One thing I do collect is original photographs of a military nature. I have literally hundreds of them and of those hundreds, perhaps 5 are modern copies mainly via fraud through the seller.

But here are two original photos taken of what were part of the most elaborately painted nose art of the war, These two B-24s of the 5th Air Force. 43rd Bomb group.

Dragon and his Tail and Cocktail Hour

Dragon and his Tail was the most elaborately painted Bomber of the war, literally nose to tail of the aircraft. The Dragon was slated to be preserved, but a paperwork screw up in the late 50s caused her to be scrapped instead.

The Collings Foundation Took the sole surviving B-24J that was still flying and painted her up as the Dragon from 1998-2005. I regret never seeing her flying.