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Old 28th December 2013, 21:03
Alex Smart Alex Smart is offline
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Join Date: Dec 2004
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Re: Is this a true statement about the B24?

Hello,
If you are restricting the question to deal with B-24 Liberator II's only.

These were those in the RAF serial number range "AL" with one aditional replacement aircraft in the "FP" RAF serial number range.

86 Liberator II's ( B-24B's) delivered to the RAF between September 1941 and May 1942 to contract F-677.
It is believed that AL642 through to AL667 (25 a/c) were not built.

86 + 25 = 111 a/c
Balance of an order for 165 a/c diverted before delivery.
165 - 111 = 54 a/c (Retained in the US ?).

I have arrived with this "AL"list plus 1 "FP" :

1 – AL503 crashed into San Diego Bay during acceptance flight, killing all aboard including Consolidated chief test pilot William Wheatley.
2 - AL507 repossessed by USAAF. Turned over to Britain Mar 25, 1943. To BOAS Aug 1, 1944 as G-AHYC. Bellylanded Heathfield Oct 2, 1946 and salvaged.
3 - AL508 repossessed by USAAF. (7th BG, 11th BS) arrived in Java from Darwin via Pacific route Jan 26, 1942. Based at Jogia from Jan 27, 1942. Crashed at Essendon airfield May 18, 1942 on takeoff. Condemned May 15, 1943
4 - AL515 commandeered by USAAF. Arrived via Pacific Route via McDill Fl, Hamilton CA, Hickam Hi, Palmyra IS, Canton Is, Nausori (Fiji), Garbutt(Townsville Qld), Darwin (NT) to Malang, Java. Last LB30A
out of Java on Mar 2, 1942 in 7 hour flight to Broome, landed, refuelled and flew on to RAAF Pearce before the Broome Raid the next day. Returned to Broome to evacuate survivors of Raid to RAAF Pearce. Left RAAF Pearce to RAAF Laverton Vic Mar 6, 1942 taking 8Hours 20 mins. Surviving 3 Pacific based LB30A's were established into a flight within the 435th BS/19thBG at Garbutt, Townsville. AL515 eventually went on to bigger things,
but bellied in at Milne Bay airstrip on the Aug 20, 1942. Was stripped, but a week later was strafed by Japanese and destroyed on Aug 27, 1942. Condemned Aug 28, 1942.
5 - AL521 requisitioned by USAAF. Lost in Japanese raid on Darwin, Australia Feb 19, 1942.
6 - AL527 requisitioned by USAAF. Wrecked near March Field, CA Jul 1, 1942 when crashed and burned after takeoff
7 - AL532 requisitioned by USAAF. To C-87 with USAAF. To RFC at Kingman Oct 5, 1946
8 - AL533 requisitioned by USAAF. Arrived at Darwin Jan 30, 1942, to Jogia, Java. w/o in combat when strafed and destroyed at Jogjiakarka Mar 1, 1942.
9 - AL535 requisitioned by USAAF. Damaged by fighters and force landed on beach at small island of Greater Mesalembo Jan 18, 1942. Crew picked up by PBY Jan 25, 1942. First USAAF Liberator combat loss.
10 - AL539 requisitioned by USAAF. Crashed Jun 8, 1943. Condemned Jun 9, 1943.
11 - AL543 requisitioned by USAAF. Surveyed May 29, 1943
12 - AL567 requisitioned by USAAF. Destroyed on ground by strafing attack on Jogiakarta Feb 22, 1942.
13 - AL568 requisitioned by USAAF. To RFC at Walnut Ridge Jan 13, 1946.
14 - AL570 requisitioned by USAAF. To RFC at Walnut Ridge Jan 9, 1946
15 - AL572 requisitioned by USAAF. Hit by bomb in hangar Jogiakarta Mar 1,1942.
16 - AL573 requisitioned by USAAF. Wrecked Jan 1, 1942 at MacDill Field when gear unlocked during landing rollout. Repaired. Became transport in Australia as VH-CBM. To RFC at Walnut Ridge Jan 17, 1946.
17 - AL575 requisitioned by USAAF. Landing gear would not extend, crew bailed out Jan 2, 1942, San Diego, CA
18 - AL576 requisitioned by USAAF. Arrived via Africa Jan 12, 1942 at Malang, Java. Later forced landed at Makassar, Jan 7, 1942. crew picked up by US Navy PBY and returned to Malang, Java.
19 - AL583 requisitioned by USAAF. To RFC at Walnut Ridge Jan 15, 1946. To civil registry as NL4674N, later RX-102 (Transportes Aereos de Panama).
20 - AL586 requisitioned by USAAF. To RFC at Kingman Jan 9, 1946
21 - AL589 requisitioned by USAAF. Lost with 5th BG on raid from Midway to Wake Island Jun 7, 1942. MACR 600. General Clarence L. Tinker was on board.
22 - AL594 requisitioned by USAAF. To RFC at Kingman Oct 8, 1946
23 - AL596 requisitioned by USAAF. Wrecked at Westover Field Jan 31, 1943, converted to ground training aircraft Feb 5, 1943.
24 - AL598 requisitioned by USAAF. to RFC at Kingman Oct 6, 1946
25 - AL601 requisitioned by USAAF. Crashed into hill Jun 4, 1942, Hamilton Field, CA. 14 on board killed.
26 - AL602 requisitioned by USAAF. Wrecked at Kodiak, Alaska May 22, 1942 when overshot landing and fell into ravine
27 - AL604 requisitioned by USAAF. Exploded in midair north of Rio Hato AB, Canal Zone Jun 15, 1943. 2 killed, 3 parachuted to safety.
28 - AL605 requisitioned by USAAF. Wrecked in landing accident Jun 17, 1943, Rio Hato AB, Canal Zone when landing gear collapsed.
29 - AL606 requisitioned by USAAF. Ditched between Palmyra and Canton Islands Jan 31, 1942. Only 2 survived. Condemned Oct 31, 1944.
30 - AL607 requisitioned by USAAF. Wrecked 5 mi S of Hanna, WY when abandoned by crew during ice storm Jun 27, 1942.
31 - AL608 requisitioned by USAAF. Used to evacuate General Wavell to Ceylon Feb 26, 1942. Condemned Oct 31, 1944
32 - AL609 requisitioned by USAAF. Destroyed in strafing attack Mar 1, 1942.
33 - AL611 requisitioned by USAAF. Salvaged Jul 31, 1945
34 - AL612 requisitioned by USAAF. Damaged Jan 12, 1942, broken left wing on landing. Salvaged for parts at Malang. destroyed in strafing attack Feb 27, 1942.
35 - AL613 requisitioned by USAAF. To RFC at Kingman Jan 9, 1946
36 - AL615 requisitioned by USAAF. Condemned Oct 7, 1944.
37 - AL617 requisitioned by USAAF. Salvaged Jul 31, 1945
38 - AL618 requisitioned by USAAF. Wrecked Panama Apr 9, 1943, SOC May 6, 1943.
39 - AL621 requisitioned by USAAF. Wrecked at Tucson, AZ during force landing and hit a house Dec 23, 1942. Surveyed Jan 1, 1943.
40 - AL622 requisitioned by USAAF. Condemned at Kodiak Oct 30, 1943.
41 - AL623 requisitioned by USAAF. Wrecked in landing in Carribean Dec 13, 1942.
42 - AL626 requisitioned by USAAF. Wrecked Mar 29, 1942 at Patterson AAF, OH when nosewheel collapsed, but repaired. SOC as worn out by Dec 31, 1945.
43 - AL628 requisitioned by USAAF as C-87. To RFC at Walnut Ridge Feb 1, 1946.
44 - AL629 requisitioned by USAAF. Condemned Oct 7, 1944, Salanis, Ecuador.
45 - AL631 requisitioned by USAAF. Wrecked on beach at Buenaventura, Columbia Apr 14, 1942. SOC Jun 10, 1942.
46 - AL632 requisitioned by USAAF. To RFC at Kingman, AZ Jan 12, 1946.
47 - AL633 requisitioned by USAAF. Condemned in Hawaii sometime in 1945.
48 - AL634 requisitioned by USAAF. Wrecked in landing accident Dec 31, 1942.
49 - AL637 requisitioned by USAAF. Converted to C-87. To RFC at Cincinatti, OH Jan 31, 1946.
50 - AL639 requisitioned by USAAF, converted to C-87. To RFC at Cincinatti, OH Jan 10, 1946
51 - AL640 requisitioned by USAAF, converted to C-87. Salvaged as C-87 Nov 3, 1945
52 - AL641 requisitioned by USAAF. To RFC as C-87 Walnut Ridge, Ark Jan 7, 1946.
53FP685 Replacement for AL503; to USAAC 12.1.42.



Thanks to the JB website and AB's books.


Alex

Last edited by Alex Smart; 28th December 2013 at 21:41.