B-24G, B-24H

[HGabor]

Hi Folks,
As far as I know, no B-24G, or B-24H model fought in the Pacific during WWII. If so, what was the reason for that? Was their equipment not compatible with the requirements of the long range ocean missions?
Thanks,
Gabor

[Frank Olynyk]

Gabor,
I did some sorting on my MACR database. I found a total of 1023 MACRs for G and H models; 182 G, 841 H. Broken down by air forces: 5th AF, 1 G; 6th AF (Caribbean), 1 H; unknown, 1 H; ATC, 1 G; 11th AF (Alaska), 1 H; 8th AF, 3 G, the rest H; 15th AF, 847 G&H.

Without checking fuel loads and ranges, I would guess that the H model had noticeably longer legs.

Based on the above, nothing went to the Pacific, except for the two mistakes to 5th and 11th AF. I would suggest that even with the longer range of the H, the Pacific is just too big. There was no way any B-24 could reach Japan from the South or SW Pacific, and since the Pacific campaign was one of island hopping, the longer range was not needed. They could always grab another island a little closer to the enemy, and move their aircraft there.

15th AF however was operating from southern Italy, and up as far as eastern Poland, so it could always use the longer range.

Enjoy!

Frank.

[twocee]

I know little about US Army aircraft but looking at Blue's book on the B-24 the reason may be that the G and H models were the first to have nose turrets (Emerson) fitted as standard and so were rushed to the UK and the Mediterranean. In the Pacific on the other hand, quite apart from local field modifications the Hawaiian Air Depot already had a programme in place to fit Consolidated nose turrets to B-24Ds. There may not have been the same urgent need in the Pacific for Gs and Hs?

[HGabor]

Thank you Folks, it makes sense. Frank, could you please provide serials for these very few 'mis-asigned' Gs and Hs in the 5th, 6th and 11th AFs?
Thanks,
Gabor

[Frank Olynyk]

Gabor,

MACR 16333, 5th AF, May 17, 1945, 380th BG, serial 123 (partial serial, or squadron number?)

MACR 1506, 6th AF, Jan 16, 1944, 459th BG, 41-20723

MACR 4366, ?, April 28, 1944, ?, 44-304512 (obviously wrong)

MACR 15680, 11th AF, Jan 18, 1943, 501st BG, 41-28900

I have not pulled any of these MACRs, so there could be errors in the above. The information comes from the Maxwell microfilm listing the MACRs.

Enjoy!

Frank.

[HGabor]

Thank you Frank, this is excellent!
Have a nice weekend.
Gabor

[Alex Smart]

Not much help but MACR 16333 a/c was "M- 123", so a/c letter and serial number last three ?
And
MACR 4366 this was for a B25H 43-4512.
See Pacific Wrecks - https://www.pacificwrecks.com/aircra...5/43-4512.html

Alex

[Frank Olynyk]

Alex,

Your Pacific Wrecks link should be https://www.pacificwrecks.com/aircra...5/43-4512.html

Thanks for the correction. I have updated my database; someday I will pull the MACR.

Enjoy!

Frank.

[Graham Boak]

You could consider the logistic problems of aircraft from different production lines, in the days before a fuller interchangeability. It makes the supply of spares easier if all from certain factories go to one theatre and other theatre(s) needs can be supplied from one other factory. That odd individual aircraft "slip the net" is just one of those things that happens.

[JohanSWE]

The navy used lot of the PB4Y, PB4Y-1 and PB4Y-2 Privateer.
My question is; was the PB4Y variants equivalent to the B-24G, B-24H?

Second question is if the CBI units used any B-24G, B-24H or was is mostly B-24D's and B-24J's