Yeah, those Collings guys were rather uppity, since, according to them, theirs was a "real" B-24, & ours was just an LB-30 with a "D" nose... However, the CAF has had a Liberator in the air far longer than anyone else, since 1967.
"Diamond Lil" was originally the 18th of an order of 20 LB-30s for the RAF. It was damaged in an accident on it's delivery flight to Canada from Willow Run in 1941, brought back to the States, and converted to a company transport... It flew a scheduled route from New York to Ft Worth to San Diego, and was serialed as AM-927, where it became known as "Old 927". It was sold to PEMEX after the war, and the flew it as an exec transport until the CAF bought it in 1967. In 1971, she was put in the colors of the 9th AF 98th Bomb Group, and flew practically every year since...
A few years back, after about 30 years of trying to get her restored to her original B-29A configuration, the proper rear turret (the same turret that went into RAF Lancasters) was finally located, and the waist gun-positions installed, along with rebuilt nav and bombardier positions. "Diamond Lil" was then repainted in her original RAF Export scheme and re-named "Old 927"...
Although it can't be rebuilt to include a bomb bay, it's close enough... So while them clowns at Collings are bragging up their J, we got the oldest and, more importantly, continously-flying B-24... Plus, it's one-of-a-kind as a B24A... She's also a "Movie Star", as Paul Newman's ride in Fat Man and Little Boy...
Oh, yeah... Did I mention there's been a little rivalry between Collings and the CAF B-29/B-24 Sqn? It's all good-natured though... Lol...
I see those decals on Ebay every now and then...give ya a shout next time I see `em.
Yeah, I'd dig that.. But only if they're 1/48th..
....was a 2nd plane...had America in it`s name...NMF..
I think you may be referring to the 2nd half of Collings Witchcraft's "split personality" .. She was "All American" on the port side, "The Dragon and his Tail" on the starbord side...