Warbird Information Exchange

I'm not very knowledgeable about WWII Aviation, looking to learn a little more. For starters, I am looking to see what the 4 digit numbers mean on the front of the B-24's, and if you can find out more info about the plane.

I am certainly not an expert on any type of WWII aircraft, but I do believe that is a stateside training aircraft. The smarter types here can probably tell you what base it was assigned to and where that bird ended up.

_________________
Earn my respect and never lose it.
Demand my respect and never gain it. -Me

...just another plane dreamer.

Most likely, Ford-built B-24H 42-7729. Stateside training four-engined bombers sometimes (but by no means always!) carried the last four of the serial on the nose, and a one or two letter code for the base on the fuselage or tail. Unfortunately my usual sources (Baugher and AAIR) don't have any info on this particular plane.

_________________

All right, Mister Dorfmann, start pullin'!
Pilot: "Flap switch works hard in down position."
Mechanic: "Flap switch checked OK. Pilot needs more P.T." - Flight report, TB-17G 42-102875 (Hobbs AAF)

I tend to agree that this photo was taken at a training base in the U.S. Looking the squadron up in "World War II Combat Squadrons of the United States Air Force" published by the USAF Historical Division, the 829th Bombardment Squadron (Heavy) was activated on 20 Sep 1943 and trained in B-24s at Fairmont Army Air Field in Nebraska from 20 Sep 1943 to 11 Mar 1944. They were part of the 485th Bombardment Group. They show to have been in combat in the Mediterranean and European theaters of operation from 10 May 1944 to 25 Apr 1945. They then trained in B-29s.

If you Google "829th Bomb Squadron" you will find a few links with a bit more info. I hope this is of some help.

Randy

In which case, per fuselagecodes.com, it would have carried the letter code "FA" on the tail fins.
ETA:
See if this video of the Fairmont AAF will play for you; it won't for me:
http://studio.omaha.com/A-Trip-to-the-F ... e-28778827

_________________

All right, Mister Dorfmann, start pullin'!
Pilot: "Flap switch works hard in down position."
Mechanic: "Flap switch checked OK. Pilot needs more P.T." - Flight report, TB-17G 42-102875 (Hobbs AAF)

Gooday all,

The numbers on this B-24 are the last four numbers its serial number. This was typical of Second AF for its trainers for they were move around a lot for training.

829th Bomb Sqdn. (H) was assigned to 485th Bomb Group (H) which did all its training at Fairmont AAFld, Neb, 20 Sep 1943 to 11 Mar 1944 then they were off to Italy and the Fifteen AF.

They did not take 7729 with them for the group for the was issue new B-24s for theater deployment.

Years of studying hundreds of photos of these Second AF planes I have never seen Second AF field codes on B-24s, B-17s and B-29s yes but not B-24. Even when heavy bomber replacement training was transferred to Third & Fourth AF in the spring of 1944 Third AF did not applied there complicated field codes to B-24s.

Hope that's a help

Tom

Thanks!



Good info, thank you!



I did not have all this info, I know he was involved in the Ploesti Raids, spent time on the B24 called the Miss Fitz.





Thank you! I will look more into all this, all of you have been a great help.