Flightline: 1776/TBD

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Jumping off a comment from fellow wing-nut ttyymmnn, today will be Bicentennial celebration paint-jobs.

SP 4449 (Freedom Train) leads an excursion train through the Deschutes River canyon at Trout Creek, Oregon.

The Freedom Train passes through Naval Air Station, Miramar, California.

The American Freedom Train toured the country in 1975–76 to commemorate the United States Bicentennial. This 26-car train was powered by three newly restored steam locomotives: the former Reading Company T-1 class 4-8-4 #2101, former Southern Pacific 4449, a large 4-8-4 steam locomotive that is still operating in special excursion service today and former Texas & Pacific 2-10-4 #610, which pulled the train in Texas.
The train itself consisted of 10 display cars, converted from New York Central and Penn Central baggage cars. They carried more than 500 treasures of Americana, including George Washington’s copy of the Constitution, the original Louisiana Purchase, Judy Garland’s dress from The Wizard of Oz, Joe Frazier’s boxing trunks, Martin Luther King Jr.’s pulpit and robes, replicas of Jesse Owens’ four Olympic gold medals from 1936 (one of which was stolen somewhere along the way), a pair of Wilt Chamberlain’s basketball shoes, and a rock from the Moon.
Its tour of all 48 contiguous states lasted from April 1, 1975, until December 31, 1976. More than 7 million Americans visited the train during its tour, while millions more stood track-side to see it go by.

A Douglas DC-8 of Overseas National Airways

Aerial view of Kennedy Space Center’s Vehicle Assembly Building, with vertical U.S. flag and the emblem of the 1976 bicentennial celebrations which remained in place until 1998

175th Tactical Fighter Squadron A-7D Corsair II 70-0996 in Bicentennial Motif

LTV A-7B Corsair II 154465 of VA-153 Squadron at NAS Cecil Field Florida in 1976

Vought RF-8G Crusader of VFP-63 at NAS Miramar

US Navy McDonnell F-4J Phantom II (BuNo 153088) in Bicentennial celebration colours

E-2B Hawkeye in Bicentennial colors during USS Nimitz’ 76-77 Mediterranean deployment

U.S. Navy Rockwell T-2C Buckeye of VT 23 painted in a Bicentennial paint scheme, at Offutt Air Force Base — U.S. Navy Rockwell T-2C *Buckeye* of VT 23 painted in a Bicentennial paint scheme, at Offutt Air Force Base

U.S. Navy Grumman F-14A Tomcat aircraft (BuNo 159616) of fleet replacement squadron VF-124 Gunfighters parked on the flight line at Naval Air Station Miramar, California (USA), on 1 April 1976. — U.S. Navy Grumman F-14A *Tomcat* aircraft (BuNo 159616) of fleet replacement squadron VF-124 *Gunfighters* parked on the flight line at Naval Air Station Miramar, California (USA), on 1 April 1976.

F-106A 58-0760 of Florida’s 159th F.I.S., 125th F.I.G., in a special SMAMA authorized 1776/1976 bicentennial paint scheme for the Nation’s Bicentennial in 1976.

T-38s of the USAF Thunderbirds team with the Bicentennial star on their tails.

McDonnell Douglas TF-15 (F-15B) in Bicentennial colors

Scale model of an F-105 with Bicentennial tail.