'Lady Be Good' - in from the heat?

[Steve Birdsall]

The crew bailed out because they were running out of fuel and had no idea where they were. Bombardier John Woravka's parachute failed to open but the other eight managed to link up and were about 25 miles to the north of where Lady Be Good had come down.

The aircraft is perhaps not a war grave in the literal sense, but I always saw it as a marker, a memorial to this unfortunate crew.

[tom d. friedman]

if that pic of the vulcan shadow / silhouette over the lady is the real deal, then that has got to be 1 of the best warbird pics i've ever seen. truly amazing.

[PeterA]

It is the real deal.

The RAF used the 'Lady' as a NavEx marker.

PeterA

[CH2Tdriver]

While on the subject of Libya, does anyone know what became of the remains of the F-111 and crew that were lost during the 1986 raid?

Was it ever determined by the USAF how the 111 was lost?
Was it downed over land or the Gulf of Sidra?
Were the remains ever returned if recovered?

I remember seeing Libyan photos of supposed wreckage but these were highly suspect.

Peter

[Flat 12x2]

Its interesting reading the comments regarding "bring her back" (from the horrible country that wont let her go/is letting her rot) when you (the USA) have a complete B-24D, veteran of 18 combat missions left rotting where she came to rest on your own home soil.
Who's going to save that aircraft ?

[Flat 12x2]

It is the real deal.

The RAF used the 'Lady' as a NavEx marker.

PeterA

Fantastic pic. Peter
Thanks for posting.

[Django]

Its interesting reading the comments regarding "bring her back" (from the horrible country that wont let her go/is letting her rot) when you (the USA) have a complete B-24D, veteran of 18 combat missions left rotting where she came to rest on your own home soil.
Who's going to save that aircraft ?

Which one is that?

[Steve Nelson]

does anyone know what became of the remains of the F-111 and crew that were lost during the 1986 raid?

I believe it crashed in the Med. I seem to remember hearing that the only thing recovered was a crew member's helmet.

you (the USA) have a complete B-24D, veteran of 18 combat missions left rotting where she came to rest on your own home soil.

I'm interested to hear more about this one as well. I know there are a few B-24 crash sites in the States, but I was under the impression that the only thing remaining was badly mangled fragments.

SN

Last edited by Steve Nelson on Fri Jan 30, 2009 4:49 pm, edited 1 time in total.

[planeoldsteve]

Didn't the crew believe they where still over water when they jumped and wasn't the crew or Captain keeping a diary or log of them trying to walk out?

Steve

[Steve Nelson]

Yes and Yes..although without looking it up I think it may have been the co-pilot who kept the diary. Apparently, they were following a radio beam from Benghazi, but rather than heading straight towards their base, they had already passed it, and were heading straight away.

SN

[Russ Matthews]

Its interesting reading the comments regarding "bring her back" (from the horrible country that wont let her go/is letting her rot) when you (the USA) have a complete B-24D, veteran of 18 combat missions left rotting where she came to rest on your own home soil.
Who's going to save that aircraft ?

Which one is that?

He's probably referring to 40-2367, a B-24D resting on Atka, a remote island in the Aleutian chain off Alaska.

http://www.warbirdregistry.org/b24registry/b24-402367.html

http://www.nps.gov/history/NR/travel/aviation/atk.htm

[Django]

Gotcha.

I agree... Let's go get it! Who's friends with Sarah Palin?

http://www.wreckchasing.com/atkab24.htm

[Steve Nelson]

Is this the same wreck that provided parts for the Hill AFB Museum aircraft? Or was that a different arctic B-24?

SN

[old iron]

Back to the topic of LBG. If it had actually been recovered soon after its discovery in the late 1950s it almost surely would have been scrapped. The Libyans have actually preserved it to some degree and they deserve credit for that. In answer to the "bring it back" crowd, while there are certainly not enough B-24s in the US, there are some; anyone here who wants to see a B-24 can, and without traveling too far.

If Libya is seriosuly working towards a first-rate air museum for their country, this would be a popular display that would bring viewers into the museum. The aircraft has a direct link to their history, and also stands as substantive evidence of better relations between our countries and people. Not only should we encourage them in work towards this museum and the B-24 display within it, but we should offer our assistance where we can.

Kevin

[Django]

Is this the same wreck that provided parts for the Hill AFB Museum aircraft? Or was that a different arctic B-24?

SN

Different aircraft.