Looks to be a relatively minor nose wheel collapse ...

[Mark Allen M]

... on this VP-14 PB4Y..





... but upon further inspection? ...

[Mark Allen M]

... there looks to be a bit more damage ...







I have no idea what happened and it doesn't look to be combat damage.
Source: SDASM archives VP-14/VP-102/VPB-102 Special Collection

[Invader26]

A sheetie for a few days and some bondo and duct tape and she'll be back on duty..

[Pogo]

It wouldn't be WIX without somebody saying "Gary isn't gonna like this."

[hang the expense]

My bet is the bird was landed on the nose gear which separated from its mount and danced down the side of the plane.The damage sure looks screwy though.I don't think it hit anything while landing because the damage starts too far aft.

[sandiego89]

My initial guess/thought was mid-air collision.

[daviemax]

Perhaps we could find the accident report. . . .

[daviemax]

Per Aviation Archeology website, Bu. No. 32319 "Long range search, during take-off run hit bull-dozers on runway, North Field, Tinian, Loss date 9 Sep 44;Stricken 30 SEP 44." See link below. Could this be it?

http://www.aviationarchaeology.com/src/USN/PB4Y.htm

[Mark Allen M]

Nice work, that sounds about right. Thx much.

M

[daviemax]

You're welcome Mark. Keep the great photos coming!

[pjpahs]

,The third photo shows what appears to be a retractable tail skid and the AC in the background has
one extended and maybe resting onto something. I think FIFI has a retractable tailskid. Don't remember
Witchcraft having one or never seen it extended, or was it a Navy Patrol plane thing? Joe Baughers site
has the accident involving bulldozers for BU. #32319 , same as daviemax posted.


Looking further I found that B-24's did indeed have a retractable tail skid. They are shown in photos at various websites,
Like Fantasy Of Flight, Collings, and our own Warbird Registry.