I'm going to have breakdown this very insightful post.
ACResearcher wrote:
To answer the questions about the B-24G test aircraft and subsequent B-24Ns, I highly recommend you try to find someone with a copy of my book, "Consolidated Mess, Vol I". I believe it is Appendix VII that goes into a great deal of detail about the development of the single-tail B-24s. Until you can find one I'll share a bit of info here on armament of the single-tail aircraft. The other responders are quite correct about the B-24G test aircraft photos vs those of the B-24N, the big giveaway being the setup of the windows behind the turret on the fairing and fuselage.
I'll try and find a copy in the future.
ACResearcher wrote:
I was going to go into some detail here on the single tail development, including some new information I've come up with for Volume II, but that would have taken the discussion away from the nose turrets so I decided not to.
I WILL tell you this, however - the AAF never intended to build a single-tail B-24. In fact, the tests were supposed to be secret and were for the PB4Y-2 single tail configuration. However, word quickly spread how much better the single tail was than the twin and thus HQ was inundated with questions about "When are we going to get the single-tail B-24s'?" The AAF spent a considerable amount of time planning for the production of the B-24K, but that never came to be, obviously. The N was to be the eventual single tail wonderbird, also containing a number of other improvements such as the ball nose turret. This turret was also seriously considered for the B-24, B-32 and the B-17. The B-32 received a nose ball turret, but it was the A-17 replacing the Emerson 128. This was because it was felt the A-17 could be modified for the .60caliber machine gun much more easily than the 128. This gun was one of Arnold's pet projects but it never succeeded.
The story of the single tail development and the B-24ST, B-24K alphabet soup is a book by itself. I've read the stories and found conflicting information. I do hope to find the true story in the future. I know the drawings exist for the YB-24N / B-24N production, Consolidated B-24K, and the PB4Y-2. I have not been able to find any engineering information of the XB-24N, sad.
ACResearcher wrote:
Like the modified G test aircraft, the XB-24N had three windows in the fairing directly behind the nose turret (not counting the bombardier's bottom window), where the YB-24N and production aircraft only had two larger windows. The modified G also had two more observation windows behind these on the fuselage side, but the B-24N used the large single "bay window" type similar to that of the Ford B-24Ms. My research indicates that the B-24N was to be an entirely Ford-built (and designed) aircraft.
The fairing windows of the ball turret mount frame has jarred my memory of the difference, between the XB-24N and the YB-24N / B-24N production aircraft.
The large "bay window" is the same assembly used on the YB-24N / B-24N production, as from the B-24M. - GK32B19430.
Consider this thought. The XB-24N and both turret experiments may have started before the design changes were finalized with the M model. I do not know the timelines of these developments yet. It could be possible the XB-24N nose configuration was created before the M model was realized. I think the L may have had the large window configuration, but I can't recall off hand. Eventually, the YB-24N / B-24N production aircraft carried over the large bay window and canopy from the M model.
What if the XB-24N had the same side window configuration as the G model aircraft above? And Ford modified it after the design changes were created for the M model, and the canopy as well. The question is what came first chronological with the design? It would be nice to find out.
ACResearcher wrote:
The B-24N tail gun on the prototype was a Bell turret similar to that on the Cheyene tail on the B-17. However, the production aircraft received the A6C/SAC-7 tail turret as it provided substantially greater fields of horizontal and vertical fire and greater visibility.
I hope this is of interest.
Alan Griffith
Correct as with my findings. The M/N were also going to have the A6-D model as well.
Speaking of the B-24 tail turret. I can't find any drawings from the Motor Products Corporation - A-6A, A-6B, etc. I'm not aware if the Southern Aircraft Corporation made any of the early turrets, but I do have most of their drawings. Ford did make their own drawing set from the Consolidated drawings of the A6-A, before it was decided to have MPC manufacture the turrets. I wonder if MPC had their contract terminated before the war ended and Southern became the primarily contractor.
With the Cheyene modification, the sheet metal stamping attaching the gun mount to the aircraft bulkhead was sourced from another aircraft. I'm not aware what aircraft it came from, judging from a few rare photos recently seen myself.
ACResearcher wrote:
PS There is a link somewhere above to a cutaway drawing at Ford Images labeled the 1945 B-24K. I believe that to be mislabeled and should be the B-24N. I've called and talked to Ford Images and will also be contacting the Ford Archives and Henry Ford Museum to see if it is mislabeled or an extraordinarily-rare cutaway of the proposed B-24K. I seriously doubt the latter as there are too many details on the drawing that scream "N!".
I also have found the mislabeled cutaway drawing as well. If you look at the tail number, it is the XB-24N.
In the future I'll made a single tail thread. Covering the engineering analysis of the B-24K, B-24N, PB4Y-2 designs. When I have time to look over the drawings.
Thank you for the information and for a long post to ponder over.