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

Mark Allen M · **Joined:** Fri Feb 03, 2012 1:48 pm **Posts:** 7830

... on this VP-14 PB4Y..

... but upon further inspection? ...

Mark Allen M · **Joined:** Fri Feb 03, 2012 1:48 pm **Posts:** 7830

... 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 · **Joined:** Wed Aug 11, 2010 7:56 am **Posts:** 843

A sheetie for a few days and some bondo and duct tape and she'll be back on duty.. :drink3:

Pogo · **Posted:** Thu Feb 05, 2015 7:16 pm

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

hang the expense · **Posted:** Thu Feb 05, 2015 7:17 pm

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 · **Joined:** Mon May 21, 2012 12:28 pm **Posts:** 1201

My initial guess/thought was mid-air collision.

daviemax · **Posted:** Fri Feb 06, 2015 2:13 pm

Perhaps we could find the accident report. . . .

daviemax · **Posted:** Fri Feb 06, 2015 2:23 pm

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 · **Joined:** Fri Feb 03, 2012 1:48 pm **Posts:** 7830

Nice work, that sounds about right. Thx much.

M

daviemax · **Posted:** Fri Feb 06, 2015 3:39 pm

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

pjpahs · **Posted:** Fri Feb 06, 2015 5:46 pm

,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.

Warbird Information Exchange

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

Who is online