Help Identifying B-24, pls.

[daveymac82c]

Hi everyone,

Here's a link to a picture of an airplane I found when simply searching google for pictures of Point Cook, Australia.

http://www.nattrust.com.au/var/nattrust ... _large.jpg

It looks like a recent picture, but I don't know of any B-24's that would be left in such disrepair.

I'm aware of the B-24 being restored (somewhere near Point Cook, can't remember where) but I don't think it would be the same airplane as this one since I thought the one being restored was composed of several pieces of differeny B-24's much less complete than the one in the picture.

Can anyone help me with the history and story of the airplane pictured in the URL?

Thanks,

David

[Steve Nelson]

I'm pretty sure that's LB-30 AL557, after it ran off the runway in Alaska while hauling freith for Morrison Knudsen in 1958. The remains were later recovered, and last I heard were in open storage in Fort Collins, Colorado.

(more detaile info is in the Warbird Registry.)

SN

[Obergrafeter]

So quit claiming its' a B-24 when it is plain to see its not as there is only one B-24 in the world blah......blah....blah!

[Quest Master]

David,
That is AL557. Here is an older picture of her in one piece:
http://1000aircraftphotos.com/Contribut ... d/6436.htm

[daveymac82c]

Thanks guys.

I was very confused when I looked at the link the picture was found on.

http://www.nattrust.com.au/trust_regist ... tor_bomber

It gave me the impression the airplane was in Australia. Thank you for sorting it all out for me.

Cheers,

David

[Warbird Kid]

I was looking for this pic for a long time! I was also wondering where this somewhat complete Liberator ended up. Thanks

[Xrayist]

It is in open storage in Ft. Collins. It is in many pieces, cut right aft of the cockpit, and then right aft of the wings. Last time I saw the wings, they seemed to be mostly intact, although in two pieces. The fuselage is in about 4 peices, looking like it was torn apart.
I saw it when it first arrived here, it was in a open hopper type rail car. Looked like it was cut into pieces to fit into the car. A real shame.

[Second Air Force]

It's interesting that AL557 has the same windshield configuration as Ol' 927. The airplane must have been updated in a similar fashion during an overhaul, and got the late canopy set-up as part of the bargain.

Seems a shame that a number of Liberators survived relatively intact for a long period only to be damaged extensively later.

Scott

[Matt Gunsch]

those are 2 different planes, look at the stripes and glare shield. they are painted differently.

Also the Aussie sight said it is located in Wyndham City, point cook.

It could be this one, Werribee is not that far from Wyndham City

http://www.b24australia.com/

Werribee (2 Apr 1998)
About 30 minutes SW of Melbourne, off Geelong Road. RAAF Satellite Base during WWII. Five hangars, one containing a Consolidated B-24M Liberator (A74-176) being restored - see:
Grant S, 1997. Looking for the last Liberator, Australian Geographic, Oct-Dec, 84-91
Hastings P, 1999. Last chance Lib, FlyPast, June, 72-73
Werneth R, 1999. Liberator down under, FlyPast, 74-75
The B-24 Liberator Memorial Fund has a website at http://www.users.bigpond.com/paulmcc/b24/b24.htm .
Info from Paul Harris (18 Dec, 2000): There is a private airstrip just a couple of km NW of Werribee which is the home field of the Werribee Aero Club. It has 2 grass runways, several windsocks and a hanger. Its on Hobbs Rd 6km NW of the town centre along Ballan Rd. Three light aircraft seen there on 22 Dec, 2000.

[Steve Nelson]

Paint differences aside, the aircraft in the first photo is definately AL557/N92MK. I believe the Liberator being restored in Australia is being built up from several recovered wrecks..all combat B-24 models. The aircraft in the photo is an LB-30, converted to a cargo bird..which pretty much makes AL557 the only option.

Here's an article from an issue of Frederick Johnson's 1989 publication "Liberator Lore" that details the history of the LB-30s, including the Morrison Knudsen aircraft. Gary, you may find this interesting (assuming you don't already have a copy.)

SN

[Second Air Force]

I'm glad you posted that portion of Liberator Lore, Steve. That was a hard-working airplane, and I hope a way can be found to reconstruct it sometime in the future. I really appreciate the last photo of the canoe being installed--for a while there I thought I would get a chance to remove one of those.

Scott

[Steve Nelson]

No problem. I stumbled on Liberator Lore in a hobby shop about 15 years ago. It's a four-volume set printed on newsprint style paper, about 30 pages each..but the info is invaluable to Lib Lovers.

The article gives you an idea of the kind of major surgery that will! be required to turn AM927 back into a proper bomber.


SN

[Second Air Force]

Steve,

I think the B-24 Museum at Pueblo has the entire series of Liberator Lore in their collection. I got a couple of issues at my hobby shop many, many years ago also.

If one had the complete drawings and funding, I still maintain it wouldn't be all that hard to put the bomb bay back in the airplane. That's a big "if", and it's not something I am going to concern myself with anymore. Although-----I certainly would have enjoyed a chance to snoop around in the PB4Y at Lone Star while I was in Houston!

Scott

[Steve Nelson]

I still maintain it wouldn't be all that hard to put the bomb bay back in the airplane.

I would agree..I supposed it's mostly a lack of $$$$ and manpower. Back in WWII, they didn't have to worry about such limitations, and probably did the conversions in a few days (they also had unlimited factory fresh parts available.)

SN