Consolidated B-24 Survivors

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

B-24M-20CO 44-51228 Dugan Imperial War Museum - Duxford
B-24M-20CO 44-51228
Dugan
Imperial War Museum - Duxford

Consolidated B-24 Survivors highlights the history of many well known flying and static display Consolidated B-24s as well as PB4Y-2's in the United States. A list is also provided of other B-24's on display around the world; including location, model and serial numbers, brief history, nicknames/markings, and conditions.

Contents

[edit] Background

By the time the last complete B-24M came off the Willow Run assembly line in July 1945, 18,482 Liberators had been built by the five B-24 manufacturers. An additional 774 PB4Y-2 / RY-3 were further produced by Consolidated San Diego.

The B-24 was quickly declared obsolete by the USAAF and the remaining stateside aircraft were flown to desert storage in the south-west. In the Pacific theatre, many aircraft were simply parked, the oil drained from the engines and simply left for reclamation. By 1950, except for the one B-24D held for preservation, the vast fleet of Liberators were gone. In 12 May 1959, the last flight of a B-24 by the USAF flew from Davis-Monthan to the Air Force Museum at Wright Patterson AFB where it is now on display.

With the USN and USCG, the PB4Y-1 continued until early 1950s when they were retired to NAS Litchfield. The remaining PB4Y-2 (now redesignated P4Y-2) remained in inventory until the early 1960s when they were either retired to desert storage or expended as targets (as QP4Y-2K). After retirement from active service, these aircraft took up a second career during the late 1960s to the late 1990s as aerial tanker aircraft. It was only after a series of fatal accidents was the remaining PB4Y-2's were again forced into retirement

While both the RAF as well as the RAAF were willing to continue operating the B-24, the terms of the lend-lease agreements stipulated that these aircraft were to be either paid for or returned (i.e. scrapped) and vast graveyards of aircraft accumulated in India as well as Tarakan, Australia.

When India gained independence in 1947, 37 Liberators were resurrected and gave good service until their retirement in 1968. It is from the IAF that the majority of the remaining B-24 owe their existence.

One interesting historic facet was that in 1948 when Israel was looking for aircraft, the Royal Australian Air force was approached with the offer to purchase 25 aircraft, but since these aircraft had not been stored with long-term preservation in mind, they were neither airworthy nor economically feasible to restore to flyable condition.

With the availability of intact, existing airframes beginning to dimish, the warbird movement starting in the late 1990s and continuing to the present has been seeking out previously considered unrecoverable airframes for restoration. The RAAF has three airframes in storage (s/n's unknown) which were recovered when they restored their museum aircraft. Both India and China are reported to have additional recoverable aircraft and the jungles of the Southwest Pacific still hold abandoned aircraft.[1]

[edit] Individual histories

Currently empty.

[edit] B-24 Survivors


Each line describes one remaining complete or partial airframe. Each line is broken down into several sections:

Aircraft number History Markings Holder Location Condition
B-24J-85CF 44-44052
(N224J)		 ex-RAF Liberator GR VI (KH191) No 8 Sqd,
ex-Indian Air Force "T-18"		 Q2 M Witchcraft Collings Foundation Stowe, MA (A)


  • Aircraft Number describes the type of aircraft and model B-24J-85CF its s/n 44-44052
    and current registration (N224J).
  • History tells the history (oldest to newest):
ex-RAF Liberator GR VI (KH191)
ex-No 8 Sqd
ex-Indian Air Force "T-18"
  • Markings deals with current markings, codes first then name: Q2 M Witchcraft
  • Holder is current owner or museum: Collings Foundation
  • Location deals with location where it might be seen or owner's address: Stowe, MA
  • Condition:
(D) = Display
(A) = Airworthy
(S) = Stored
(R) = Under restoration
(W) = Wreck
(U) = Unknown
  • If Latitude & Longitude points are given, aircraft is on permanent outside display and can be seen using Google maps.


[edit] B-24A CO Consolidated-San Diego

  • B-24A-CO c/n 27 40-2369, Robert Kropp, Mesa, AZ (S) note: nose section only

[edit] Liberator II CO Consolidated-San Diego

  • Liberator GR.II CO c/n 55 AL557 (N92MK), ex-No 120 Sqn, ex-1445 Flt, ex-159 Sqn, ex-BOAC "G-AGZI" (North Atlantic Return Ferry Service), Vintage Aircraft Ltd, Ft Collins, CO (S)

[edit] B-24D CO Consolidated-San Diego

B-24D-160CO 42-72843 Strawberry BitchUSAFM
B-24D-160CO 42-72843
Strawberry Bitch
USAFM
  • B-24D-CO c/n 25 40-2367 (N58246), ex 11th AF / 21st BS /28th Composite Group - 18 combat missions (Pilot Captain John Andres) - crashed 9 December 1942, Bechevin Bay, Atka, AK (W) [5]
  • B-24D-25CO c/n 1096 41-24301, ex-9th AF / 376th BG / 514th BS, (Pilot 1st Lt. William J. Hatton) - crashed 4 April 1943 " 64X Lady Be Good ", Tobruk, Libya (S) note: wreckage only
  • B-24D-70CO c/n 1634 42-40557, ex-RAF Liberator GR V BZ755, ex-RCAF 600, ex-RCAF 10 Sqd(BR) "N - Nanette", " Fighting Sam ", (D) note: nose section only
  • B-24D unknown s/n, " Hail Columbia ", Fantasy Of Flight Museum, Polk City, FL (D) note: nose section only

[edit] B-24J CO Consolidated-San Diego

  • B-24J-190-CO c/n 4944 44-41008, ex-15th AF / 49th BW / 451st BG / 727nd BS, " Sloppy but Safe " - 90 combat missions,, The American Airpower Heritage Museum, Midlands, TX (D) [17] note: nose art panel only

[edit] B-24J CF Consolidated-Fort Worth

B-24J-85CF 44-44052 Witchcraft Collins Foundation
B-24J-85CF 44-44052
Witchcraft
Collins Foundation
  • B-24J-90CF c/n 1557 44-44262, ex-RAF Liberator D VI KH391, ex-Indian Air Force HE846, ex-No. 6 Sqn "D", Pooma AB, India (S?)
  • B-24J-90CF c/n 1558 44-44263, ex-RAF Liberator B VI KH392, ex-Indian Air Force HE846, ex-No. 6 Sqn "T", Pooma AB, India (S?)
  • B-24J-90CF c/n 1567 44-44272 (N94459), ex-RAF Liberator B VI KH401 No 357 Sqd, ex-Indian Air Force aircraft HE771, ex-No. 6 Sqn "P", " RR * R+ Joe ", Fantasy of Flight (FoF), Polk, FL (A) [23][24]

[edit] B-24J FO Ford-Willow Run

B-24J-20FO 44-49781 Louisiana Belle II8th AF Museum
B-24J-20FO 44-49781
Louisiana Belle II
8th AF Museum
  • B-24J-20FO c/n 3636 44-48781, ex-Spartan School of Aeronautics, " WQ * E Louisiana Belle II ", Eighth Air Force Museum, Barksdale AFB, LA (D) (N32 30' 43.41" W93 40' 53.58")

[edit] B-24L CO Consolidated-San Diego

[edit] B-24L FO Ford-Willow Run

B-24L-20FO 44-50206 RAF Museum - Hendon
B-24L-20FO 44-50206
RAF Museum - Hendon
  • B-24L-1FO c/n 3867 44-49112, ex-RAF Liberator GR.VIII KL506, ex-RCAF 11120, SOC: Oct 7, 1946, Michigan Historical Museum, Lansing, MI (D) note: nose section only
  • B-24L-20FO c/n 6707 44-50206, ex-RAF Liberator B.VIII KN571 ex-231 Group / No. 99 Sdn (Madras Presidency) "F", ex-Indian Air Force HE807, ex-No. 6 Sqn "K", RAF Museum (RAFM), Hendon, London, England (D), [30][31]

[edit] B-24M CO Consolidated-San Diego

B-24M-10CO 44-41916The Blasted EventCastle AFB
B-24M-10CO 44-41916
The Blasted Event
Castle AFB
  • B-24M-10CO c/n 5852 44-41916 (N4907L), ex-USN PB4Y-1 Bu 90165, ex-OTU-1 VB-4, ex-NAS Hutchinson, ex-Boliviana de Aviacon CB-76, ex-Bolivian Overseas Airways CP-576, " Circle-B RE * H The Blasted Event ", Castle Air Museum (CAM), Castle AFB, Atwater, CA (D) (N37 21' 52.93" W120 34' 42.46")
  • B-24M-10CO c/n 5992 44-41956, ex-RAAF A72-176, Werribee, Victoria, Australia. (D) [32] [33] note: wings from B-24D-13CO 42-41091 [34]

[edit] B-24M FO Ford-Willow Run

  • B-24M-5FO c/n 2414 44-50529, ex-8th AF / 2nd AD / 2 CBW / 453rd BG / 732nd BS "Circle-J E8 * ?", ex-8th AF/ 2nd AD / 14th CBW / 491st BG / 852nd BS, "Circle-Z 3Q * ? Flamin' Mamie", ex-RFC Walnut Ridge, AR, SOC: Jan 14, 1946, " Flamin' Mamie ", The American Airpower Heritage Museum (CAF), Midlands, TX (D) [43] note: nose art panel only

[edit] B-24 Unknown

  • B-24J s/n unknown, Popondetta, Papua New Guinea (W) [50]

[edit] B-24 (Replica)

  • B-24M-20CO 44-51228, RE * Z, USAF History and Traditions Museum, Lackland AFB, TX (D) [58] (N29 23' 23.37" W98 37 06.41")

[edit] PB4Y-2 CO Consolidated-San Diego

  • PB4Y-2S-CO 59695, ex-HDN-2/FAW-14, ex-VPB-143, ex-P4Y-2, ex-VP-894 (NAS Seattle) crashed 26 August 1956 (Pilot Lt. Thorson), Lake Washington, WA (W) [59][60]
PB4Y-2S 59701 127Hawkins & Powers Aviation
PB4Y-2S 59701
127
Hawkins & Powers Aviation
  • PB4Y-2S-CO 59701 (N6884C), ex-VPB-120, ex-HDN FAW-4 ex-VP-197, ex-VP-HL-7, ex-NAS San Diego, ex-Tanker "B27"" 127 ", Hawkins and Powers Aviation, Greybull, WY (S)[61] (N44 30' 34.23" W108 04 49.09")
  • PB4Y-2-CO 59876 (N6813D), ex-VB-197 NAS Miramar, ex-VPW-1, ex-HDN-2 FAW-14, ex-NAS Corpus Christi, ex-PB4Y-2G, ex-USCG Barbers Point, SOC: NAS Litchfield Park ex-Hawkins & Powers air tanker "A25", "B25", "125", Yankee Air Museum (YAM), Belleville, MI (S)
  • PB4Y-2-CO 59882 (N6884C), ex-HDN FAW-14 ex-VPB-197 ex-HDN-2 FAW-14, ex-PB4Y-2G, ex-USCG, SOC: NAS Litchfield Park, ex-air tanker "B26" & "126", " 126 ", Hawkins & Powers Aviation, Greybull, WY (S)[64](N44 30' 39.47" W108 04 47.95")
  • PB4Y-2M-CO 59932 (N9829C), ex-VPW-3, ex-VPM-3, ex-VP-HL-3, Tom Reilly Vintage Aircraft, Kissimmee, FL (W) note: fuselage only
  • PB4Y-2-CO 66300, (N2872G), ex-PB4Y-2G ex-USCG Elizabeth City, ex-air Tanker "B24" & "124" " 124 ", Hawkins & Powers Aviation, Greybull, WY (S) (N44 30' 39.92" W108 04 50.03")
  • PB4Y-2-CO 66302, (N2871G), ex-PB4Y-2G ex-USCG Elizabeth City, ex-air Tanker "B21" & "A20" & "121", " 121 ", Hawkins & Powers Aviation, Greybull, WY (S) (N44 30' 40.61" W108 04 49.95")

[edit] Reference

  1. ^ Aeroflight Warbirds Directory
  2. ^ 40-2366 AM927 (airliners photo collection)
  3. ^ 40-2366 AM927 (airliners photo collection)
  4. ^ 40-2366 N1503 (warbird info exchange)
  5. ^ 40-2367 (National Park Service)
  6. ^ 41-23908 (Restoration Progress)
  7. ^ 41-23908 (Pacific Wreck database)
  8. ^ 41-24311 Hadleys Harem (B-24 info page)
  9. ^ 41-24311 Hadley's Harem (Museum history)
  10. ^ 42-40891 Night Mission (American Airpower Nose Art Colection)
  11. ^ 42-72843 Strawberry Bitch (airliners photo collection)
  12. ^ 42-72843 Strawberry Bitch (Pilot Rice Memories)
  13. ^ 42-73188 Forever Amber (American Airpower Nose Art Colection)
  14. ^ 44-41328 Easy Maid (American Airpower Nose Art Colection)
  15. ^ 44-40989 Double Trouble (American Airpower Nose Art Colection)
  16. ^ 44040989 Double Trouble (B-24 Web page)
  17. ^ 44-41008 Sloppy but Safe (American Airpower Nose Art Colection)
  18. ^ 42-50468 O-O-Nothing ! (American Airpower Nose Art Colection)
  19. ^ 44-44052 (airliners photo collection)
  20. ^ 44-44052 (Aircraft KH191 History)
  21. ^ 44-44175 Bungay Buckaroo (airliners photo collection)
  22. ^ 44-44175 Bungay Buckaroo (Aircaft KH304 History)
  23. ^ 44-44272 Joe (airliners photo collection)
  24. ^ 44-44272 (Aircraft KH401 History)
  25. ^ 42-51637 Miss Your Lovin (American Airpower Nose Art Colection)
  26. ^ 42-51637 Miss Your Lovin
  27. ^ 44-41430 Lady Luck (American Airpower Nose Art Colection)
  28. ^ 44-50154 (aircraft KN820 history)
  29. ^ 44-50166 You Speak! (American Airpower Nose Art Collection)
  30. ^ 44-50206 (aircraft history)
  31. ^ 44-50206 (aircraft KN751 History)
  32. ^ 44-41956 A72-176 (airliners photo collection)
  33. ^ Big Pond B-24M
  34. ^ 42-41091 Flying Wolf (Pacific Wrecks)
  35. ^ 44-42020 Squeeze (American Airpower Nose Art Collection)
  36. ^ 44-42094 Mama Foo Foo (American Airpower Nose Art Collection)
  37. ^ 44-42094 Mama Foo Foo (B-24 Web Page)
  38. ^ 44-4209? Mission Completed (American Airpower Nose Art Collection)
  39. ^ 44-42117 Humptime (American Airpower Nose Art Collection)
  40. ^ 44-42117 Hump Time (B-24 Web)
  41. ^ 44-51228 Dugan (airliners photo collection)
  42. ^ 44-51228 The Blasted Event (airliners photo collection)
  43. ^ 44-50529 Flamin Mamie (American Airpower Nose Art Colection)
  44. ^ 44-50797 Sack Time (American Airpower Nose Art Colection)
  45. ^ 44-50803 Yellow Fever (American Airpower Nose Art Collection)
  46. ^ 44-50803 Yellow Fever (B-24 Web)
  47. ^ 44-50956 Surprise Attack (American Airpower Nose Art Collection)
  48. ^ 44-51030 Sleepy Time Gal (American Airpower Nose Art Colection)
  49. ^ 44-51030 Sleepy Time Gal (B-24 Web)
  50. ^ New Guinea B-24
  51. ^ Home Stretch(American Airpower Nose Art Colection)
  52. ^ Home Stretch
  53. ^ Lassie I'm Home (American Airpower Nose Art Colection)
  54. ^ Mors ab Alto (American Airpower Nose Art Colection)
  55. ^ Southern Comfort (American Airpower Nose Art Colection)
  56. ^ 44-10395 (replica)
  57. ^ 44-10395 (replica)
  58. ^ 44-10395 (replica) (airliners photo collection)
  59. ^ 59695 (Accident report
  60. ^ 59695 (go fish films)
  61. ^ 59701 (Hawkins & Powers)
  62. ^ 59819 (airliners photo collection)
  63. ^ (Primeprotal photo collection)
  64. ^ 59882 (airliners photo collection)
  65. ^ 66261 V514 (airliners photo collection)

[edit] External links

[edit] Video

[edit] See also

Wikimedia Commons has media related to:
Wikimedia Commons has media related to:
v • d • e
Lists relating to aviation
General
Military
Accidents/incidents
Records