B-24s at Poona AFB, India

[tulsaboy]

Scott or others,

A second B-24 related question for the evening...

What is the status of B-24 s/n 44-44262 and 44-44263 that are listed in the registry as in storage at Poona (Pune) AFB in India? I tracked down the supposed coordinates of the airfield on Google and looked at the site on Google Earth (18 deg 35 min N, 73 deg 55 min E). I zoomed in and took a look, but couldn't see any obvious B-24s in the open. Can anyone else find them, or does anyone else have any information about them? Have they been moved?

Thanks!
kevin

[Flat 12x2]

Unfortunately that info is inaccurate, there is only one left in India,
B-24 Liberator J HE-924 IAF Museum Palam Delhi
Have a look a Jagans excellent site for more info.
http://www.warbirdsofindia.com/index2.html

[bomberflight]

This one is a real X File ....... the truth is out there ~ maybe !

I spent several weeks working in India last year and one of the "local" guys on the project was the son of retired senior Indian Air Force officer.

The story I was told was that a very senior officer had a B-24 pulled into one of the hangars on an air base ( Bangalore NOT Pune ) as a personal investment in his retirement plan ~ he passed away and the airplane is still there. As its existence would now be an embaressment to the IAF ~ there is a good chance it would be cut up for scrap - rather than admit the truth ( scandal ~ corruption ~ breach in national security etc )

As the air base is off limits to all westeners ~ there was no way I could validate the story ........ I asked for a recent pitcure ~ but didn't recieve anything.

This is info I have only shared with a small number of people ~ IF ( and it's a big if ) it exists ~ I don't want to be the cause of it being scrapped.

Thats all I have guys !

"Spooky" Bomberflight .....

[tulsaboy]

Do any of you USAF guys have any contacts with the IAF that could firm this up? I would bet that something could be worked out with the IAF to make it a win-win instead of an embarassment. One of those "were'nt we smart to save a couple of these" moments. Just a thought...