Or how about a B-24 LB-30 kit!!!!

[Michel Lemieux]

https://www.trade-a-plane.com/search?category_level1=Multi+Engine+Piston&make=CONSOLIDATED+VULTEE&model=B-24&listing_id=2359008&s-type=aircraft#

[sandiego89]

"ran when parked, no low-ballers!"

[Combatmech]

That'll buff right out......

Interesting post!!!

[TAdan]

I've got a fresh tube of Testors cement and my Exacto knife ready...

I sure hope this Liberator will find a good home.

[Combatmech]

That would be a great project for someone with DEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEP pockets.

[Scott Rose]

Anybody know the Serial # of this a/c?

[mike furline]

Anybody know the Serial # of this a/c?

Was it ever assigned a USAAC S/N?

http://warbirdregistry.org/b24registry/lb30-al557.html

http://www.b24bestweb.com/lb30-al557-1.htm

http://www.joebaugher.com/usaf_bombers/b24_5.html

[Cvairwerks]

Per the listing...RAF AL557

[Snake45]

That would be a great project for someone with DEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEP pockets.

The Fear the Walking Dead crew could have it back in the air in two episodes--three tops.

[Jesse C.]

Would make a great "Lady Be Good" diorama!

[Scott Rose]

http://warbirdregistry.org/b24registry/lb30-al557.html

[JohnB]

The C-133 book has photos of it being flown somewhere.
Anyone have an update on its status?

[mike furline]

Are the wings from a different airframe (photo #2)? Seems odd that a plane ordered by and purpose built for the British would have US insignia on it.

[Xrayist]

Those pics were taken outside of Vintage Aircraft in Fort Collins, CO. When it first arrived, it was in an open rail car parked on a siding just out of the main part of town. It was eventually moved to the location pictured. During that time there were also a lot of B-17 parts mixed in. I think those were from the B-17 that the Whittington brothers brought up from Bolivia(?) I have lived in Fort Collins since 1980 and there have been some great warbirds here. At one time at a nearby airport, there was a P-40E, P-51 Stump Jumper, and P-51 Boomer, parked out in the general aviation area. At a later time, Aluminum Overcast was parked there. These were all out in the open and you could get up close to photograph or admire them. There were also 2 Bf-109's being rebuilt at Vintage Aircraft, and within the same area, P-51 N167F, a Fairey Firefly, a P-51 which was light gray, had a tall tail, and NACA on the tail, Whittington's P-51H, with the 5 blade prop laying on the floor of the hanger in front of it, and a few others. Ray Middleton(?), the one that was restoring Bill Greenwood's Spit, had a place a few blocks away. At different times I saw on Hurricane and 2 different Spits, one a low back bubble canopy version. i haven't been out there for awhile, but I think that the LB-30 has been moved. I guess I need to take a run out there and see what is still there.

[Matt Poole]

There is great background history of AL557 in the book "Hidden Warbirds" by Nick Veronico. Here's a google link to book excerpts:

http://books.google.com/books?id=X-y...ins%22&f=false

AL557 ended up in India for about ten and a half months on 159 Squadron, a focus of my research. Here’s an excerpt from Nick’s book:

...at RAF Lyneham in Wiltshire, England. Here the bomber was prepared for operations in India.

After making the transit, AL557 arrived at Salbani, India (west of Calcutta), on July 10, 1943, where it was assigned to No. 159 Squadron, Air Command South East Asia. Here the Liberator served as a long-range transport for nearly a year. On May 23, 1944, AL557 departed India for the Mediterranean Allied Forces. In April 1945, AL557 was flown from the Mediterranean to Scottish Aviation for conversion to a passenger carrier.

I have copies of six 159 Squadron airmen’s logbooks which mention this particular aircraft on 22 training flights between 3 August and 1 October 1943. Attached is one entry from the logbook of 404534 RNZAF observer Joseph Nolan Culleton. He flew only once aboard AL557.

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