Part Of Celebration Of 60th Anniversary Of Allied Victory

To celebrate the 60th Anniversary of the end of World War II, the Collings Foundation is pleased to announce the Spring/Early Summer 2005 schedule of the nationally-acclaimed Wings of Freedom Tour of the B-17 Flying Fortress and B-24 Liberator for the Southwest and West Coast of the US. Recreating the "barnstormer" idea used in the golden age of aviation, the B-17 & B-24 tour reaches over 120 cities nationwide on a ten-month tour from January to November each year. In this, the 15th season of the tour, the Collings Foundation is proud to announce a change to the B-24 Liberator. The  B-24 Liberator is being repainted to represent one of the most famous B-24's ever flown: the Ford Motors -- produced B-24 "Witchcraft,"  flown by the 467th Bomb Group in the 8th Air Force out of Rackheath, England in 1944.

The history of "Witchcraft" is a story that legends are made from. The original "Witchcraft" was produced as a B-24H built by Ford at the famous Willow Run, MI plant in 1944. It was delivered to the 467th in Wendover, Utah and initially assigned to Second Lieutenant George W. Reed and his crew who flew the aircraft to England.

"Witchcraft" safely arrived with her crew at Station 145 in Rackheath, England on March 19th, 1944, after a 20-day flight over the Atlantic. The aircraft and crew began their combat service on April 10th, 1944, flying the first combat mission of the 467th Bomb Group. Over the next year "Witchcraft" flew an incredible 130 combat missions with various crews. "Witchcraft" was never once turned back while on a mission, and never had any crewmen injured or killed. Her last mission was flown on April 25th, 1945 which also was the last mission flown by the 467th Bomb Group.  "…Witchcraft" was there at the beginning and at the end."  After the war, she was returned to the United States and like many other B-24's, was scrapped on October 3rd, 1945 at the surplus depot in Altus, OK.

As the operator of the sole flyable combat-configured B-24 Liberator, the Collings Foundation has always felt a tremendous responsibility to represent the crews, groups, and squadrons who flew aboard the most-produced US built aircraft ever.  Starting its new life in 1989 as "All American" a 15th Air Force aircraft that flew in Italy with the 461st Bomb Group, the B-24 flew for many years with this scheme. In 1998, it was repainted to represent the "Dragon and His Tail" a 5th Air Force B-24 flying in the Pacific Theater with the 43rd Bomb Group. In its new scheme as "Witchcraft" the B-24 will be honoring the veterans of the 8th Air Force, who flew in the European Theater during WWII.

The rebirth of the "Witchcraft" is no small task. The 110' wingspan of the B-24 Liberator makes it difficult to find appropriate facilities to repaint the aircraft, and the large amount of surface area makes it a long and expensive process as well. The Collings Foundation is proud to be working with TIMCO Aviation Services of Lake City, Florida to accomplish the process of turning the "Dragon" into the "Witchcraft" with their own special paint magic. Hentzen Coatings, Inc. of Milwaukee, WI has donated the accurate military-specification paint to make the project a success. After the basic repaint is completed,  the B-24 will be detailed with nose art and markings by American Aero Services of New Smyrna Beach, Florida.  "Witchcraft" will join the Wings of Freedom Tour in March of 2005, flying along with the B-17 Flying Fortress.

The Spring/Summer 2005 schedule of the Wings of Freedom Tour will bring the aircraft to the Southern and Western part of the United States and will include visits to Florida, Georgia, Alabama, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, Nevada, California, Oregon, and Washington.

Each visit allows visitors the opportunity to explore the B-17 & B-24 and see what each is like from the inside and out. Local veterans visit and recount their experiences flying high above enemy territory and surviving the most harrowing aerial battles of the 20th century. Though their new mission is education and remembrance, the aircraft retain the original equipment they carried during the war.. Walkthrough tours are available at each location for a donation of $8 for adults and $4 for children under 12.

Excitement doesn't end on the ground, however! Visitors have the opportunity to fly aboard each aircraft. With only nine B-17s flying in the United States, and only one B-24 offering flight experiences in the US, the unique opportunity to fly back in time is one that will be treasured for many years to come. Flight experiences aboard the B-17 & B-24 are a tax-deductible donation of $400 per person. Reservations are recommended and can be arranged by calling 1-800-568-8924 (9am - 5pm EST). All donations go directly to the upkeep and maintenance of the B-17 & B-24.

2005 Wings of Freedom Tour - Spring/Early Summer

March

• 3/18 - 3/20 Dunnellon, FL (B-17, B-24, & B-25)
  Airport: Dunnellon/Marion County Airport (X35)
  Location: General Aviation Ramp
• 3/21 - 3/23 Tallahassee, FL (B-17 & B-24) 
  Airport: Tallahassee Regional Airport (KTLH)
  Location: Flightline Aviation
• 3/23 - 3/25 Americus, GA (B-17 & B-24) 
  Airport: Souther Field Airport (KACJ)
  Location: South Georgia Tech. College Ramp
• 3/25 - 3/28 Birmingham, AL (Alabaster, AL) (B-17 & B-24) 
  Airport: Shelby County Airport (KEET)
  Location: General Aviation Ramp
• 3/28 - 3/30 Hot Springs, AR (B-17 & B-24) 
  Airport: Memorial Field Airport (KHOT)
  Location: City of Hot Springs Ramp
• 3/30 - 4/1 Ada, OK (B-17 & B-24) 
  Airport: Ada Municipal Airport (KADH)
  Location: General Aviation Ramp

  

April

• 4/1 - 4/4 Houston, TX (B-17 & B-24) 
  Airport: Ellington Field Airport (KEFD)
  Location: Southwest Services
• 4/4 - 4/6 Dallas, TX (B-17 & B-24) 
  Airport: Dallas Love Field Airport (KDAL)
  Location: Frontiers of Flight Museum
• 4/6 - 4/8 Santa Teresa, NM (B-17 & B-24) 
  Airport: Dona Ana County Airport (5T6)
  Location: War Eagles Air Museum
• 4/8 - 4/10 Tucson, AZ (B-17 & B-24) 
  Airport: Tucson International Airport (KTUS)
  Location: Tucson Executive Terminal
• 4/10 - 4/13 Phoenix, AZ (B-17 & B-24) 
  Airport: Falcon Field Airport (KFFZ)
  Location: General Aviation Terminal
• 4/13 - 4/15 Lake Havasu City, AZ (B-17 & B-24) 
  Airport: Lake Havasu City Airport (KHII)
  Location: D2 Aero
• 4/15 - 4/17 Las Vegas, NV (B-17 & B-24) 
  Airport: North Las Vegas Airport (KVGT)
  Location: Main Terminal
• 4/18 - 4/20 Palm Springs, CA (B-17 & B-24) 
  Airport: Palm Springs International Airport (KPSP)
  Location: TBA
• 4/20 - 4/22 Murrieta/Temecula, CA (B-17 & B-24) 
  Airport: French Valley Airport (F70)
  Location: French Valley Aviation
• 4/22 - 4/25 Carlsbad, CA (B-17 & B-24) 
  Airport: Mc Clellan-Palomar Airport (KCRQ)
  Location: Western Flight
• 4/25 - 4/28 Ontario, CA (Tentative) (B-17 & B-24) 
  Airport: Ontario International Airport (KONT)
  Location: Mercury Jet Center
• 4/28 - 5/3 Long Beach , CA (B-17 & B-24) 
  Airport: Long Beach Airport (Daugherty Field) (KLGB)
  Location: Aeroplex

  

May  

• 5/3 - 5/6 Camarillo, CA (B-17 & B-24) 
  Airport: Camarillo Airport (KCMA)
  Location: Main GA Ramp
• 5/6 - 5/9 Hawthorne, CA (B-17 & B-24) 
  Airport: Northrop Fld/Hawthorne Mun. Arpt (KHHR)
  Location: Western Museum of Flight
• 5/9 - 5/11 Santa Maria, CA (B-17 & B-24) 
  Airport: Santa Maria Public Airport (KSMX)
  Location: Radisson Hotel Ramp
• 5/11 - 5/13 Paso Robles, CA (B-17 & B-24) 
  Airport: Paso Robles Municipal Airport (KPRB)
  Location: Estrella Warbirds Museum
• 5/13 - 5/14 Shafter, CA (B-17 & B-24) 
   Airport: Shafter-Minter Field Airport (KMIT)
   Location: Warbirds In Action Airshow
• 5/14 - 5/15 Van Nuys, CA (B-17 & B-24) 
  Airport: Van Nuys Airport (KVNY)
  Location: Main Ramp
• 5/16 - 5/18 Burbank, CA (B-17 & B-24) 
  Airport: Bob Hope Airport (KBUR)
  Location: Mercury Air Center
• 5/18 - 5/23 Mountain View, CA (B-17 & B-24) 
  Airport: Moffett Federal Airfield (KNUQ)
  Location: Base Ops
• 5/23 - 5/25 Hollister, CA (B-17 & B-24) 
  Airport: Hollister Municipal Airportt (3O7)
  Location: General Aviation Ramp
• 5/25 - 5/27 Monterey, CA (B-17 & B-24) 
  Airport: Monterey Peninsula Airport (KMRY)
  Location: Monterey Jet Center
• 5/27 - 5/29 Watsonville, CA (B-17 & B-24) *Tentative
  Airport: Watsonville Municipal Airport (KWVI)
  Location: Watsonville Fly-In & Airshow
• 5/29 - 5/31 Livermore, CA (B-17 & B-24) 
  Airport: Livermore Municipal Airport (KLVK)
  Location: Main Terminal Ramp

  

June  

• 6/1 - 6/3 Sacramento, CA (B-17 & B-24) 
  Airport: Mc Clellan Airfield (KMCC)
  Location: McClellan Jet Services
• 6/3 - 6/5 Marysville, CA (B-17 & B-24) 
  Airport: Yuba County Airport (KMYV)
  Location: Golden West EAA Fly-In
• 6/5 - 6/7 Chico, CA (B-17 & B-24) 
  Airport: Chico Municipal Airport (KLVK)
  Location: Chico Aviation
• 6/7 - 6/9 Crescent City, CA (B-17 & B-24) 
  Airport: Jack Mc Namara Field Airport (KCEC)
  Location: Westlog Aviation
• 6/9 - 6/10 North Bend, OR (B-17 & B-24) 
  Airport: North Bend Municipal Airport (KOTH)
  Location: Ocean Air Aviation
• 6/10 - 6/12 Corvallis, OR (B-17 & B-24) 
  Airport: Corvallis Municipal Airport (KCVO)
  Location: General Aviation Ramp
• 6/13 - 6/15 Redmond, OR (B-17 & B-24) 
  Airport: Roberts Field Airport (KRDM)
  Location: Butler Aircraft
• 6/15 - 6/17 The Dalles, OR (B-17 & B-24) 
  Airport: The Dalles Municipal Airport (KDLS)
  Location: Flightline Services
• 6/17 - 6/20 Aurora, OR (B-17 & B-24) 
  Airport: Aurora State Airport (KUAO)
  Location: Aurora Aviation
• 6/20 - 6/22 Yakima, WA (B-17 & B-24) 
  Airport: Yakima Air Terminal/McAllister Field (KYKM)
  Location: McAllister Museum of Aviation
• 6/22 - 6/24 Bremerton, WA (B-17 & B-24) *Tentative
  Airport: Bremerton National Airport (KPWT)
  Location: Avian Flight Center
• 6/24 - 6/26 Port Angeles, WA (B-17 & B-24)
  Airport: William R Fairchild Int'l Airport (KCLM)
  Location: General Aviation Ramp
• 6/27 - 6/29 Burlington/Mount Vernon, WA (B-17 & B-24) 
  Airport: Skagit Regional Airport (KBVS)
  Location: General Aviation Ramp
• 6/29 - 7/1 Everett, WA (B-17 & B-24)
  Airport: Snohomish Co. Airport (Paine Fld) (KPAE)
  Location: General Aviation Ramp

July  

• 7/1 - 7/5 Seattle, WA (B-17 & B-24) 
  Airport: Boeing Field/King County Int'l Airport (KBFI)
  Location: The Museum of Flight

FMI: www.collingsfoundation.org