Where did the Consolidated B-32 Ball turrent go ?

[Glen]

Greeting's
I got a ? for the forum Dose anybody know what happen to the Ball turrent that was mokup for the Consolidated B-32 Dominator ?
When I was still active in the Then Confederate Air force and the DFW Wing was still putting on Air Shows (early 80's) at the Denton Airport I was shown by the late David Leberson it was in a small storage hanger. He told me it was a one of a kind ! According to all reports this would be most likely the only real part left that could tide to that Airplane . did it end up going to a Museum ?

Glen

[CAPFlyer]

It's in the main hangar, still not restored (yet). I have no clue where to start on a restoration, but I've been seriously considering using the forklift to move it outside and take an air hose and damp rag to it and see how much I can clean it up so that it doesn't look quite as "old" as it does now.

[Glen]

Glad to know it is still around and that it is indoors Dumb ? what hanger and where would like to see it again.
Thanks
Glen

[CAPFlyer]

DFW Wing's main hangar at Lancaster Municipal (KLNC). Second big white one when you turn onto Ferris Road from Beltline Road (east from I-35 or west from I-45) take the first entrance and then park on the right. Open Saturday 9a-5p and Sunday 11a-5p (ish). Even if the whole wing's out at an airshow, there's usually still someone there tending shop.

[astixjr]

Does the mockup actually have a ball turret? I would be very interested to see some photos if anyone can post them. I have been told that Emerson's Turret Division here in St. Louis built the ball turrets for the B-32 but I do not have any way to confirm that yet. I am finding parts for B-17 ball turrets and B-24/PB4Y ball turrets but I'm not sure I would know a B-32 ball turret part even if I saw one. I assume the B-32 used a B-24 style lowering/retraction system?

[RMAllnutt]

I have a couple of fuel gauges from a B-32... so there are a few things out there at least, but it is a shame that this bird is so poorly represented... they did save one for a while too. Why they scrapped it is a mystery to me... and a bit of a crime too!

Cheers. Richard

PS. Would love to see some pictures of the ball turret!

[bdk]

There is that intact one on the moon yet, no?

[Second Air Force]

There is an outer wing panel erected as a memorial in San Diego somewhere if I am not mistaken. It is truly a shame that the survivor was scrapped along with the B-19 and other rarities.

Scott

[CAPFlyer]

I'll take a few pictures this afternoon after work and post them this evening.

[mustangdriver]

If I am not mistaken, wasn;t the B-32 set aside for a museum like the NASM or NMUSAF, but cut up by someone accidentally?

[Taigh Ramey]

It wasn't cut up by accident. There was a deliberate decision made on a whole group of aircraft as to what was to be kept and what was to be discarded. As I recall, the documentation stated that the B-32 was not significant and since it didn't make a substantial contribution to the war, it was decided that it should not be kept for the collection.

[Jesse C.]

There is an outer wing panel erected as a memorial in San Diego somewhere if I am not mistaken. It is truly a shame that the survivor was scrapped along with the B-19 and other rarities.

Scott

Yes! I have seen it but it has been years! I think I will go on a little adventure this weekend and take some photos of it!

It is not just a panel, I think its the whole wing.

[mike furline]

I believe the NASM has a B-32 nose turret at the Paul Garber facility.

There are a couple of books on the B-32,

http://www.schifferbooks.com/newschiffe ... 0764324519

http://www.amazon.com/dp/0933126387?tag ... VNRQH3WP9&

Regards,
Mike

Last edited by mike furline on Wed May 09, 2007 5:21 pm, edited 1 time in total.

[Canso42]

The first time I'd ever heard of a B-32 was two or three years ago when I read a MBC book about an A-20 pilot in the SW Pac. He opted to go home when his sqn. was converted to B-32's.
I surfed the net under "B-32 Dominator" and didn't find a whole lot compared to more common types but it seem like I did read somewhere that the only surviving airfram was a forward fuselage section in museum storage somewhere. Garber maybe? They have a lot of obscure stuff in storage.
Canso42.

[retroaviation]

Interesting. The turret that was just returned to the CAF's main hangar about 8 months ago came in from some other Unit or Wing (not the DFW Wing), and they said IT was the old B-32 Dominator turret. I can't tell one from the other, so here's a picture of it for y'all........



Gary