Re: RAF Liberator, Black Swan, India, 1944.
 

Zoran

Please explain what you mean with Mcn and the range 43-001 to 145. What do they represent with the Consolidated Company?

Cheers
Stig

Re: RAF Liberator, Black Swan, India, 1944.
 

http://https://media.iwm.org.uk/ciim...rge_000000.jpghttps://media.iwm.org.uk/ciim5/22/690/large_000000.jpg
© IWM (ATP 13279C)
Original IWM description:
Liberator B Mark VI, KH166 (ex B-24J, 44-10731) on the ground at the Convair Modification Centre, Louisville, Kentucky, USA, prior to its delivery flight to the United Kingdom. KH166 was destined for service as ‘S’ of ‘A’ Flight, No. 357 Squadron RAF, on special duties in the Far East.

Hello,
Mcn means modification centre number, as each Liberator was modified after delivery in a bomber or general recce machine. 30- and 43- series were B-24s modified to bomber configuration. Mcn can be seen on the nose on Olive Drab/Neutral Grey machines, but was repainted on night bombers (and on Coastal Command Libs).
Zoran

Re: RAF Liberator, Black Swan, India, 1944.
 

Thank You Zoran

Very informative!!
BTW were both these Mcn ranges (30-xxx and 43-xxx) aimed at the British?
Did the USAAF have any ranges aimed at their own use?

Cheers
Stig

PS: Almost forgot you Col. Thanks for providing the very interesting Lib sites!!

Re: RAF Liberator, Black Swan, India, 1944.
 

Hello Stig,
Early Libs had manufacturers c/n, such as c/n 118, AL620 'S' of 159 (and 160) Sqn.
MCn followed, and can be found on later B-24s built for UK & Commonwealth, not USAAF.
For example RAF Coastal Command's GR.VIs made at Fort Worth were in 29- range; RAF GR.VIIIs in 34-, 45- and 48-, B.VIII 36- and 46-, and RCAF Libs in 37- range. SAAF 31 & 34 Sqn's Libs were in 30- and 43- range.
As far as I remember RAAF's B-24s were either directly purchased from the USA or ex-USAAAF machines and did not have Mcns.
Last but not least (to avoid confusion), there was no '0' digit after '-', and Mcns looked like this: 43-1, 43-11, 43-111.
Zoran

Re: RAF Liberator, Black Swan, India, 1944.
 

The Black SWAN seems to have a MCN 30-45X. the last digit is unclear.


/JohanSWE

Re: RAF Liberator, Black Swan, India, 1944.
 

Thanks for the explanation Zoran

Much appreciated!

Cheers
Stig

Re: RAF Liberator, Black Swan, India, 1944.
 

Unfortunately there is no easy relationship between MCN and USAAF or RAF serial number. However 30 tells us the aircraft is an early production Mk.VI with the 45x suggesting an aircraft towards the end of this batch (EW833 being 30-155). This would point to KH252 of the two we know of coded S.

Re: RAF Liberator, Black Swan, India, 1944.
 

Hi Zoran!
If i want to dig more and find more about the UK Libs.
Where can these MCN records be found for the RAF Liberators?
In what archives do you recomend? Is it from Maxwell AFB?

/JohanSWE

Re: RAF Liberator, Black Swan, India, 1944.
 

Hello,
I believe that there is no such a document. Maybe something can be found in:
Air Ministry Forms 78 – Aircraft Movement Cards
Air Ministry Forms 1180 – Accident Record Cards
Check what can be found at
https://www.rafmuseum.org.uk/researc...t-records.aspx
Zoran