Warbird Information Exchange

???

http://public.fotki.com/Kos/members_pho ... 587-1.html




-

_________________
http://www.biplanerides1.com/

Interesting chin turret

One of many attempts to beef up the nose armament using the same Bell power-boost twin-gun mount as the later B-26 Marauder tail guns.

SN

Was there a separate designation for this AC? How many were made?

I think it was just an old aircraft modified for testing purposes..Note the missing top turret, and heavilly touched-up paint here and there. You can also barely make out the letters "WW" in the data block..signifying "War Weary." I don't believe any of the planes modified with the Bell turret actually saw combat in that configuration. The photo was taken Stateside at Willow Run, and judgnig by the fresh paint around the nose, the turret is a recent addition.

As for the designation, was gonna say B-24D, until I noticed traces of the standard Ford "S-curve" in the sheet metal on the nose..a feature seen on Willow Run built machines with nose turrets. I can't quite read the data block, but I'm thinking it may be a B-24H-FO with major nose mods.


SN

More info on B-24 Best Web.

http://www.b24bestweb.com/haphazard.htm

Mike

Thanks Guys.