At first known as the Consolidated 39, the Convair 104 combined a new fuselage with the wings and tail surfaces of the PB4Y-2 Privateer. First flown in April 1944, it was intended for airline and military use. The US Navy cancelled a letter of intent for 253 R2Y aircraft due to 'design deficiencies' but the second of the two airframes built, NX3939, was flown as BuNo 09803 for a while. Both 'scrapped circa 1945'. Photo by: Rudy Arnold / Smithsonian Institution

The first factory-owned Freighter was quickly sent on a tour through North America - Bristol must have thought this concept might catch on in these rich lands. We're told the car is an Austin - with left-hand steering. Photo by: Rudy Arnold / Smithsonian Institution

Part of the same original as photo 398840 which shows a Messerschmitt Bf 109 with a swastika applied over an RAF fin flash. The P-40 was destined for the RAF as a Kittyhawk IA, ET350, but retained by USAAF instead. Photo by: Rudy Arnold / Smithsonian Institution

Oberfeldwebel Karl Hier of I/JG 76 had to land his Bf 109E at Wœrth, Alsace on 22 November 1939. It was test-flown by the French at Orléans - Bricy, then handed over to the RAF on 2 May 1940. In 1942 it was shipped to the USA for testing at Wright Field. Note the faux swastika painted on by the Americans - they liked to dress up captured aircraft and amazingly, even in this stage of the war it was apparently not a safety concern. We found information that the photo was taken at LGA during the filming of a propaganda reel. P-40E 41-25026 is seen on the right and a P-39 Airacobra, probably 41-7249, on the left. Photo by: Rudy Arnold / Smithsonian Institution

Following the racing success of the DGA-6, the DGA-7 prototype first flew in 1936 and the Howard Aircraft Company was formed to produce the DGA-8 series for the executive market. Note overpainted NC reg and North Beach Airport sign. This small airfield was soon expanded to become La Guardia. LGA soon proved insufficient, prompting the construction of Idlewild (JFK). Photo by: Rudy Arnold / Smithsonian Institution

Song was the low-cost arm of Delta Air Lines. It operated from 15 Apr 2003 until 2 May 2006. It took some time for all Song aircraft to be repainted, the last being in Jan 2008.