Engine on Consolidated B-24 Liberator "Witchcraft"

Cockpit view inside the Consolidated B-24J Liberator "Witchcraft"
Cockpit view inside the Consolidated B-24 Liberator "Witchcraft"


 

Flying in the B-24J Liberator "Witchcraft": A Video by the Collings Foundation

List of Other Surviving B-24 Liberators

Of the massive numbers of Liberators that were built, only thirteen are known to exist around the world, either on display (10), under restoration (1), or airworthy (2).

In the United States, only two aircraft are airworthy, and six complete airplanes are on static display, for a total of eight B-24 Liberator survivors, shown below listed by state. Other Liberators are on display around the world.

List of Other Surviving B-24 Liberators

Of the massive numbers of Liberators that were built, only thirteen are known to exist around the world, either on display (10), under restoration (1), or airworthy (2).

In the United States, only two aircraft are airworthy, and six complete airplanes are on static display, for a total of eight B-24 Liberator survivors, shown below listed by state. Other Liberators are on display around the world.

In the United States
Model
S/N
Name
Location
Status
City
ST
B-24J
44-44175
Bungay Buckaroo Pima Air & Space Museum Static Display Tucson
AZ
B-24M
44-41916
Shady Lady Castle Air Museum Static Display Atwater
CA
B-24J
44-44272
Joe Fantasy of Flight Museum Static Display Polk City
FL
B-24J
44-48781
Rupert the Roo II (former Louisiana Belle) Global Power Museum
Barksdale AFB
Static Display Bossier City
LA
B-24J
44-44052
Witchcraft Collings Foundation Airworthy Stow
MA
B-24D
42-72843
Strawberry Bitch National Museum of the U.S. Air Force Static Display Dayton
OH
B-24A
40-2366
Diamond Lil CAF at Dallas Executive Airport Airworthy Dallas
TX
B-24D
41-23908
Unnamed B-24 Hill Aerospace Museum Static Display Ogden
UT

 

In Other Countries
Model
S/N
Location
Status
City
B-24L
44-50206 Royal Air Force Museum Static Display London, UK
B-24M
44-51228 Imperial War Museum Static Display Duxford, UK
B-24L
44-50154 Canada Aviation and Space Museum Static Display Ottawa, Canada
B-24J
44-44213 Indian Air Force Museum Static Display Delhi, India
B-24M
44-41956 Former RAAF Werribee Aerodrome Under Restoration Victoria, Australia

 

 

More Information about the B-24 "Witchcraft"

For more information about the B-24 and upcoming tour dates, visit:

Website of the Colliings Foundation

Wings of Freedom Tour Schedule