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)

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"

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

Engine on Consolidated B-24 Liberator "Witchcraft"

Cockpit view inside the Consolidated B-24J 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