American aircraft 11-12
 

Re: American aircraft 11-12
 

thanks, some interesting antennas on this and the tail serial seems to be just readable.

Re: American aircraft 11-12
 

You're welcome David. I did a search and the serial may be 41-11923, but I can't confirm that. If it is, joebaugher.com has this to say:
condemned Sep 6, 1945 due to non-combat accident.

Re: American aircraft 11-12
 

I doubt it is Ed

"Your" aircraft was a pretty early B-24D, and unless they rebuilt those with a proper nose turret (which we can see in the picture), it is not.

Seller is equally confused. Every aircraft taken by the Corporal in Okinawa are from 26th BS, but note the seller is not even 100% certain that's where the Corporal who took the shots was actually serving.

Thus we end up with a US Navy PB4Y-2 also in 26th BS, and so on.

Cheers
Stig

Re: American aircraft 11-12
 

http://www.b24bestweb.com/flying8ball1.htm
http://www.b24bestweb.com/flying8ball2.htm

Re: American aircraft 11-12
 

Thanks Revi

So they did upgrade the B-24D with nose gun turrets after all. It is not mentioned in the book I have on the B-24.... (apologies Ed!)

Was this a field modification since as far as I can find, none was built with one.

Interesting to see that neither this aircraft had nothing to do with the 26th BS!

Cheers
Stig

Re: American aircraft 11-12
 

Stig,

That PB4Y-2 was assigned to VPB109, which moved to Okinawa in July 1945. That would fit with the general time scale for this photo collection.

As regards the B-24D, I understand that there was a very large programme in 1943, both Army and Navy, to retrofit them with nose turrets.

Re: American aircraft 11-12
 

Thanks George

In your opinion, the last three digits of the nose code, did that always stand for the last three digits of the Bu No?

Interesting that with the B-24D. Must have completely missed out on such a programme. Must take a closer look to see if I can find more details.

Cheers
Stig

Re: American aircraft 11-12
 

Stig,

In most cases I have come across the three digits on the nose reflected the "last three". Also, the letter 'V' was indicative of 109.

Re: American aircraft 11-12
 

Thanks again

Makes things a bit easier trying to ID photos..... :)

I have found a few details regarding the B-24D nose turret mods, but the info moves in two different ways.

Anyone who knows if Consolidated (or other sub-contractor) actually built D-models from scratch with the nose turret installed?

Cheers
Stig

Re: American aircraft 11-12
 

Stig. Several B-24Ds were fitted with Consolidated tail turrets in the noses for the 307BG at the Hawaiian Air Depot.
They included
42-40235 ( D1-40-CO) "Hoot owl express".
41-24144 (D1-20-CO) "Munda Belle".
42-40323 (D1-50-CO) "Frenesi".
41-11923 (D1-CO) "Flying eight ball".
On one photo of 923 you can see the fresh OD around the modiofied nose.
The other D-models with nose turrets were fitted at the Oklahoma City Modification Centre and had a distinctive down-turned nose profile ( the 479ASG in England had a few).
Nick

Re: American aircraft 11-12
 

Hi Nick

Yes, thanks, I have discovered both the Australian conversion connection and the Tinker AFB one. (Hawaii was new to me)

The problem I face is that some sources claim that B-24D aircraft were built from scratch with true nose turrets installed when rolled out.
But most sources (internet) seems to prefer they were actually modified either in the USA (Oklahoma) or abroad (Australia)

It was a much larger operation than I actually thought. I didn't even know they actually modified them in the first place.....

The internet site about 380BG has some very good information including drawings etc, so I am making at least some progress :)

Cheers
Stig

Re: American aircraft 11-12
 

Hi Stig.
B-24Ds, Es and the first 25 x Gs had the fully glazed nose with various MG fittings; the first B-24s with factory-installed nose turrets were G-1-NTs ( from 42-78070) and all Hs begining at Ford ( H-1-FO 42-7465).
B-24Ds up to 41-23640 had no block numbers, they began with B-24D-1s.


Nick

Re: American aircraft 11-12
 

Excellent Nick

Hats off! :)

Cheers
Stig

Re: American aircraft 11-12
 

Stig you can also tell 41-11923 "Flying 8 Ball" was an early B-24 (modified) by the insignia, 65" overlapping the side windows ( bars added later) marked by CO/CF factories and also seen on Ford B-24Es and some early Hs. Some Ploesti B-24s had this style.
This batch was succeeded by the first D-1s.
Nick