(HD) B-24J "Witchcraft" Walk Around, Collings Foundation, WWII Airplanes, Warbirds Spokane Airport

"Witchcraft" Consolidated B-24J Liberator Walk-Around, A-1 Skyraider Takeoff, Landing
Soon after my ride in the B-17 Flying Fortress "Yankee Lady" last year, I went searching for a B-24 to see up-close and personal and eventually caught up with one of the only ones flying today, "Witchcraft". This was filmed at Spokane, Washington's Spokane International Airport KGEG/GEG around a year ago. Additionally, they were flying a B-17 and an A-1E Skyraider that day. I tried to get good footage of the Skyraider in operation but did not focus as much on the B-17 since I could only be there a short time and I had already featured the B-17 aircraft in a previous video.
I consider it truly an honor to be able to be on the ramp and tour inside of this historic bomber. It is flown and maintained by the Collings Foundation and I hope they are able to keep it flying for many years to come. I have included some links below for additional information but i'll give a brief summary here:
- Four-engine heavy bomber used by the United States Army Air Forces (USAAF)
and other allied air forces during World War II.
- Stats differ, but over at least 18,000+ Liberators were built,
the most of any aircraft in World War 2.
- The "J" Model was the most produced of all the Liberator variants with 6,678 built.
- Two of the thirteen complete examples that survive today are airworthy.
The United States is still home for 8 of the 13 aircraft.
About Witchcraft:
- This B-24 is S/N 44-44052.
- Completely restored and maintained by the Collings Foundation of Stowe, MA.
- This is currently the only airworthy B-24J in the world.
- "Witchcraft" was part of the 467th Bomb Group, 790 Bomb Squadron. The same squadron that flew over 130 combat missions during World War II.
At first, after reviewing the footage I filmed, I was not sure I had truly done the aircraft justice, and the weather wasn't the greatest, so I was unsure if I should post this footage. I finally had some free-time here and was looking through some older footage of mine and found this. Upon reflection now, I feel that it does less good to not post it and there are folks who would like to see it, so I have decided to release this video. I still would like to do a much more thorough walk-around in future but for now this will have to do.
Sources and Additional Information:
About "Witchcraft" B-24J S/N 44-44052
Collings Foundation
www.collingsfoundation.org/ai...
www.airplanesofthepast.com/b2...
warbirdsnews.com/tag/b-24j-lib...
www.electraforge.com/brooke/fl...
List of surviving B-24 Liberators
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of...
2ndairstories.com/2018/02/19/...
www.schifferbooks.com/the-fam...
VIDEO: What its like to fly a B-24 Liberator
• What its like to fly a...
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About the Douglas A-1E Skyraider:
Also a very historic aircraft in its own right. I have included some information
for this airplane below.
www.collingsfoundation.org/ai...
warbirdsnews.com/warbirds-news...
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Douglas...
www.militarytimes.com/off-dut...
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of...
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Follow me on Instagram at
ohareaviation
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This was filmed with a Sony HX300.
This video is the property of O'HareAviation Plane Spotting & Flight Tracking.
It may not be used in any way without permission.
Spokane International Airport KGEG/GEG 2018
© O'HareAviation 2019

[@flyingdentist]

A whole war aviation museum by itself Jay.Stunning exhibit.

[@OHAREAVIATION]

Thanks for watching, Yannis! I really like bringing something different and interesting to my channel when I can. Lots of history there indeed.

[@evanmaliqaviation6605]

Good to have u back

[@OHAREAVIATION]

Slowly, ever so slowly. My life is pretty busy these days but I will try to make a big effort to return this late summer and fall.

[@OHAREAVIATION]

Slowly, ever so slowly but I will try to make a return this late summer and fall.

[@emersonguimaraes8811]

Incrível!

[@JustAnAverageTraveler]

I got to see the Collings Foundation a few years ago (2017!), and they do a brilliant job keeping those birds in the air. Thanks for sharing! Huge like from me :)

[@OHAREAVIATION]

Thanks for watching! you can tell who the avid airplane fans are by who will come and watch and appreciate a video like this. Glad you enjoyed!

[@JustAnAverageTraveler]

Thank you for doing such a wonderful job recording this! Keep it up my friend :)

[@OHAREAVIATION]

JustAnAverageTraveler Thanks for watching! Glad you enjoyed.

[@cleuzabarrosbarros1816]

Legäl parece que ele voa mais baixo que os de agora.E bonito o modelo.

[@Guerry-3]

Jay, this is not just a great video. This is Guerry, and this type of review is EXACTLY along the lines of what I thrive on when it comes to an aircraft walk-around! I cannot thank-you enough for it. Indeed, the video is understandably abridged due to your limited time, but despite your quandary to post it, I am so glad you did. I have told you on past videos of yours how detail oriented I am. To me, everything on an aircraft is interesting, and I am one to research how it contributes to the entire aircraft’s operation. I know I am late with my comment and could have easily been the first one. But somehow, having reviewed the video 5 times (only the B-24 part - I haven’t even started on watching the “Skyraider”) I was not ready to put words to paper. My first viewing was just to give the video a quick scan to see what was up. Subsequent viewings were the tedious process of start, stop, inspect…, and each viewing caused me to discover new things. Truly, I’m not blowing smoke as I try to express how you have captured a completeness to the B-24 not found in any of the books, articles, or videos I’ve read and viewed to date. Of course, as you panned through the interior of the B-24, the thoughts of the men who fought at all the stations continually distracted me from the aircraft itself. I have managed to poke knives through thicker metal than the skin on the B-24. But 11 men fought from this platform with zero armor protection against flack and 30mm cannon projectiles. At 200 mph or so at altitude, they spent hours in just above freezing conditions with little protection against the elements. It was no secret that these WW2 bombers were flying coffins for the flight crews. Each man knew that his chance of making the magic 25 missions was that of a snowball… But their sense of responsibility kept them fighting, and to me that says a great deal about our father’s/grandfather’s generation. I could keep on with a much longer comment, but I figure you have the gist of my thoughts. However, the next time you have the chance to video in detail an aircraft, I want you to have your high resolution “GoPro” camera with you and take along an auto mechanic crawler to help you get under low clearance places. Again, thank-you for this post! Keep them coming, please!

[@OHAREAVIATION]

C-990 Buff Wonderful to hear these words from you, Guerry as I had exactly you in mind when choosing to post this. Indeed I do hope that my travels allow me to cross paths with this awesome aircraft again soon, with yes, better weather and I can do a true, full walk-around exploring every inch of this great and historic bird. I do indeed plan to make more videos of both this and the standard planespotting type soon and, even though I have been very busy, I have looked into the 4K option to start making better and better videos. Go-Pro sounds very exciting too. All I need now is just more time for this wonderful hobby. All the best to you, my friend and thanks always for taking the time to post your informative comments. I very much look forward to them. -Jay

[@Guerry-3]

@@OHAREAVIATION: As always, I truly appreciate you kind remarks. I apologize about the "GoPro" camera. For some reason, I thought you had one. I did buy my brother one along with all the accessories to mount it just about anywhere. I have always been impressed with how nice videos look on KZbin from those who used a "GoPro". Whenever you get time to post again, I'll be waiting. Thank-you again.

[@Rampage434]

WOOOOOOWWWW............One great looking piece of WWII hardware.............

[@OHAREAVIATION]

Glad to see you stopped by again, Master Commenter! Hope life is treating you well, my friend.

[@indianaaviation5941]

I love that view from the cockpit! I’m a new planespotter and I just made a trip out to ORD, I’d love if you could check the video out on my channel!

[@zachsaviationsquad3998]

It sucks because one of the planes crashed

[@OHAREAVIATION]

Sad but true. May those lost rest in peace. Thanks for watching.