Liberator AL507

[Chris Goss]

Can anyone please tell me the career and fate of this aircraft?

[Leendert]

Chris,

Perhaps this helps: http://www.rafb24.com/index.php/the-...als/2631-AL507

Regards,

Leendert

[G-ASEA]

G-AHYC. damaged beyond repair Prestwick 12.48

[Chris Goss]

Thanks both. Of interest, the photo I have shows the ac at East Boston Airport June 42 and it has two swastikas in a badge on the nose

[Graham Boak]

AL507 had quite a long and diverse career, being initially retained by the USAAF after Pearl Harbor, then serving with 223 Sq briefly before being fitted with turrets and sent to 120 Sq, equally briefly, before returning across the Atlantic to MIT where it was fitted with SCR 517 ASV Mk.III. It served with 224, 59 and 511 Sq before going to BOAC, whereupon it recrossed the Atlantic to be converted into a transport by TCA. It was registered to BOAC and ended its time operated by Scottish Aviation.

This is from Air Britain's The Liberator in RAF and Commonwealth Service, but there's nothing in there about swastikas.

[Col Bruggy]

Hello,

26 February 1943
U 508, a type IXC submarine, commanded by Kapitanleutnant Georg Staats, damaged.

Liberator II, 'Z', AL507, 224 Squadron.

S/L P J Cundy - Pilot
F/O R Sweeny - 2nd Pilot
F/O R R Fabel DFC - Nav.
F/S W Owen - Eng.
Sgt A Graham - AG.
Sgt H Richardson - WOP/AG
FS I A Graham - WOP/AG
FS E S Cheek - WOP/AG

...

Peter Cundy had earlier flown with 53 Squadron and with this crew had been flying with 120 Squadron, so they were an experienced group of airmen. Collectively and individually they were to achieve further success in the U-boat war. They had left 120 to take this Liberator II, nicknamed 'Dumbo', for Special Duties to the USA, returning with it in October 1942 and posted to 224 Squadron, which was converting from Hudsons to Libs at Beaulieu.

See:
Search, Find and Kill:The RAF's U-Boat Successes in World War Two.
Franks,Norman.
London:Grub Street,1995.
p.104 (Photo of Cundy and crew, between pp.82-3).

AL507/G-AHYC, was damaged on landing at Prestwick, on 13-11-1948.

Col.