Bye Bye Dragon & His Tail......Hello Witchcraft!!

[Waltz41]

Just saw that the collings foundation will be repainting their b-24 in the scheme of 'Witchcraft', a 467 BG, 790 BS plane. It's an OD color scheme, definitley going to be different seeing it like that. I'll definitley miss dragon, but i welcome the new scheme!

http://collingsfoundation.org/tour_b-24j.htm

brian

[Cindy]

GOOD! I never liked the Dragon paint scheme. I liked the one prior to that. Look forward to seeing the new paint

[AIRIC]

Alright, a new paint scheme !! Always happy to see new paint schemes. I think it is important to change the paint as this will bring new publicity to the aircraft and group as well as generate new interest among enthusiasts in the same aircraft. I think it is a good step forward in keeping the Collings B-24 in the lime light.

Happy Landings,

Eric

[C170BDan]

That will be different to see!

Wouldnt it be great if someone would take a P51 and paint it silver with stars and bars and then use washable paint to do the markings. Every airshow you fly into do a different scheme and nobody would know which Mustang it was!

Only dreaming...

[hairy]

The washable paint idea has been used to great effect at the last couple of warbirds over Wanaka airshows with a/c appearing on Sunday with a different scheme to the one they were wearing on saturday.

As for Dragon and his tail I have always thought it was one of the best schemes ever to appear on a warbird, I will miss it.

How about for the next time they decide to change its paint, they paint it up as one the formation form-up a/c used in the European theater..............yellow polka-dots anyone?

[Jack Cook]

With their history of 1/2 paint jobs lets hope it isn't 1/2 OD and gray with the other half NMF. YUCK!!!

[Ryan Keough]

With their history of 1/2 paint jobs lets hope it isn't 1/2 OD and gray with the other half NMF. YUCK!!!

It will be fully OD and will feature the markings of Witchcraft on both sides. We are really excited with the new paint scheme and are looking forward to seeing how it is received once it gets back on tour in March. It is particularly exciting in the fact that now both "Nine O Nine" and "Witchcraft" represent the highest successful mission scoring aircraft of each of their types during WWII... wonderful stories!

Thank you everyone for your support! Make sure and come out to see her when we get into your area in 2005!

Ryan Keough
Collings Foundation

[Lynn Allen]

Ryan, have they set a date next year to stop in Addison, Texas
@ Cavanaugh's yet?

Thank,

Lynn

[Don Martin]

Gee, Ryan, NOW I HAVE TO BUY MORE FILM! And to think I only took a couple of shots of the Dragon in Portland this fall as I figured I had enough pics of the All American!

[dj51d]

I always liked the Dragon, but I'm looking forward to seeing this new scheme in person.

[TimAPNY]

Cool.
I will enjoy the change; it will be a bit more "Kid friendly". After ready the story of The Dragon ... I could understand it and wow it was a great paint scheme. I remember one year in Mass I just took the tour of her, ducked out of the bomb bay and just caught a father and son coming out. Both of their jaws dropped, then the father grabbed the son and said come on. They looked at the other side of the a/c. I had to laugh a little.

It is fun to see the paint job change. What is funny is how I would hate to see some of the B-17 change, at lest the ones that represent real combat paint schemes. The others I'd wish change!

Personally I think it would be cool if the B-17 was repainted in the markings of "Tondelayo". She was a completely black B-17 and I can not remember her squadron for the life of me.

If there was a '17 and '25 named Tondelayo then there was bound to be a '24 also. Then we could have the Tour of the Tondelayos. It would be highly unique and show how the names didn't just pertain to one particular airplane. Shoot, think about how many Sleepy Time Gals there were.

Ryan

[JimH]

Overall, at least on the road, the response to the Dragon artwork was positive. Only in the Southern states did we cover her up on a couple occasions that I can remember. On one memorable occasion one of our pilots intercepted a Catholic school group heading out to the airplane. He warned the teacher that artwork was on the other side. He also explained the artwork in context as it related to WWII. The teacher was very enthusiastic about the story and proceeded to show the kids the artwork and explain to them why it was done like it was. I will miss the Dragon, but it is going to look so cool in OD...bombers are green ;P

Jim Harley

[wendovertom]

I spoke with a gentleman yesterday who used to do a lot of flying for Collings and he told me a bout the repaint. In Wendover we are thrilled!! the 467th BG trained at Wendover for several months before going over seas. I wonder what the chances are of getting a tour stop this year are

Tom P
www.wendoverairbase.com

[Jack Cook]

I think this will be a great change. I'll look forward to seeing it has my cousin Lt Dallas Books was KIA over Friedrichshafen, Germany on March 18, 1944 while flying B-24H s/n 41-28742 "Old Glory" of the 392th BG.