"planes aren't designed to drag their rears along runways" - modern commercial planes maybe but pre-WW2 it was pretty much standard. And yes, early ones had actual skids rater than wheels - hense skidmarks.
Many modern planes also have a wheel at the back - officially known as "tailwheel aircraft", but usually called "tail draggers".
They handle somewhat differently on the ground from the more conventional "tricycle"[1] undercarriage, and require a little difference training for a tricycle pilot to cross over.
Landing's fun :-)
Vic.
[1] Yes, I'm well aware that a taildragger, having 3 wheels, also constitutes a tricycle. I'm just using the standard terminology...
Biting the hand that feeds IT
