NACA Ditched B-24 - 1945

[JDK]

Consolidated B-24D Liberator: In a test of air crew survivability, this Consolidated B-24D Liberator was intentionally ditched in the James River. Note that the aircraft has been reinforced beyond the normal structural limits of a Liberator.
Date:
11.14.1945
Credit:
NASA Langley Research Center (NASA-LaRC)

http://nix.ksc.nasa.gov/info?id=EL-2003-00304&orgid=1

[TonyM]

Seems to be a discrepancy concerning the date of the photo:

The date scribed into the bottom of the photo indicates "20 Sept 1944" and the date indicated by the thread author states the photo was shot November 14, 1945.

Which is correct?

TonyM.

[Holedigger]

Sept 44 seems to be the correct date. There is even a Video of the test on Youtube!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BSDa9z4kdOg

[Pat Carry]

Is it just me or does it look like as the crew emerges from the plane they look and act like, "Ok, so we ditched another plane, just another day at the office"

[Holedigger]

Yup! Kinda got that impression!! Tough guys just doing their job! Very nonchalant! It is a very cool set of movie clips. Wonder if they had any extra floatation gear fitted or just very empty tanks. She sure broke her back on splash down.

[Second Air Force]

There is a nice article about the ditching test embedded in an oral history in the NACA/NASA files. The original seems to have been deleted from the JSC list, so do a search with these words--"B-24 ditching shoring bomb bay doors". The second result I came up with is a PDF from Nasa Headquarters NACA Oral History Project. The pertinent information starts on page 17 of the file.

Scott

[Jerry O'Neill]

I watched this one, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6THyBqVC ... re=related,
and I'm wondering if this B-24 is still on the bottom of the ocean off Florida?

Jerry

[Holedigger]

That appears to be one of the same clips as from the other link supposed to be the James River. Hmmmm, something somewhere is mis-labled.

[Jerry O'Neill]

I think you're right about it being mis-labeled. That's the same RR bridge in the background that crosses the James River. Well, maybe there's some B-24 "parts" still in the river !
Jerry

[Second Air Force]

Did y'all notice that the #4 engine kept on chugging away while partially in the water? Poor old airplane!

[avenger2504]

I like the Fonz moment when one of the crew gets out a comb and does his hair! Pretty brave guys to do that (the ditching not the combing )

[JDK]

Seems to be a discrepancy concerning the date of the photo:

The date scribed into the bottom of the photo indicates "20 Sept 1944" and the date indicated by the thread author states the photo was shot November 14, 1945.

Hi Tony,
Just to clarify, I added nothing to the data - the date quoted in text is a straight lift from the NASA website as per the link shown.

It would seem off to be undertaking ditching trials with a Lib in '45, where wartime data would be more vital.

Glad it was of interest, lots of good stuff dug up!

[tom d. friedman]

excellent footage!! gives perspective to the lib's ditching quirks!!

[Shay]

Same aircraft different view post ditching....



Shay
____________
Semper Fortis

[Shay]

It looks as though dorsal turret was remove prior to the test and they were flying the turret openning unsealed. Sure makes for quik egress.

Is the serial # known of this aircraft?

Shay
____________
Semper Fortis