B24C D E Liberator Tail Turret Photos Needed for Restoration

[Forgotten Field]

I am restoring a 1941 or 42 Consolidated A6 turret. I have yet to find a decent photo of the turret as originally configured in a tail mount. I have photos of the later use as a nose turret, lots of bad photos from the side with poor views of the turret, but it seems that the people who took photos of B24's had some aversion to photos of the tail guns (security?). Detail photos of the Collings Foundation's B24 Tail turret won't do as this was a later model than the one I am restoring- very different sheet metal and plexiglass arrangement. What I am looking for is a tail turret photo from an early to mid production B24D. 3/4 views and side views would be the best, and a front view would be helpful. If you are unfamiliar with this particular turret, it is the one with staggered guns to accomodate built-in ammo boxes, removable flat paned armored glass on the front, and lots of sheetmetal on the outside with compound curved plexiglass. It was Consolidated's first attempt at a power turret and wasn't too bad except for very difficult to work on if it broke, and tough to deal with ammo stoppages as the gunner could not easily reach the guns.

Thanks for any help you may offer!

[mrhenniger]

I know nothing of the details of B-24 turrets. Is there any chance that the Canada Aviation Museum's turret would be of interest to you? I could put it on my list of things to photography the next time I visit.

Regards,

Mike

[TimAPNY]

I have pictures of the B-24L Turret that is in Canada, The "M" in Castle AFB CA. I think that is it, I don't know what Turrets they have on them. But if they would help I can post them tonight. I don't think that the USAF Mus lets you get around to the tail of their "D" But I may have some shots of it. I'll have to check tonight.

HI check out strawberry bitch at Dayton it has never been torn apart its all original,and their very nice to deal with thanks mike

[Forgotten Field]

Strawberry Bitch is definitely on my list if I can't find photos. I think the M (if it has the correct turret) will have a later version of the A6, which is not what I need. There were three versions- A6, A6A, A6B. The A6 had ammo boxes built internal to the turret, sitting right in front of the gunner, front one for the left gun, rear one for the right. The guns were staggered to allow for this - one of the gun mounts was at the front side of the elevation drum, and the other was at the rear side of the elevation drum. This comes out in photos as staggered guns- one muzzle points further forward than the other. The other distinctive appearance for these turrets is the curved plexi fitted into built up sheet metal- it is the only one that I can find that is built like this.

Does anybody out there have photos of the tail turret on Strawberry Bitch?

Thanks for the replies!

http://www.wpafb.af.mil/museum/research ... /lbg-2.jpg

http://www.b24.net/aircrew/MenardCrew.jpg

[Forgotten Field]

GOOD PHOTOS. Definitely the type I am restoring. If anybody else has better photos of THIS type of turret, please let me know. I am working on building the molds for the sheet metal and plexi and want good views of them before I go melting plexi and hammering expensive 2420-0. Any chance of getting a good copy of the crew photo?

[TimAPNY]

Check my link below under Misc Aircract Picts. Ther is a piture I took of Strawberry Bitch tail on it. That is the best I have. Hope it helps.

[Dan K]

Another LBG shot...

http://www.376hbgva.com/aircraft/ladybegood.html

[Mike Berry]

I have posted a few pics that I took a few years ago of the B-24 tail turret at the Canada Aviation Museum in Ottawa.

http://community.webshots.com/album/171615845HWwTuj