Warbird Information Exchange

Aloha All,
Only two "Liberators" flew to Oahu before the attack. One was B-24A "74" landing in early Nov 1941, and the second was an LB-30 "AL527" in late Nov 1941.

The "74" was piloted by 1st Lt L.T. Reicher and had flown to Moscow to return via the Pacific...India, Singapore, Australia, New Guinea, Wake, Hawaii.

The "AL527" was piloted by civilian Dick McMakin, a Consairways pilot, for a flight to return some PBY pilots to the "States" from Oahu.

I suspect the plane in the photo is "74", but that is a gut feeling...any one else have better proofs?
TIA,
David

David,

Good digging! I've come to the conclusion that the photo shows B-24A 40-2374. The reasoning I'm using is that AL527 was a Liberator II. The Lib II had no vertical tunnel gun windows that are evident just above the coverless fellow walking to the right in the Hickam photo. In addition, the radio room had only one window on the Liberator II and the waist window is lower than on the A model. Here is a photo of a 178 Squadron Liberator II in the combat zone:


So, judging from your information and the photos we have, that picture would have to be #74.
Here she is in earlier times, complete with the Air Ferrying Command lozenge:


Scott

Thanks, Scott,
For assuring the aircraft as a B-24A... what is the neg number for the "74" B-24A starboard side view?
TIA,
David

David,

I don't have a negative number on any of these photos--my copies came to me on a CD that may have had captioning cropped off them in the process of compiling the album. Nevertheless, here are a couple more photos of 40-2374 with the Hickam victim parked next to her. (The arrows pointing to 40-2371 are mine.)



The full starboard photo of #74 was taken on 10/22/41 according to some other close-up photos in the set.

Hope this helps,
Scott

Hi Scott,
The "74" digits seems quite subdued in tone than the stark white of "71"...and "71" is missing its Ferry Command logo...what color is the "74" digits? What is the number on the third plane?
TIA,
David
Neg numbers or archive source would truely help my files. Thanx!

David,

The subdued tone numerals appear to be a light grey color. It's interesting to note that the ship numbers were painted directly over the fresher black where the RAF fin flashes had originally been appied at the factory.


I blew up my image and can't make out the numbers on the other aircraft in the line. The Air Ferrying Command logos seem to come and go in various photos of the same airplanes, but I don't know the chronology of the pictures so can't answer why.

Scott

Aloha Scott,
Thanks greatly for the color shot of the gray numbers and the 'college try' on the third plane in the row. Some where there might be a good negative which might help...as the archivist MIGHT be able to read the number better.
Mahalo nui loa (Thanks greatly),
David

David,

Here are a couple more shots with at least some captioning that may help.


Notice how the AFC logo was masked off for spraying in this picture!

Hope the caption numbers help, David.

Scott

Aloha Scott,
The closer we get the more details emerge. The circle around the cocarde is new!
Thanks,
David

I assume that little ring is a result of painting the U.S. star over the RAF roundel?

Great shot of Diamond Lil over on Airliners.....wow.

http://www.airliners.net/open.file/1099765/L/

Hello All:

I have recently discovered this site and been paging through it. I'm a model builder and I have always wanted to try to do a model of an early Liberator without the superchargers. Problem is the only kit in 1/48 scale is the Monogram B-24J model. To backdate that kit will require some references on the different engine nacelles and the early fuselage profile with the shorter nose and shallower rear fuselage. Does anyone have a source for drawings or can point me to a source for them?? I can only do so much working from photographs.

William H. Shuey
whshuey@verizon.net

To help you with your model, try getting some PBY Catalina engines and such. That should make things a bit easier for you.

And just to update the current status of Ol' 927, the Squadron has a crew of two guys working on it right now to get the engine and landing gear portions of the annual (condition) inspection out of the way. They have a "hired gun" on contract for the job and he'll only be here another week. So they'll get as much done as possible, then either try to find some volunteers to come and finish up the annual (I will likely be supervising that, if it happens) or go ahead and fly it to the Cavanaugh Flight Museum and try to stir up some volunteers to help finish it up there.

I've gotten several requests for the upcoming tour schedule for the airplane, and as soon as it's completed and I get a copy, I'll be sure to post it for y'all to read.

Gary

Just wanted to wake everyone up and let you know that some updates on this winter's maintenance cycle are in the pipeline. It's been a while, but the old beast is still out there! In fact, I need to get back to work right now.

Scott

Scott, depending on when the plan is to bring her to Dallas, I may be available to help out on either end. Let me know (esp. since I'm now a dues paying member of the squadron.... ) if there's anything I can do!