Mystery Liberator

[george]

As of 1976, an intact B-24 was still resting on Ilak (or maybe Ulak) Island in the Aleutian chain. I have not heard of this airframe being discussed or recovered. This is not the Atka nor Great Sitkin airframe. Could someone familiar with that area add some info regarding this Lib. Thanks.

[tom d. friedman]

is it intact, or shards of metal???

[Flat 12x2]

As of 1976, an intact B-24 was still resting on Ilak (or maybe Ulak) Island in the Aleutian chain. I have not heard of this airframe being discussed or recovered. This is not the Atka nor Great Sitkin airframe. Could someone familiar with that area add some info regarding this Lib. Thanks.

This one ?
"Ilak, B24 wreckage. Burned by ground crew after target practice failed to destroy.
Dave Bowen "

[george]

Well, Flat, I guess that would depend on if this picture was taken before or after 1976. Do you know?

Hi Rob - If you have a picture, I would really appreciate seeing it. Thanks.

[Flat 12x2]

Well, Flat, I guess that would depend on if this picture was taken before or after 1976. Do you know?

I would guess its from the '60's, as the other pics its with (which are dated) are from then , would that mean there are/were 2 B-24's on Ilak ?
Another pic.
"Bowen + B29 remains, Shemya
Dave Bowen, Dec 1963"

Other info found on Aleutian's
"...occurred in 1944 when the PATTON rescued the crew of a B-24 bomber which had crash landed on Ilak Island returning from a bombing mission; target Paramushir Island."
"1994 WWII B-24 removed from Great Sitkin island
Crashed P-38 on Buldir Island removed; its WWII pilot Art Kidder present at removal "
"1999 WWII P-38 removed from Attu Island, refurbished "

Martin

[John Lane]

Didn't Hill AFB Museum's "LIB" come from there?

[Flat 12x2]

Didn't Hill AFB Museum's "LIB" come from there?

John
No thats 41-23908 recovered from Great Sitkin island in '95

Martin

[george]

Rob - any luck with the Lib serial # and photo yet?

This same survey, done in 1976, lists a Havoc being at the east end of the landing strip at Kiska.

[Todd Hackbarth]

Martin,

Can you give us any details concerning the B-17 tail section? When and where photo was taken, serial number of aircraft, etc???

Thanks,

Todd

[Flat 12x2]

Martin,

Can you give us any details concerning the B-17 tail section? When and where photo was taken, serial number of aircraft, etc???

Thanks,

Todd

Todd
It say's B-29 , I did not pay much atention till you said B-17, the only info is the info above the pic. I think the location 'Shemya' is a small island consisting of 2 runways, so the chances of the wreckage sill remaining are very small, but stranger things have happened !

[Todd Hackbarth]

Looking closely at the photo of the aircraft tail section with the person leaning against it, I have determined it to be from a B-17 and not a B-29!!! Clues include: the fairing for the trim tab control rod, the shape and construction of the leading edge of the rudder, the construction of the base of the rudder with the three lightening holes, the shape of the fairing between the bottom of the vertical fin and the fuselage/enpennage, the size and shape of the tail turret window structure and rear opening, the apparent gunner's door located under the elevator and the fact that the horizontal stabilizer is not even with the base of the vertical fin as it is on the B-29. It would be interesting to know the time period when this photo was taken and the story behind its demise. The red paint on areas of the tail turret makes me think it may have been an air-sea rescue SB-17.

Todd

[JBoyle]

In 1982-85 a flatbed truck spent the night at Fairchild AFB, Spokane. Washington.
On the trailer was a very large chunk of B-24 fuselage. Not bad looking.
Anybondy care to guess which plane it was or where it is now?
Maybe the Hill example?
I've always wondered.

[MorleyBee]

Hello, I am new to this site but thought I would offer the following. I was a Navy P2V pilot flying out of Adak in 1962-63 when I took the airborne pictures (shown on this site) of the Ilak B-24. The a/c had been totally destroyed many years prior (1944??) by demolition crews after bombing attempts failed to make any hits. The curious "dot-dash" line in the picture, from lower left extending up and to the right is a scratch on my 35 mm slide. It is not in the tundra. The belly skid mark is clearly visable. A closer look would reveal that the only thing fairly recognizable (back in '63) were the twin vertical stabilizers and the tail section. Hope this sheads a little more light on the subject. I have been in touch with one of the crew member's son and grandson. Regards, Dave Bowen

[MorleyBee]

Hello again. While I'm at it, let me clear up this bit of mis-information. There have been a couple other of my photos posted here on the "Warbirds" website, probably taken from my old Navy squadron's website (VP-2). One shows me leaning up against what is left of a B-17 on Shemya in the Aleutians. I mistakenly put "B-29" down and never caught it. Some of you sharp-eyed chaps DID spot the mistake. My apologies. Also there is a picture I took of the Buldir Island P-38. All taken back in 1962-63-64. If you want to see more Navy pictures, go to www.patron2.com (there is a link to go see the restored Buldir P-38).

Dave Bowen

[SaxMan]

In 1982-85 a flatbed truck spent the night at Fairchild AFB, Spokane. Washington.
On the trailer was a very large chunk of B-24 fuselage. Not bad looking.
Anybondy care to guess which plane it was or where it is now?
Maybe the Hill example?
I've always wondered.

Could it be LB-30 AL557 that is now sitting outside in Ft. Collins, CO? The timing sounds about right.