Barksdale AFB B-24 (pics)

Brad · **Joined:** Thu Apr 29, 2004 10:30 pm **Posts:** 1129

Drove by the 8th Air Force museum in Lousiana a couple of days ago. Maybe the threat of loosing the planes is spurring some action. While most of the planes need a lot of work, some had work in progress.

The B-24 doesn't look like it's had much work done since I last saw it about ten years ago.

gary1954 · **Posted:** Thu Dec 18, 2008 1:22 pm

I wonder if anyone knows where all of the engine cowling are :shock:

Pat Carry · **Posted:** Thu Dec 18, 2008 1:24 pm

This B-24 should go to the Natl Air & Space Museum! My 2 cents worth. Thanks for the photos.

Django · **Posted:** Thu Dec 18, 2008 3:10 pm

This one is the Ford, right?

mustangdriver · **Posted:** Thu Dec 18, 2008 3:45 pm

I'd rather see it go static at Yankee Air Museum

steve dickey · **Posted:** Thu Dec 18, 2008 7:19 pm

mustangdriver wrote:

I'd rather see it go static at Yankee Air Museum

Now that would be cool if it is a Ford built

Matt Gunsch · **Posted:** Thu Dec 18, 2008 9:21 pm

Django wrote:

This one is the Ford, right?

yes
B-24J-20-FO 44-48781 is on display at the Eighth Air Force Museum at Barksdale AFB in Louisiana. It bears the name *Laiden Maiden*, and carries 486th BG markings

info from http://home.att.net/~jbaugher2/b24_18.html

cozmo · **Posted:** Thu Dec 18, 2008 9:40 pm

Except it hasn't been Laiden Maiden for a while.

Now its Louisiana Belle II.

Steve Nelson · **Posted:** Thu Dec 18, 2008 10:24 pm

Thanks for the pics!

This aircraft appears to have been built with enclosed waist positions, but the windows are missing..is it normally open to the weather/vandals like that?

I'd also love to see her at Willow Run, but I'm kinda biased, since it's only an hour up the road from me.

SN

Warbird Kid · **Posted:** Fri Dec 19, 2008 1:53 am

Static? Heck No.

If any Warbird right now should be willingly placed into caring hands to preserve and operate, it should be this Liberator to The Yankee Air Museum. No questions asked. The Smithsonian will find another B-24 Im sure. But being the only Ford B-24 this side of the pond, I believe she should be donated ASAP.

Keep Em' Flying
Christopher

Taylor Stevenson · **Posted:** Fri Dec 19, 2008 2:07 am

At least she's outside where she is protected... :roll:

mustangdriver · **Posted:** Fri Dec 19, 2008 2:18 am

Well, it is a NMUSAF aircraft, so it will be static wherever it goes. That being said, I'd love to see the folks at Willow Run get it.

Django · **Posted:** Fri Dec 19, 2008 8:30 am

But imagine if the YAF could get it and make her airworthy. Sigh...

Second Air Force · **Posted:** Fri Dec 19, 2008 12:19 pm

Here's a little bit of the history of the Barksdale '24, courtesy of tulsaboy. If I felt better I'd look for the other thread where we talked about this airplane. http://warbirdinformationexchange.org/p ... 24&start=0
Photo of it sitting on the Tulsa airport partway down the first page, then a bit of the history of the move to Shrevport.

mustangdriver · **Posted:** Fri Dec 19, 2008 3:11 pm

me109me109 wrote:

At least she's outside where she is protected... :roll:

Atleast she is still here. I think it is a short matter of time before we start seeing the base museums and gate gaurd aircraft come in from the cold in either indoor museums built at the bases, or transferring the aircraft to facilities that will care for them. Many here don't like the General in Dayton, but he is in favor of bringing all of the aircraft in from the cold. Just look at some of the major stories from the past year for proof.

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Barksdale AFB B-24 (pics)

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