Warbird Information Exchange

Consolidated B-24D-20-CO Liberator 41-24109 after service with 93rd BG as "Ready and Willing" became formation assembly ship "Ready and Willing" with 466th BG. In latter service carried no tail number, just 24109 on nose. 45 combat missions. Became 41-24109WW. Nick-named "Silver Streak" as the assembly ship of the 466th Bombardment Group, based at RAF Attlebridge.



Consolidated B-24J-55-CO Liberator 42-99972 after combat career ended, became formation assembly ship for 567th BS, 389th BG Named "Green Dragon II" in its final form, Hethel, spring of 1945 . Returned to USA

Which leads to a question...
Why weren't there B-17 assembly ships?
Or if there were, why don't we see more of them?

I have seen a illustration of a striped B-17, so there may have been some, but obviously not as prevalent as B-24 ships.

-Just a 2nd AD policy?
-Worse weather in Norfolk?(where most B-24 units were)...however my Suffolk born wife says the weather in Norfolk isn't necessarily worse despite Norfolk being further north).

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Remember the vets, the wonderful planes they flew and their sacrifices for a future many of them did not live to see.

Assembly Ships of the Mighty Eighth by Jacek Jackiewicz and Robert Bock only lists 6 B-17 assembly ships. No real insight gained in the book about why 24s instead of 17s.

"What is interesting is that assembly ships were used mostly in the Liberator bombing groups, but rarely by Flying Fortress units. The most significant users of such aircraft were the 303rd, 370th and 384th BG. However the group commanders found that this assembly process had little advantage over group leaders firing flares, and they disliked the idea of using precious fuel over the British Isles."

B-17E 41-9043 381st BG "Little Rock-ette"
B-17E 41-9020 303rd BG "Tugboat Annie"
B-17F 42-29947 303rg BG "Wabash Cannonball"
B-17E 41-9100 379 BG "Birmingham Blitzkreig"
B-17F 42-3441 384 BG "The Spotted Cow"
B-17G 42-39914 351st BG "The Black Bitch"

"Birmingham Blitzkreig":


"The Spotted Cow":

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Consolidated B-24D-53-CO 42-40370 nicknamed "Pete the Pom Inspector" used as a monitor ship by the 467th Bomb Group. Originally flew the 1 Aug 43 Ploesti mission with the 44th BG / 506th BS 'Heaven can Wait' (V), but aborted before the target and landed on Cyprus.

POM meant Preparation for Overseas Movement

I guess the B-24 units just needed more help.

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I am but mad north-north-west: when the wind is southerly I know a hawk from a handsaw.

Illustrated in Assembly Ships of the Mighty Eighth were 5 B-17 assembly ships. Courtesy of the American Air Museum website here are photos of those they have listed.

41-9020 303rd BG black and white stripes



41-9100 379th BG red and white stripes


42-3441 384th BG white with blue polka dots

I am on the fence personally about whether this was indeed red and white or just white stripes over the green. If you look at the picture below, there are absolutely no demarcation lines between the darker stripe and the green area around the tail markings. Either it is a trick with the older film, which I know can happen, or it was white stripes over the OD green.



Sean

In that respect I see your point, it IS hard to tell, short of a Kodachrome image we'll have to rely on "best guess". I will allow that overall the B-24 Assembly Ships were far more colorful and distinctive than the B-17s. Maybe all that flat metal made for a better canvas.

Does this change your position on the fence at all?

The difference between the stripe and the green is evident here both on the nose and the nacelles.

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Mosquito KB268 of 139 RAF. This Mosquito would be written off in a landing accident on 3rd March 1945.
Behind is B-24D Liberator 'Minerva' (serial number 41-23689) of the 392nd Bomb Group used as a flight assembly ship.